Twenty.

This week marks a special anniversary for me. It is the 20th birthday of the Maggot Sandwich Blog. It has been published every single Sunday since the middle of July 2006, with the exception of the month I had to spend as a hospital inpatient last year. Bear in mind that most blogs have an average lifespan of 18 months, I don't think that 20 years duration is doing too badly. In that time, I have posted 1,110 blog updates totalling approximately 3.5 million words. Every Sunday afternoon - with the notable exception of last July - for the last twenty years, I have published my Blog, and for some happily unknown reason, a large number of people, both locally and around the world have chosen to read it. The Blog is almost unrecognisable when compared to the start - as you can see from my very first entry above - click on it to see a larger view; it has transformed from a rather annoying and shouty rant at life, the universe and everything into what I hope is an entertaining and informative journal with a focus on local events, technology, and history linked to the area. I must admit that I had absolutely no intention of the Maggot Sandwich turning into what I suppose could be viewed as part of the local online landscape – I suppose that this is mainly due to its’ longevity – throw enough stuff at the wall, and eventually something will stick. As some have suspected, I feel that I am really a frustrated amateur journalist; since I cannot do the real thing, I play at it online.  Comments to me at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

Last Wednesday there was a serious house fire in a semi-detached house of three floors located in Collins Way, Slade Green. The roof had caught fire causing the entire roof structure to collapse and destroy the second floor of the house. Around 30 firefighters attended the incident with six fire engines. Firefighters attended from Bexley, Erith, Greenwich, and it is also thought from Grays in Essex. Equipment including a 32 metre high specialist ladder were deployed to try and fight the flames from above. Unfortunately this was not successful, although the firefighters did stop the flames from spreading to the next door property. It was reported that no people were injured during the incident. As can be seen from the image above - click on it to see a larger version - the house involved in the fire was fitted with roof mounted solar panels. At the time of writing it is unclear if these solar panels had anything to do with the cause of the blaze. While solar panels are statistically an incredibly safe technology - with research indicating it poses a lower risk of fire than common household appliances like tumble dryers - the sheer volume of new installations has brought a proportional rise in fire incidents. Data from global insurer QBE revealed that UK fire services tackled solar - related fires almost once every two days in 2024, marking a 60% increase over the previous two years. Contrary to what some might assume, the solar panels themselves are rarely the primary culprit. Instead, fires are almost always electrical in nature, stemming from installation errors, component degradation, or poor system design. The vast majority of rooftop solar fires are caused by DC (Direct Current) arc faults. Solar panels generate DC electricity, which travels from the roof down to an inverter (which converts it to AC electricity for home use). If there is a break or a loose connection in this high-voltage DC circuit, the electricity can jump across the gap. This creates an electrical arc. Because DC arcs do not self-extinguish like AC arcs, they burn continuously at temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees Celsius - easily hot enough to melt copper, and ignite surrounding roofing materials. A recent study commissioned by the UK Building Safety Regulator (BSR) highlighted how the physical presence of solar panels alters fire dynamics on a roof. When panels are retrofitted onto brackets above existing tiles - known as Building - Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) - they create a semi-enclosed gap between the panel and the roof. If a fire starts (either from an electrical fault or an external source like a bird's nest catching fire), this gap acts as a "heat trap."The narrow space traps radiant heat and redirects flames back downward onto the roofing membrane. This "re-radiation" effect can accelerate flame spread across roofing materials by a factor of up to 38 compared to a roof without panels. This is, I must emphasise, not a conclusive reason for the Slade Green roof fire, as at the time of writing, the cause of that fire has yet to be determined. 

