The photo above shows the view looking Westward along Manor Road towards Erith Town Centre. What impresses me with the shot is, bearing in mind the industrial, retail and residential nature of the town, just how green it all is. I think many local residents overlook the fact that the area has some great open spaces such as Frank's Park, The Riverside Gardens and Erith Pier.
An application has been submitted to Bexley Council to convert the former Club Extreme / Tease (prior to that T's) nightclub building in Erith town centre into a Day Centre, Youth Centre, Conference and Place of worship. The issue has been picked up by the News Shopper, although I originally wrote at some length about the situation back in October of last year, when the redevelopment proposals were first submitted to the planning department of Bexley Council. Since then the plans for the reuse of the old building have been revised and resubmitted after they were initially rejected by the Council. The upper floor of the building that housed the former night club has been empty and unused for over a decade. The lower floor is home to discount supermarket Farm Foods, and the Erith Police office. Back in July 2009 a chap called Wayne Miles submitted an application to open a nightclub called the Double Deuce Club on the site of the former T's / Club Extreme. Controversially he wanted his new club to open from 10pm until 7am seven days of the week, including Sundays. For an unknown reason the submission was withdrawn, and to the best of my knowledge it never went before the Bexley Council Licensing Sub - Committee for examination. No subsequent applications have been made by him, as far as I am aware. The new proposal makes for very interesting reading. The plans that have been submitted to Bexley Council are for a facility that will very closely mirror the controversial one already in operation in the former Erith Snooker Club site in the upper floor of Electricity House, less than one hundred metres from the proposed new facility. The P2 Event Centre in Pier Road offers precisely the same facilities as the proposed new one in the old Extreme / T's night club site. If you click on the link to the P2 Event Centre, please be aware that the photographs on the website do not represent the actual Pier Road location - they were taken elsewhere and do not represent the reality. The whole website is outright deceptive and misleading. From my research it would appear that a rival African church are hoping to take on the former T's / Extreme night club site and turn it into another praise and conference centre. Bearing in mind the many other African churches already in the local area, it begs the question - is there actually a further market for more of the same? It is good that a site that has been empty and unused for more than a decade will be put back into operation, but have the prospective new tenants done any market research into the demand for something that already exists very close by?
Last Saturday a B12 bus was approaching its terminus in Erith town centre when it crashed in James Watt Way, opposite McDonalds. Local resident Dawn took the photo above and passed it onto me; Did you witness the accident? I was told about the incident by another reader, but was unable to get to the location in time. If you have any information on exactly how the crash occurred, then please let me know in complete confidence, should you so wish. Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.
Last week I was sent a link to a page on the Sun newspaper website about early plastic surgery performed on wounded service personnel during and after the First World War. The story had come about as a large number of "before and after" photos of patients subject to very early plastic surgery have recently come to light. You can read the Sun's story and see the photos by clicking here. A little known fact is that the hospital that is now known as Queen Mary's in Sidcup was instrumental in pioneering several forms of surgery that have become vital in modern medicine. A chap called Doctor Harold Gillies – a New Zealand born surgeon, who earned the title of “The father of plastic surgery” pioneered reconstructive surgery on wounded soldiers who had been injured in the trenches of the First World War, and who had a remarkable local connection. Harold Gillies initially opened a small unit in the Cambridge Hospital at Aldershot which had beds for two hundred injured men. He pioneered the use of skin grafting – a technique he adapted from one first used by professor Hippolyte – Morestin in France, he employed dental reconstruction techniques invented by Charles Valadier, coupled with the use of X-Rays, and photographs to detail the injuries of his patients; he was also fastidious about cleanliness and the use of antiseptics (a very important point, as antibiotics were yet to be discovered, and deaths from sepsis or blood poisoning were still very common). Harold Gillies also came up with the simple but effective policy of ensuring that all patients were attached to a luggage label listing their injuries, and where the injured soldier needed to be sent for treatment – many of the men were unable to speak through injury, or otherwise rendered unconscious. Once The Battle of the Somme took place, the two hundred bed unit in Aldershot was drastically overcrowded – at one point there were ten patients for every bed. A new home needed to be found for the plastic surgery unit, and one was found at Queen’s Hospital at Sidcup (what is nowadays Queen Mary’s). The unit took up much of the hospital, and it was conveniently close to the Royal Artillery barracks at Woolwich, where a small number of patients were located during their convalescence. Doctor Gillies was an interesting man – on top of being a very early pioneer of plastic surgery, he was a great golfer, a professional standard violin player, rowed in a winning team for Cambridge University in the boat race, and created a comedic alter – ego called Doctor Scroggy which he used to entertain his patients. He would walk around the wards of Queen’s Hospital at night, dispensing champagne and oysters to the injured soldiers, despite the strict ban on alcohol within the hospital grounds. He encouraged the recovering men to perform theatrical productions and shorter skits, which often involved the recuperating soldiers dressing in drag. Harold Gillies was aware of the emotional as well as physical trauma he was treating – and his solution was to make recovery fun. His influence was such that later, in the Second World War, he was able to rebuild the burned faces and hands of airmen, alongside his better known cousin, Archibald Mcindoe, whose disfigured pilot patients later formed The Guinea Pig Club. Harold Gillies also performed the first gender reassignment operations, and became a leader in the field of sex change surgery. He was ahead of his time in so many ways, and much of his work first undertaken at Sidcup has been used as the foundation for modern reconstructive surgery. It is a shame that the story is not better known until now.
