Andrew.

I took the photo above - click on it for a larger view - at the Crook Log end of Bexleyheath Broadway on Wednesday afternoon just before 2 pm. It shows a Police motorcycle escort accompanying the Land Rover Discovery heading towards Bexleyheath from central London from Shooter's Hill and Welling via Crook Log. The VIP passenger sitting in the front passenger seat of the Land Rover Discovery was Prince Andrew. I caught a fleeting glimpse of him as the small convoy sailed past. Quite what the controversial Royal was doing in the London Borough of Bexley, I have absolutely no idea. 

Last week I featured a story concerning the forthcoming closure of all the staffed booking offices at Southeastern train stations. Following this, I received the following press release from Stefano Borella, the leader of Bexley Labour Group, which reads:- "This week South-eastern has announced, without any warning, that eight ticket offices in Bexley are being proposed for closure, despite assurances last December that there would be no station ticket office closures. The proposals will affect stations on all three railway lines running through the London Borough of Bexley. If these closures are implemented, they will take place over the next 3 years, especially impacting especially on vulnerable passengers.  

The stations on the list are:

 Albany Park

 Barnehurst

 Belvedere

 Bexleyheath

 Erith

 Falconwood

 Slade Green

 Welling

Bexley Labour is encouraging everyone affected by these changes to write London Travel Watch who are administering this consultation by the 26 th of July 2023 using the details below. Please also make it clear if you are commenting about all stations or an individual rail station(s).

Email: Southeastern.Consulatation@Londontravelwatch.org.uk

Freepost: RTEH-XAGE_BYKZ

London Travel Watch

PO BOX 5594

SS1 9PZ

Further information can be found on the link below:

https://www.londontravelwatch.org.uk/southeastern-ticket-office-consultation/

Councillor Chris Ball (Erith), Labour group spokesperson for Housing, Environment, Transport, Leisure and Climate Change said, “It is not acceptable that there is only 21 days to undertake such a consultation on such an important issue and the technology presently available is not adequate to deal with such a drastic change that will affect many, especially vulnerable passengers.” Councillor Stefano Borella (Slade Green and Northend ward, Leader of Bexley Labour Group said, “I am very concerned again that rail services in Bexley are being further downgraded by the potential closure to 8 ticket offices in Bexley and the impact this will have on mobility impaired passengers and the digitally excluded, as the ticket machines do not offer the same level of service and the technology is presently inadequate. This will clearly lead to job losses and is a result of a Conservative government who are asking more cuts from our declining railway". Funding cuts from the Conservative government has meant that train services are being reduced overall and no wit means further cuts to ticket offices, it is clear from this latest debacle that this government is managing their failed franchising experiment and that the railways should be brought back into public ownership in the interests of the travelling public".