I have written on several occasions in the past about how I rely on information sent to me by readers. Since I have been housebound, this has been increasingly the case. One reader, who currently chooses to remain anonymous, contacted me yesterday evening with a story of both historical and contemporary local interest. Other readers who have on occasion travelled along the Thames Embankment in the past may well have noticed a ship moored on the river bank. It was painted in a a unique jagged, black and white "dazzle" design, and was used as an event centre and for product launches and social get-togethers. Prior to this it was a pioneering retired Royal Navy warship which took part in World War I. The ships name is HMS President. Unfortunately, after the vessel was sold into private hands, it was very poorly maintained, and eventually abandoned. It was removed from the River Thames in central London and taken by tug down to the Royal Dockyard Museum at Chatham, where it has resided for a number of years. A campaign was started to try and rescue the ship, and to raise enough finance to get it restored and opened as a museum. At he time of writing, This campaign has been unsuccessful. The ship is now moored on the River Thames in Anchor Bay, which is the part of the river adjacent to the large European Metal Recycling scrap yard facility in Manor Road, Erith. According to my extremely reliable contact, this ship is being left alone for 3 weeks to allow a last minute effort to raise money to save the historic vessel, after which it will be broken up for scrap. I understand that the ship is in very poor condition, and that restoring it into a good condition would be close to impossible. As regular readers will know, I am unwell and housebound, otherwise I would go around to the EMR scrap yard to take my own photographs. Currently, this is just not possible, and I am hopeful that my reliable contact may be able to secure some photos in time for next week's Blog update. More on this story in the near future.

The problems experienced by large supermarket chain Morrisons are getting even worse. Not only did it recently drop from the 5th to the 6th place as the UK's biggest supermarket chain, overtaken by both German discounters, supermarkets, Aldi and Lidl, but as I have previously written, Morrison's is saddled with a huge amount of corporate debt. This is mainly due to it being purchased several years ago by an American private equity company called Clayton, Dubiller and Rice. Since the takeover, corporate interest rates have risen, effectively increasing the loan repayments on the debt. Morrison's management have tried several ways to try and increase their profitability, but unfortunately with very limited results. Their price matching efforts with the German discounters have not proved to be particularly effective. Morrison's have gained a reputation for high prices compared with their competitors, limited choice, and customers often find shelves empty of produce. This has led to many former loyal customers voting with their feet, and using other supermarkets instead. Because of this, Morrisons have discovered that it is very difficult to entice customers back into their stores once they have decided to shop elsewhere. As I wrote last week, Morrisons have already back pedalled on a number of issues, including restoring their butchery and fresh fish counters on what they call Market Street. This was down to an increasingly vocal series of complaints from customers. In many locations they have already done away with their cafes and pharmacy counters. This seems to me to be a very short-sighted move, as whilst individually these particular features may not make a lot of profit, they entice shoppers into the stores where they may well purchase other things whilst on site. In what appears to be a sign of increasing desperation by the senior management of Morrisons, the news broke this week that the supermarket chain is in negotiation to sell off ownership of many of its stores in order to raise something in excess of £600 million. It would appear to be a classic sale and lease back arrangement. What this means is that Morrisons would sell its bricks and mortar supermarket buildings to a currently unknown third party, and then rent the buildings back. Historically, this is contrary to the principal philosophy of Morrisons who, unlike many of their supermarket competitors have always owned the entire supply chain. They employ their own farmers for meat, eggs, and vegetables; they have their own fishing fleet for seafood, and so on. This proved beneficial to them back in 2013, when the horse meat scandal affected many of their competitors, who did not own their own supply chains. It is also meant that problems in one part of the chain often have a domino effect in others. Morrisons have also owned their own logistics infrastructure. The people that drive their delivery lorries have always been direct employees of the company. Originally this was a strong point, but has become less so as many of Morrison's competitors outsource their logistics to specialist third-party companies. When the third party companies offer better rates of pay and conditions to their staff, then many of the Morrisons drivers have left the company to join the competition. I believe this is one of the reasons why the shelves in Morrisons can sometimes be found empty, as they are overdue for a delivery due to a lack of transportation. I am of the opinion that's Morrison's is in its death throes. Sooner or later it will either be broken up and individual stores sold off, or the entire enterprise will be put up for sale. 