Last Saturday a B12 bus was approaching its terminus in Erith town centre when it crashed in James Watt Way, opposite McDonalds. Local resident Dawn took the photo above and passed it onto me; Did you witness the accident? I was told about the incident by another reader, but was unable to get to the location in time. If you have any information on exactly how the crash occurred, then please let me know in complete confidence, should you so wish. Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.
Last week I was sent a link to a page on the Sun newspaper website about early plastic surgery performed on wounded service personnel during and after the First World War. The story had come about as a large number of "before and after" photos of patients subject to very early plastic surgery have recently come to light. You can read the Sun's story and see the photos by clicking here. A little known fact is that the hospital that is now known as Queen Mary's in Sidcup was instrumental in pioneering several forms of surgery that have become vital in modern medicine. A chap called Doctor Harold Gillies – a New Zealand born surgeon, who earned the title of “The father of plastic surgery” pioneered reconstructive surgery on wounded soldiers who had been injured in the trenches of the First World War, and who had a remarkable local connection. Harold Gillies initially opened a small unit in the Cambridge Hospital at Aldershot which had beds for two hundred injured men. He pioneered the use of skin grafting – a technique he adapted from one first used by professor Hippolyte – Morestin in France, he employed dental reconstruction techniques invented by Charles Valadier, coupled with the use of X-Rays, and photographs to detail the injuries of his patients; he was also fastidious about cleanliness and the use of antiseptics (a very important point, as antibiotics were yet to be discovered, and deaths from sepsis or blood poisoning were still very common). Harold Gillies also came up with the simple but effective policy of ensuring that all patients were attached to a luggage label listing their injuries, and where the injured soldier needed to be sent for treatment – many of the men were unable to speak through injury, or otherwise rendered unconscious. Once The Battle of the Somme took place, the two hundred bed unit in Aldershot was drastically overcrowded – at one point there were ten patients for every bed. A new home needed to be found for the plastic surgery unit, and one was found at Queen’s Hospital at Sidcup (what is nowadays Queen Mary’s). The unit took up much of the hospital, and it was conveniently close to the Royal Artillery barracks at Woolwich, where a small number of patients were located during their convalescence. Doctor Gillies was an interesting man – on top of being a very early pioneer of plastic surgery, he was a great golfer, a professional standard violin player, rowed in a winning team for Cambridge University in the boat race, and created a comedic alter – ego called Doctor Scroggy which he used to entertain his patients. He would walk around the wards of Queen’s Hospital at night, dispensing champagne and oysters to the injured soldiers, despite the strict ban on alcohol within the hospital grounds. He encouraged the recovering men to perform theatrical productions and shorter skits, which often involved the recuperating soldiers dressing in drag. Harold Gillies was aware of the emotional as well as physical trauma he was treating – and his solution was to make recovery fun. His influence was such that later, in the Second World War, he was able to rebuild the burned faces and hands of airmen, alongside his better known cousin, Archibald Mcindoe, whose disfigured pilot patients later formed The Guinea Pig Club. Harold Gillies also performed the first gender reassignment operations, and became a leader in the field of sex change surgery. He was ahead of his time in so many ways, and much of his work first undertaken at Sidcup has been used as the foundation for modern reconstructive surgery. It is a shame that the story is not better known until now.