Last month, I featured a story on the forthcoming electric version of the classic Caterham 7 sports car, made in the Caterham factory in Kennet Road, Crayford. Caterham Cars have just announced a completely new model in addition to the electric 7. The new car - which is currently being developed is in prototype form. It will be a three-seat, fully-electric sports coupe called Project V – and it points to the British marque’s first new road-going production car in three decades. The classic Caterham 7 model is designed for occasional weekend and track day use, whereas the new Project V car will be designed for everyday use, and will be far more practical than the stripped out, barely road legal race car that is the 7. Project V - photos above - has been designed from the ground up to be an electric car. Combustion engines are not being proposed, nor will they ever be. Although Caterham recently unveiled the EV Seven concept, which I featured recently, the company are looking to produce a more mainstream vehicle. Caterham isn’t trying to win buyers over with ludicrous power and acceleration figures, however; rather it is fixated on delivering a driver experience that is solely focused on engagement. Project V is therefore powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor that outputs a fairly modest 272 hp, firing the driver and two passengers to 62 mph from a standstill in 4.7 seconds. Caterham is targeting a 1,190 kg kerb weight, making it one of the lightest EVs in existence. That includes a 55 kWh battery, which again is not large by conventional electric car standards, but does not need to be given there isn’t much car to shift in the first place. The firm has not disclosed a range figure yet, though it does say the lithium-ion pack uses ‘advanced thermal management’ and should muster a 20-80% charge in around 15 minutes via a 150 kW rapid charger. Caterham has split the battery into two locations: one behind the passenger compartment and the other below the legs of the occupants. That means your legs will be as close to the floor as it would in any other sports car, only your feet will be slightly raised – similar to the driving position in a single-seater. The company is also doing away with a front boot, which allows the front suspension wishbones to be brought further inwards and, apparently, saves 7 kg in the process. Currently the Project V car is only in pre - production prototype form. If the vehicle goes into full production - which at the time of writing is far from certain - Caterham predict that the retail price for the Project V electric sports car will be £80,000, with a potential release in 2025 or 2026. So far, the only competition on the horizon is the upcoming electric Porsche Cayman and Boxster (which are only two-seaters) and potentially an Alpine A110 EV (which is still a long way off). No doubt there will be some people not keen on an engine less Caterham, but the company believes Project V is its best bet for sustainable growth while maintaining classic Caterham Seven production. What do you think? Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Regular reader and occasional contributor Leslie sent me the following message last week, which I reproduce in full, with his permission:- "You may well already have seen the article, [I saw it on Google] in respect of Bexley rejecting plans to build a house behind the wooden cottage in Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath? The following is the article:- https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/23635910.bexley-plans-build-house-near-19th-century-listed-property-blasted/ I am sending this message as a former pupil of Bexleyheath School [then known as Graham Road School] I remember very well the Wooden House in the corner of what was a remaining section of a former Orchard. I cannot remember the year, however probably 1962-63 the Orchard was made into a further section of the School playing field and the house was occupied by the then Groundsman, a Mr Yaxley to live in. I may be putting 'two and two together' and coming up with a different answer, however Herbert Clarke [Clarkes Travel etc] was a well respected Member of Erith Rotary and I got on well with him as he was a keen Hockey Player as I was. He would relate to me the houses that he had lived in and in fact the house he was born in. This does not relate to this Wooden Cottage, however he told me that a relative, probably in Victorian times discovered that if one put a property on wheels there was no tax to be paid on the structure So cannilly he put a set of wheels on a cottage and it appeared that he got away without paying tax!. He related to me that the relative had this on land at the junction of Mayplace Road East/West and Erith Road. Now I am pretty sure that he further related that the Cottage was moved and I am pretty sure but not 100% that same cottage is the one in Woolwich Road! I stand to be corrected, however it would be fun if someone in your followers knew anything further?" Comments and feedback to me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Erith has been the home to many boxers of note in its history. None more so than Len Harvey. although not Erith born (he originated from Stoke Climsland in Cornwall) he moved to Erith on his retirement to be landlord of the Nordenfeldt Tavern in Fraser Road during the late 1940's. He was one of the best boxers in British history. Len Harvey started out as a flyweight at 12. By the time he was 18 he was ready to fight for the British welterweight title. He was held to a draw though by Harry Mason on 29 April 1926. His next British title shot came 2 years later on 16 May 1929. This time at middleweight against Alex Ireland. Harvey knocked out his opponent in the seventh round to become British champion. He made six defences between 1929 and 1933. He also fought Marcel Thil of France for the world middleweight championship.On 10 April 1933, he defended his title against Jock McAvoy. This ended in defeat for Harvey but two months later he was in the ring again challenging Eddie Phillips and won on points to become British Light Heavyweight champion. On 30 November that year he beat the then unbeaten Jack Petersen to become the British Heavyweight champion. He then went on to beat Canada's Larry Gains to become British Empire champion, but lost both titles in a rematch with Petersen being stopped in the 12th round on cuts. Harvey then went on to fight for the world title on 9 November 1936, but was beaten on points by John Henry Lewis. He then regained the British Heavyweight title by disqualification against old foe Eddie Phillips. In 1938 John Henry Lewis retired after developing eye problems, Harvey was then matched with another old foe, Jock McAvoy for British recognition of the world championship at Harringey Arena. This time he won on points on 10 July 1939. During World War II Harvey joined the Royal Air Force. By this time he was a national sporting idol, and was given an officer rank. During this time he was persuaded to defend his titles against Freddie Mills on 20 June 1942. By this time Harvey was a veteran of over a hundred bouts and was 35 years old. He was knocked out in two rounds, only the second time he was stopped and the first by K.O. He retired after this bout. He had an official record of 133 fights, 111 wins, 9 draws and 13 defeats: he claimed to have had 418 fights,but they probably included booth fights. His four fights with Jock McAvoy were legendary; he won three and lost one. He later died on 28 November 1976. Such was his legend that he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008. Until I was informed of Len Harvey, I was not aware of the prestige in which he was held. A truly great adopted son of the area.  Some years ago, I was sent a story by a well respected local figure who wished to remain anonymous. My informant wrote :- "Len Harvey as you so rightly say was the guvnor of the Nordenfeldt public house the "Pom Pom" for a few years. The local vicar at the time one George Bennett was a regular visitor to the Pom Pom. Len would remind the locals of their language in the presence of the vicar! Ken  used to come to up to North Heath School in the late 40s to coach the boys in boxing. There are examples of how successful was. However there was dark side, he had a son, who in turn had a friend who lived in Pembroke Road. One day the son took the gun, which was a War Trophy of Len's) to his friends house, and "playing about" the gun went off. The end result was the boy died some time later.  I am sure that is why he moved out of the area and died in West London. NOT Erith". Fascinating stuff and a tragic story. I can fully understand why Len Harvey would have wanted to move away from the area that must have had such painful memories for him.