Whilst I was doing some research on a subject for a future article on local history, I came across a subject that I don't believe has been covered for a very long time; indeed I think it has not been touched upon since the story was contemporary news, 47 years ago. The history of Vietnamese people in Thamesmead began in the late 1970s. Following the Fall of Saigon in 1975 and the outbreak of the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979, hundreds of thousands of people fled Vietnam by sea. Often referred to as "boat people," these refugees endured perilous journeys across the South China Sea before being processed in temporary transit camps in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Thailand. The British government, initially hesitant, eventually agreed to resettle over 20,000 Vietnamese refugees. To prevent the formation of ethnic "enclaves," the government enforced a dispersal policy, scattering families across more than 100 different local authorities throughout the UK. However, isolation, language barriers, and a lack of support in provincial towns sparked a wave of secondary migration. Seeking community, shared language, and cultural safety, families began packing up and moving toward London. Unlike Inner London boroughs like Hackney or Tower Hamlets where housing was scarce and families often had to squat in abandoned buildings, Thamesmead was a "New Town". Developed by the Greater London Council (GLC) starting in the late 1960s, it was designed to house London’s expanding population on former marshland. Because it was still expanding and relatively isolated, social housing tenancies were accessible. A small but resilient group of Vietnamese families found a foothold in these modernist concrete blocks. The transition was not easy. The original Thamesmead architecture was famously Brutalist—a stark, grey landscape of elevated concrete walkways, man-made lakes, and futuristic housing blocks. For families accustomed to the tropical climate and bustling, open-air markets of Vietnam, South-East London in the early 1980's felt worlds apart. Furthermore, Thamesmead was geographically isolated, with very poor transport links to the rest of London. Yet, this isolation fostered a strong inward-looking solidarity. First-generation Vietnamese arrivals faced steep language barriers and high unemployment rates. To make a living, many took up home-working, particularly in the garment trade, sewing clothes on domestic machines to supply London's textile markets. Over time, as the community stabilised, others transitioned into entrepreneurship, eventually opening local grocery shops, nail salons, and takeaways. To counter the profound isolation of the diaspora, local community networks emerged. While Deptford and Lewisham to the west became major focal points for community organizations like the Vietnamese Family Partnership, Thamesmead residents established localised lifelines. Today, Thamesmead is one of the most ethnically diverse areas in South-East London. While the demographic landscape has shifted—with a significant rise in West African communities since the 1990s—the legacy of the Vietnamese pioneers remains deeply woven into the neighbourhood.  In recent years, there has been a concerted effort across South-East London to preserve this history. Archival projects, such as those led by the Vietnamese Family Partnership and local community groups, have worked to record the oral histories of the first generation. These projects seek to bring the "invisible history" of Vietnamese Londoners out into the light, ensuring that the courage of those who arrived with nothing but their survival in 1979 is never forgotten.

Talking of Thamesmead, there has been some extensive mainstream press coverage over a current dispute between the landlord and a sizable group of Thamesmead residents, which has now dragged on for a little over three years. The 1960's built Lesnes Estate in Thamesmead is set for demolition and rebuilding with new properties by the Peabody Housing Association. Many of the Lesnes Estate residents are unhappy with this, as they say that there is nothing wrong with the current properties, and it would be environmentally unsustainable to demolish and then rebuild the houses and flats. They are also concerned that they will be evicted from their current homes, and that the newly built replacements will be either rented out at far higher rates to outsiders, or sold to the highest bidder. In its defence, Peabody has stated that they:- "Resident homeowners have the chance either to buy a 1960s home like theirs on the neighbouring estate, a new home in the brand-new development, or another home in Thamesmead – or elsewhere – if that’s what they choose”. Peabody is offering Lesnes residents the market value of their home plus 10 per cent as compensation. The developer is also willing to bridge potential price gaps between current and new homes by contributing up to half of the equity. The spokesperson for the disgruntled residents group is a chap called Adam Turk, who called for a Judicial Review of Bexley Council’s decision to approve housing association Peabody’s plans to knock down his home and build a new, larger residential development. However, a High Court judge turned down this request earlier this month. The judicial review claim hinged on the environmental impact the estate demolition will have, and how the planning documents accompanying the plans supposedly downplayed the harmful effects of the demolition’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Judge rejected Mr. Turk's claim and gave the green light for the redevelopment to take place. In an interview with the London Evening Standard last Tuesday, Mr Turk said he was disappointed that the judge refused his claim and described estate regeneration projects such as the one in Thamesmead as “a slow death of council housing as everything’s getting replaced with this luxury property”.

The end video takes place in a location rather close to Thamesmead, but from an entirely different era; it is a short documentary film on the history of Lesnes Abbey Ruins, in Abbey Wood. I hope to have some very positive news on activity at Lesnes Abbey Ruins in the weeks to come. Watch this space. Comments, feedback and your photographs can be sent to me as usual at hugh.neal@gmail.com.