Following my piece on the fees earned by the Dartford River Crossing since it was originally meant to have become free to use after the construction fees were repaid, I have had an Email from a regular reader who chooses to remain anonymous. They write:- "I read, with great interest, your piece on the River Thames Crossing Tax (aka Dartford River Crossing tolls). As the busiest toll point in the UK, it has been a licence to print money for successive governments for decades. Therefore, the chances of the tax being rescinded is less than zero, I would suggest. I notice that Gareth Johnson, the Tory MP for Dartford made no comment. Perhaps, to be fair, he was not asked for his view. It would, however, have been interesting to find out if he just went along with the government line, or if he had a more sympathetic view toward those using the crossing, regarding this blatant piece of highway robbery. As it clearly states in your report, the crossing broke even, in respect of the cost of building it, many years ago. The pledge had been that once that target was reached, the tolls would be ended. However, just as the government nowadays have no compunction, or conscience, in telling lies regarding Brexit, so too did they lie about ending the tolls. There was, and is, no way they would (will) give up this tax. Unfortunately, they cannot see the wood for the trees (so typical of our political classes). Haulage companies, and own account transport (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, etc, etc) pay huge annual sums for their fleets of trucks to use the crossing. However, they don't ask their shareholders to cough up the cash to pay for that. Those costs are passed on to their customers (you, and me) via unnecessarily higher prices at their checkouts, and for any other goods transported via the crossing. It will be interesting to see what effect the new crossing, to the east of Gravesend, will have on the existing Dartford Crossing, if any. Assuming of course, it ever gets built, and does not become another 'white elephant', and bottomless money pit, like Crossrail. In any event, the only way you will ever be able to cross the Thames in that neck of the woods, for free, in future, is to swim". A very interesting and somewhat contentious view, but one I feel that many local people can identify with. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.
On a more happy note, tickets are now on sale for the first classical concert to be held in the former Carnegie Library in Walnut Tree Road, Erith, organised by not for profit group The Exchange. On Sunday the 9th of June from 3 until 5pm, a concert will be held by a string quintet formed of members of the BBC Concert Orchestra. The quintet will be performing a programme that includes Vaughan Williams, Mozart and Erith composer Percy Hilder Miles. The purpose of the concert is to raise £3,000 which would fund the restoration of the original library book hoist, which was installed in the building in 1906 and allowed the librarians to easily move books from the bookstore on the lower ground floor to the public part of the building on the ground floor. Tickets for the event are made available by a minimum donation of £10, though more would be appreciated if possible, and concessions for a minimum donation of £5. You can read more about the concert programme, and the performers, as well as booking tickets by clicking here. The composer Percy Hilder Miles was born in Crayford in July 1878 and lived in Erith for almost all of his life, dying from pneumonia there in April 1922, aged only 44. He was a classical composer, conductor and violinist. He won a number of prestigious awards during his relatively short lifetime - he won the first Sauret prize in 1897, the Hine Exhibition composition prize in 1893, the MacFarren Scholarship in 1896, and the Charles Lucas Medal in mid summer 1898, as well as the Mendelssohn Scholarship in 1899. In 1896 he received a silver medal, which was presented annually to the most distinguished student at The Royal Academy of Music, The Royal College of Music, or the Guildhall School of Music, in rotation, the recipient nominated by the principal or director of the school. A box containing a substantial number of Miles' compositions is stored at the Royal Academy of Music, mostly in manuscript, some published works also are included. Built in 1906 Erith’s Old Library was funded by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and sadly closed to the public in 2009 in need of much repair. The first phase of works is now complete and the building recently reopened as The Exchange, a centre for arts, heritage and community. This will be the second concert following on from the successful anniversary of the building concert which featured new jazz/brass band ‘Don’t Problem’. Whilst the Carnegie Hall in Erith may not have as illustrious a musical history as its sibling venue in New York, which has played host to Billie Holliday, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, it boasts brilliant acoustics and will provide a fantastic venue for what promises to be a memorable concert. The string quintet is headed by local professional musician Phil Hall, who plays the Viola. In a press release, Sarah Batten of The Exchange said:- "We are delighted that Phil has managed to arrange for such talented musicians to come and perform in Erith –it will be a real treat for the town!” To book tickets for this prestigious event, which is bound to be very well attended, please click here.
Supermarket giant Morrisons is introducing a “We’ll Weigh What You Need” service at its fresh food counters. Both the Erith and Thamesmead branches are apparently going to be early adopters of this new policy. The service aims to reduce the amount of food thrown away in customers’ homes – which amounts to £500-a-year – according to the government’s Food Waste Champion. Its fresh food counters means that customers shopping at Morrisons can purchase the exact amounts of food they need. Food waste is one of customers’ top concerns and Morrisons, alongside other businesses, has signed up to a number of commitments including pledging to halve food waste by 2030. Jayne Wall, Director of Market Street operations at Morrisons, said in a recent press interview that: -“Listening to customers has told us they want help at our fresh food counters, because they don’t know how much to buy, they want to reduce their food waste, or they want to reduce the cost of their food shop. Our expert counter staff will help them buy exactly what they need, reducing their food waste bill and saving their pennies in the process.” In actuality Morrison's have long offered this kind of service on their fish and butchery counters, but this new initiative is designed to publicise a service that has been somewhat low key and generally unrecognised by their customers until now.