At a Dartford council meeting on Monday July 17th, ideas will be debated as to the best way to honour late showbiz legend Len Goodman in the year his Dartford-based dance school prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Options up for discussion include naming a road after the dance icon, giving a building his moniker or creating an award in his honour which recognises a business which has left a lasting legacy. Len Goodman died of bone cancer in April at the age of 78, just days before his 79th birthday. Following a long career in the dance world, Len became a judge on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 before his final appearance on the 2016 Christmas Day special. He announced his retirement from TV just six months before his death. In an interview on the Kent Live website, Len's son James said that the family are fully behind the idea for a permanent memorial to his dad. “I think it’s a wonderful idea, My dad was always a huge advocate for Dartford and always had positive things to say about the area so it would be fitting to honour him in this way.” James particularly likes the idea of having a street named after his father or a monument. Leader of Dartford Borough Council, Jeremy Kite (Conservative) said:- “I wrote to Len's son James in April, asking whether the family would be kind enough to allow us to mark Len’s amazing life and achievements in some permanent way. I’ve always been a big believer that Dartford’s history, its story, isn’t just written by our ancient predecessors but by those who have shaped recent generations too. If there was ever a man for whom it was true that you can take the man out of Dartford but not Dartford out of the man, it was Len Goodman. As we chatted about a fitting memorial some weeks ago, James told me that whenever Len was asked if he loved being in Los Angeles he would always reply that it ‘wasn’t as good as Dartford’. Graciously, Len’s family were encouraging and I met with Len’s son, on behalf of his wider family, to chat through some ideas as to what it a tribute might look like. Quite apart from his role in teaching many Dartford men and women to take (quite literally) their first steps to learn to dance, Len’s name became a ‘byword’ for bringing ballroom dancing to front rooms in streets all over Dartford so it would seem appropriate for the ‘streets’ to recognise him now. So, we are already awaiting opportunities for street naming based around Len and some of the dances made popular by him. I have also agreed with Len's son to work on designs for a permanent tribute in the town centre, close to the Goodman Dance Academy, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. This may not necessarily be a statue because it seemed to both of us that it might be possible to create something that allowed people to interact with the art and have some playful fun while remembering the huge contribution that Len made to dance, to the popularisation of ballroom and to his adopted home town and the place where his business changed so many lives. I'd be delighted to hear from everyone - either with suggestions for street names or to know whether you support our plans to mark the life of this incredible man. We thought that an area close to the Goodmans Centre in Brewery Square would be particularly appropriate but when we met James did tell me – and I didn't know – that Len's original business was around the corner in Market Place. James also told me that one of his dad's more lucrative early entrepreneurial activities was to run a nightclub in what is now the dance centre.” The Goodman family is planning to invite 500 people from Goodman’s Dance School alumni to a party at The Orchard Theatre in Dartford on September the 23rd to celebrate its 50th birthday.

Next weekend marks the seventeenth anniversary of the launch of the Maggot Sandwich. The Blog has been published every single Sunday since, without a single miss in all of that time. Maybe you are a relatively new reader, or a dyed  in the wool contributor? What are your thoughts on the 17th anniversary, and the 956th weekly Blog update? Please send your comments to me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

The end video this week features the Caterham Project V prototype discussed earlier in the Blog update. I had thought the prototype was a non-functional shell / display model only, but it would seem from the footage below that it is actually a fully working vehicle. Feedback to me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.