Now for the weekly local safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. First the report from Barnehurst ward:- "Another week on the Ward and I am pleased yet again to report no burglaries but please remain vigilant. On a more negative note we did have a spate of motor vehicle crimes late last week with a series of thefts from motor vehicles occurring on the Thursday 9th and Friday 10th May. There were four of these covering Manor Way, Thirlmere Road, Colyers Lane and Coniston Road. Cars were broken into and various items taken from inside and number plates taken in one instance. However, neighbouring wards have recently been involved in a joint venture to target these crimes and a suspect was arrested and since then these crimes have declined in number. Having said that there was a theft of motor vehicle from Swallow Close which occurred on 13th May when a motor cycle was taken off the drive. Three suspects were spotted. One riding the stolen vehicle and two others leaving the scene on mopeds. This could be a new team on the scene. Barnehurst officers continue to combat drug use and dealing, and working with Crayford and Bexleyheath officers they have completed several positive stop and searches with several of these occurring in Martens Grove Park, an area which although no longer on Barnehurst Ward is still regularly frequented by Barnehurst residents. Just to remind you all there is a community contact session to be held at Barnehurst Golf Course on Tuesday May 21st at 5pm. This is your opportunity to have a cuppa with your local police team and discuss any issues you may have". Belvedere ward - no report this week. Bexleyheath ward:- "A burglary was reported on Wednesday 08/05/2019 along Heversham Rd – Back patio door was smashed, incident had happened during the day and nothing was taken from the address. There has been one report of an attempted burglary along Wenvoe Avenue Bexleyheath, suspects had tried to gain entry via the front door; A theft of motor vehicle had been reported along Brantwood Road on Thursday 09/05/2019, vehicle was taken from outside the home address; A theft of mobile outside McDonalds on the Broadway on the Wednesday 15/05/2019 6pm; Purse taken from Superdrug store on the Broadway Tuesday 14/05/2019 between 12 – 1pm; Belvedere Road Shed broken into item taken from inside Sunday 12/05/2019 during the day; Knife point robbery car stolen – near Garrard Close; Sterling Road - Van stolen from Sterling Road, keys left in ignition. Someone jumped in vehicle and drove off. Wednesday 08/05/2019 at about 530pm; Theft of motor bike on Woolwich road parked on driveway outside front door. 08/05/2019 between 1115 and 1pm. Patrols are regularly conducted on the Ward which includes the areas mentioned above where they have been conducting stops. The team are aware of ASB issues along Martin Grove Park with motor bikes. Patrols are conducted and if there is any information that could help then please get in contact". Crayford ward:- "A white Suzuki motorcycle with the number plate OE02 VJK was stolen from Woodfall Drive between 19.30 on Thursday 9th May and 05.50 on 10th May, the owner still has the keys. On Thursday 9th May between 22.55 and 22.59 a white Kawasaki was stolen from the underground car park at Town Hall Square, this vehicle had a tracker and has since been located. An incident occurred between 23.00 on Thurs 9th May and 8.30 on Fri 10th May at Beech Walk, a front and rear window was damaged but no entry was gained to the property. On Thursday 9th May at 17.48 a fence panel was lifted in Crayford Way and hired machinery was stolen from the garden within. Between 23.00 on Thurs 9th May and 06.00 on Fri 10th May wheel covers were stolen off a Ford mini bus whilst parked in Inglewood Road. Between 17.30 on Fri 10th May and 11.00 on Sat 11th May a Vauxhall Vivaro was broken in to outside Keats House in Bexley Lane, the driver's door handle had been damaged and a hole was drilled in the rear door to open it. Fortunately, no tools were stored within the vehicle. Overnight between 19.00 on Fri 10th May and 11.00 on Sat 11th May, money was stolen from a vehicles parked on a driveway in Mayplace Road East. Power tools were stolen from a silver Nissan whilst parked outside St Paulinus Church in Perry Street on Saturday 11th May between 11.00-11.20, the locks were broken. A shed was broken in to at the allotments at Crayford Way between Friday 19th April and Sunday 12th May, the lock was ground out and a petrol lawn mower and petrol strimmer were stolen. At 00.10 on Monday 13th May, suspects were disturbed when they broke in to a home in Whitehill Road. The occupant heard the letter box rattle and went down stairs and saw a male in his hallway, who ran out and got in the passenger seat of a red metallic hatchback which headed off towards Maiden Lane. On Sunday 12th May at 22.30 a resident reported that someone unknown kicked their front door in Crayford Way, the intention is unknown. Number plates S88 GCW were stolen from Iron Mill Lane between 17.00 on Sun 12th May and 09.00 on Mon 13th May, these plates should be on a grey Honda Civic. A Mercedes was broken in to in Gable Close between 22.00 on Mon 13th May and 6.30 on Tues 14th May, the thief stole ladies Ralph Lauren Polo sunglasses, men's prescription Rayben sunglasses and expensive clothing. Number plates were stolen from a parked vehicle in Mill Place between 18.00 on Mon 13th May and 12.00 on Tues 14th May, no other details have been provided at this time. As you will see from above the majority of crime in Crayford is vehicle related, please consider marking any tools or valuables that have to be kept within the vehicle so that in the event of theft they could be returned to you and consider removing anything else. I know this doesn't stop the crime occurring but it does reduce the impact it may have on your day to day life. We are aware that opportunists will take what is not theirs if it is easily available to them. Please keep your personal effects about your person or in a closed bag and try to avoid leaving them in plain view. Our team were involved in a drugs warrant at Town Hall Square on Friday 10th May, this matter is ongoing at this time. Our next community contact will take place on Thursday 16th May between 15.00-16.00 at Crayford Library. We should be at Vintage Lindy Lou's between 16.00-17.00 on Wednesday 22nd May (please note that this may be cancelled at short notice) . The next community contact session after that will be at Crayford Library on Tuesday 28th May between 10.00-11.00". Erith ward:- "We had our Ward panel the other week really good turn out or people so massive thank you if you attended, also a thank you to the Exchange in Erith for letting us use a room for the meeting if you would like to attend feel free to contact us for more details. We also attended a residential meeting at the new Quarry estate in doing this we signed up one new NHW member. Upcoming Community Contact Sessions: Friday 17/05/19 Erith Library 1600; Saturday 25/05/19 Costa Erith 1600; Thursday 30/05/19 Costa Erith 1200. Crimes of the week: Making off Friday 10/05/2019 W M Morrison, James Watt Way; Making off Saturday 11/05/2019 Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc, James Watt Way; Theft from Motor Vehicle Monday 13/05/2019 Lesney Park Road". Northumberland Heath ward:- "Unfortunately, we have had a burglary in Bedonwell Road since our last report. On Tuesday May 8th at approximately 7.55pm the occupants heard noises and assumed it was another family returning home; Two males with their faces covered entered the property using an implement to force the UPVC front door. The males fled after realizing the occupants were at home without taking anything. It is not clear if the males were on foot or left in a vehicle. We have had an increase in Motor Vehicle Crime in the last week. Theft of number plates from a van in Avenue Road between Thursday May 9th and Friday May 10th at 9am when the owner discovered them missing; A Nissan Juke was broken in to in Plaxtol Road in the early hours of Saturday Morning May 11th. The vehicle was parked on the drive, an untidy search was carried out. Nothing of any value was taken; Theft of a rear number plate in Beechfield Road between Thursday May 9th at 7pm and Friday May 10th at 7.30am; A black Ducati Motorbike was stolen from Collindale Road between Tuesday May 7th and Friday May 10th. The bike was later found in Belvedere and returned to the owner. The next Community Contact Session / Drop In Police Surgery will be held on Friday May 24th at 4pm in the library in Mill Road Erith".
The end video this week shows an aerial view of the historic tithe barn at Howbury Moat in Slade Green. The site was originally the home of Bishop Odo, the half brother of William the Conqueror, and second in charge of England in his time. There is uncertainty about his birth date. Some historians have suggested he was born around 1035. Duke William made him bishop of Bayeux in 1049. Although Odo was an ordained Christian cleric, he is best known as a warrior and statesman, participating in the Council of Lillebonne. He found ships for the Norman invasion of England and is one of the very few proven companions of William the Conqueror, known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Bayeux Tapestry, probably commissioned by him to adorn his own cathedral, appears to labour the point that he did not actually fight, that is to say shed blood, at Hastings, but rather encouraged the troops from the rear. The Latin annotation embroidered onto the Tapestry above his image reads: "Hic Odo Eps Episcopus Baculum Tenens Confortat Pueros", in English "Here Odo the Bishop holding a club strengthens the boys". It has been suggested that his clerical status forbade him from using a sword. In 1067, Odo became Earl of Kent, and for some years he was a trusted royal minister. On some occasions when William was absent, he served as de facto regent of England, and at times he led the royal forces against rebellions; the precise sphere of his powers is not certain, though it is thought that such was his wealth and power that he did not charge rent or tithes to the peasants who lived and worked on his Slade Green estate, something that made him very popular with the residents of the area in those days. Odo took part in the First Crusade, but died on the way at Palermo in January or February 1097. He was buried in Palermo Cathedral, where his tomb can be seen to this day. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.
Supermarket giant Morrisons is introducing a “We’ll Weigh What You Need” service at its fresh food counters. Both the Erith and Thamesmead branches are apparently going to be early adopters of this new policy. The service aims to reduce the amount of food thrown away in customers’ homes – which amounts to £500-a-year – according to the government’s Food Waste Champion. Its fresh food counters means that customers shopping at Morrisons can purchase the exact amounts of food they need. Food waste is one of customers’ top concerns and Morrisons, alongside other businesses, has signed up to a number of commitments including pledging to halve food waste by 2030. Jayne Wall, Director of Market Street operations at Morrisons, said in a recent press interview that: -“Listening to customers has told us they want help at our fresh food counters, because they don’t know how much to buy, they want to reduce their food waste, or they want to reduce the cost of their food shop. Our expert counter staff will help them buy exactly what they need, reducing their food waste bill and saving their pennies in the process.” In actuality Morrison's have long offered this kind of service on their fish and butchery counters, but this new initiative is designed to publicise a service that has been somewhat low key and generally unrecognised by their customers until now.
Now for the weekly local safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. First the report from Barnehurst ward:- "Another week on the Ward and I am pleased yet again to report no burglaries but please remain vigilant. On a more negative note we did have a spate of motor vehicle crimes late last week with a series of thefts from motor vehicles occurring on the Thursday 9th and Friday 10th May. There were four of these covering Manor Way, Thirlmere Road, Colyers Lane and Coniston Road. Cars were broken into and various items taken from inside and number plates taken in one instance. However, neighbouring wards have recently been involved in a joint venture to target these crimes and a suspect was arrested and since then these crimes have declined in number. Having said that there was a theft of motor vehicle from Swallow Close which occurred on 13th May when a motor cycle was taken off the drive. Three suspects were spotted. One riding the stolen vehicle and two others leaving the scene on mopeds. This could be a new team on the scene. Barnehurst officers continue to combat drug use and dealing, and working with Crayford and Bexleyheath officers they have completed several positive stop and searches with several of these occurring in Martens Grove Park, an area which although no longer on Barnehurst Ward is still regularly frequented by Barnehurst residents. Just to remind you all there is a community contact session to be held at Barnehurst Golf Course on Tuesday May 21st at 5pm. This is your opportunity to have a cuppa with your local police team and discuss any issues you may have". Belvedere ward - no report this week. Bexleyheath ward:- "A burglary was reported on Wednesday 08/05/2019 along Heversham Rd – Back patio door was smashed, incident had happened during the day and nothing was taken from the address. There has been one report of an attempted burglary along Wenvoe Avenue Bexleyheath, suspects had tried to gain entry via the front door; A theft of motor vehicle had been reported along Brantwood Road on Thursday 09/05/2019, vehicle was taken from outside the home address; A theft of mobile outside McDonalds on the Broadway on the Wednesday 15/05/2019 6pm; Purse taken from Superdrug store on the Broadway Tuesday 14/05/2019 between 12 – 1pm; Belvedere Road Shed broken into item taken from inside Sunday 12/05/2019 during the day; Knife point robbery car stolen – near Garrard Close; Sterling Road - Van stolen from Sterling Road, keys left in ignition. Someone jumped in vehicle and drove off. Wednesday 08/05/2019 at about 530pm; Theft of motor bike on Woolwich road parked on driveway outside front door. 08/05/2019 between 1115 and 1pm. Patrols are regularly conducted on the Ward which includes the areas mentioned above where they have been conducting stops. The team are aware of ASB issues along Martin Grove Park with motor bikes. Patrols are conducted and if there is any information that could help then please get in contact". Crayford ward:- "A white Suzuki motorcycle with the number plate OE02 VJK was stolen from Woodfall Drive between 19.30 on Thursday 9th May and 05.50 on 10th May, the owner still has the keys. On Thursday 9th May between 22.55 and 22.59 a white Kawasaki was stolen from the underground car park at Town Hall Square, this vehicle had a tracker and has since been located. An incident occurred between 23.00 on Thurs 9th May and 8.30 on Fri 10th May at Beech Walk, a front and rear window was damaged but no entry was gained to the property. On Thursday 9th May at 17.48 a fence panel was lifted in Crayford Way and hired machinery was stolen from the garden within. Between 23.00 on Thurs 9th May and 06.00 on Fri 10th May wheel covers were stolen off a Ford mini bus whilst parked in Inglewood Road. Between 17.30 on Fri 10th May and 11.00 on Sat 11th May a Vauxhall Vivaro was broken in to outside Keats House in Bexley Lane, the driver's door handle had been damaged and a hole was drilled in the rear door to open it. Fortunately, no tools were stored within the vehicle. Overnight between 19.00 on Fri 10th May and 11.00 on Sat 11th May, money was stolen from a vehicles parked on a driveway in Mayplace Road East. Power tools were stolen from a silver Nissan whilst parked outside St Paulinus Church in Perry Street on Saturday 11th May between 11.00-11.20, the locks were broken. A shed was broken in to at the allotments at Crayford Way between Friday 19th April and Sunday 12th May, the lock was ground out and a petrol lawn mower and petrol strimmer were stolen. At 00.10 on Monday 13th May, suspects were disturbed when they broke in to a home in Whitehill Road. The occupant heard the letter box rattle and went down stairs and saw a male in his hallway, who ran out and got in the passenger seat of a red metallic hatchback which headed off towards Maiden Lane. On Sunday 12th May at 22.30 a resident reported that someone unknown kicked their front door in Crayford Way, the intention is unknown. Number plates S88 GCW were stolen from Iron Mill Lane between 17.00 on Sun 12th May and 09.00 on Mon 13th May, these plates should be on a grey Honda Civic. A Mercedes was broken in to in Gable Close between 22.00 on Mon 13th May and 6.30 on Tues 14th May, the thief stole ladies Ralph Lauren Polo sunglasses, men's prescription Rayben sunglasses and expensive clothing. Number plates were stolen from a parked vehicle in Mill Place between 18.00 on Mon 13th May and 12.00 on Tues 14th May, no other details have been provided at this time. As you will see from above the majority of crime in Crayford is vehicle related, please consider marking any tools or valuables that have to be kept within the vehicle so that in the event of theft they could be returned to you and consider removing anything else. I know this doesn't stop the crime occurring but it does reduce the impact it may have on your day to day life. We are aware that opportunists will take what is not theirs if it is easily available to them. Please keep your personal effects about your person or in a closed bag and try to avoid leaving them in plain view. Our team were involved in a drugs warrant at Town Hall Square on Friday 10th May, this matter is ongoing at this time. Our next community contact will take place on Thursday 16th May between 15.00-16.00 at Crayford Library. We should be at Vintage Lindy Lou's between 16.00-17.00 on Wednesday 22nd May (please note that this may be cancelled at short notice) . The next community contact session after that will be at Crayford Library on Tuesday 28th May between 10.00-11.00". Erith ward:- "We had our Ward panel the other week really good turn out or people so massive thank you if you attended, also a thank you to the Exchange in Erith for letting us use a room for the meeting if you would like to attend feel free to contact us for more details. We also attended a residential meeting at the new Quarry estate in doing this we signed up one new NHW member. Upcoming Community Contact Sessions: Friday 17/05/19 Erith Library 1600; Saturday 25/05/19 Costa Erith 1600; Thursday 30/05/19 Costa Erith 1200. Crimes of the week: Making off Friday 10/05/2019 W M Morrison, James Watt Way; Making off Saturday 11/05/2019 Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc, James Watt Way; Theft from Motor Vehicle Monday 13/05/2019 Lesney Park Road". Northumberland Heath ward:- "Unfortunately, we have had a burglary in Bedonwell Road since our last report. On Tuesday May 8th at approximately 7.55pm the occupants heard noises and assumed it was another family returning home; Two males with their faces covered entered the property using an implement to force the UPVC front door. The males fled after realizing the occupants were at home without taking anything. It is not clear if the males were on foot or left in a vehicle. We have had an increase in Motor Vehicle Crime in the last week. Theft of number plates from a van in Avenue Road between Thursday May 9th and Friday May 10th at 9am when the owner discovered them missing; A Nissan Juke was broken in to in Plaxtol Road in the early hours of Saturday Morning May 11th. The vehicle was parked on the drive, an untidy search was carried out. Nothing of any value was taken; Theft of a rear number plate in Beechfield Road between Thursday May 9th at 7pm and Friday May 10th at 7.30am; A black Ducati Motorbike was stolen from Collindale Road between Tuesday May 7th and Friday May 10th. The bike was later found in Belvedere and returned to the owner. The next Community Contact Session / Drop In Police Surgery will be held on Friday May 24th at 4pm in the library in Mill Road Erith".
Slade Green and Northend ward:- "We have had four ‘theft from motor vehicle' reports this weeks. These occurred on Manor Road, Longreach Road, Alderney Road and outside Grange House and all occurred overnight. As always, please please please make sure that your vehicles are locked and nothing of any value is left on display! There has also been an increase in theft of number plates reported recently. If anyone would like a packet of anti-theft screws then please feel free to ask and we will be more than happy to supply them. In more positive news, we have not had any residential burglaries reported this week. We have Community Contact Session booked in on Sunday 19th May at 6pm at the office and again on Wednesday 22nd May at 2pm at Slade Green and Howbury Community Centre. Please feel free to pop along if you have any concerns or just for a friendly chat. Have a great week all". Thamesmead East ward:- "Burglaries - On Tuesday 07/05/19 a burglary occurred in Redbourne Drive between the hours of 08:35 pm and 08:39pm.Entry was gained by smashing a rear kitchen window, locking the front door from inside. Damage to window and fence lock amounted to £153.00; Wednesday 08/05/19 at 07:45pm a property in Thamesbank Place was broken into, wooden door forced open and the glass in door smashed, damage £300.00.victim to update officers as to what has been taken. Attempted Burglary - On Wednesday 08/05/19 at 07:45pm an attempted burglary occurred in Thamesbank Place. Glass of the front wooden door smashed and the garden door damaged, no entry gained. Damage to the doors £500.00 ; Crime Prevention - Close and lock all your doors and windows, even if you're going out for a few minutes..Photograph and keep a detailed inventory of each item of jewellery and keep it in a separate place. Motor Vehicle Crimes - On Monday 13/05/19 between the hours of 4:00pm and 11:00am of Tuesday 14/05/19 Criminal damage occurred to a vehicle parked and locked securely in Crowden Way ,the passenger side of the vehicle was scratched,£400.00 to make repair.Monday 13/05/19 between the hours of 6:00pm and 09:10am of Tuesday 14/05/19 a vehicle parked in Bayliss Avenue had the rear window smashed. Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention - Did you know that your vehicle is like a shop window? If you can see any property left on view then so can a thief . Take it with you-- Mobile phone, coins ,sunglasses, can earn quick cash are irresistible to the opportunist thief. Remember the cost of replacing a window is often much more than of what's been stolen. Wallets, handbags purses and credit cards should never be left in an unattended vehicle. Good News - PC Pruden having seen a male sitting on a low brick wall underneath concrete steps in Kale Road conducted searches on three males present, resulting in cannabis seizures and two males receiving a Community Resolution each. Community Resolution: The offender will not receive a criminal record, however a crime will be recorded on police systems for which the offender will be held responsible. The information may be used to inform any future matters brought to police attention". West Heath ward:- "During 8th – 15th May 2019 the ward has suffered 7 Motor Vehicle Crimes but no burglaries. Two theft of motor vehicles: On Wednesday 8th May between 12 noon and 1830 hours a vehicle was stolen in Woolwich Road and between Fri 10th May at 1800 hours and Sat 11th May at 0700 hours in Exmouth road a vehicle was stolen from the driveway. Five theft from motor vehicles: In Glenview between Wed 8th May at 1800 hours and Thurs 9th May at 0900 hours a vehicle had its number plates stolen; At around 0100 hours on Friday 10th May power tools were stolen from a vehicle in Stapleton Road; During Thursday 9th May 2200 hours and 10th May 0400 hours cash was taken from a vehicle in Whitfield Road; Documents were stolen from a vehicle in Pembury Road between Thurs 9th May at 2300 and Fri 10th May 0600 hours; A vehicle was broken into in Glenview between Sat 11th May 2100 and Sun 12th May 0845 hours and various items were taken. To combat this spike of vehicle crime the ward has changed their shifts and worked with other Welling officers from Crook Log and East Wickham. During the plain clothes operation two males were stopped and one arrested as he was wanted for theft of a motor bike. A male was seen loitering in an area known for drug use, he was stopped and searched and issued with a community Resolution as he was found to be in possession of cannabis. The team have assisted Crayford ward officers in effecting a Section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act Warrant. The team continue to carry out high visibility and plain clothes patrols".
The end video this week shows an aerial view of the historic tithe barn at Howbury Moat in Slade Green. The site was originally the home of Bishop Odo, the half brother of William the Conqueror, and second in charge of England in his time. There is uncertainty about his birth date. Some historians have suggested he was born around 1035. Duke William made him bishop of Bayeux in 1049. Although Odo was an ordained Christian cleric, he is best known as a warrior and statesman, participating in the Council of Lillebonne. He found ships for the Norman invasion of England and is one of the very few proven companions of William the Conqueror, known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Bayeux Tapestry, probably commissioned by him to adorn his own cathedral, appears to labour the point that he did not actually fight, that is to say shed blood, at Hastings, but rather encouraged the troops from the rear. The Latin annotation embroidered onto the Tapestry above his image reads: "Hic Odo Eps Episcopus Baculum Tenens Confortat Pueros", in English "Here Odo the Bishop holding a club strengthens the boys". It has been suggested that his clerical status forbade him from using a sword. In 1067, Odo became Earl of Kent, and for some years he was a trusted royal minister. On some occasions when William was absent, he served as de facto regent of England, and at times he led the royal forces against rebellions; the precise sphere of his powers is not certain, though it is thought that such was his wealth and power that he did not charge rent or tithes to the peasants who lived and worked on his Slade Green estate, something that made him very popular with the residents of the area in those days. Odo took part in the First Crusade, but died on the way at Palermo in January or February 1097. He was buried in Palermo Cathedral, where his tomb can be seen to this day. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.
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