Pembroke Road.

The photos above - click on either for a larger view - show the large advertising posters attached to the outside of the former Cairngall Medical centre, located on the corner of Erith Road and Picardy Road in Upper Belvedere. Work to covert the building into a children's nursery has been going on for several months, and I understand it is now coming to an end. The only major external changes are that the garden to the rear of the main building has been cleared, and a number of small trees have been removed. I have thus far not been able to determine what internal changes have been undertaken. I am happy that the existing building has been retained; there had been concerns that the structure might have been demolished for yet more housing. The site is diagonally opposite the former Belvedere Police Station, which has now been completely demolished, and will shortly be replaced with a new block of flats. The Purple Willows Nursery will be opening in October. The Sidcup based company say of their new enterprise in Upper Belvedere:- "The new nursery will be offering 92 places and will be split into baby suite, toddler room and Preschool class with each room designed with modern equipment and excellent resources to meet the needs of the children. The nursery will also provide a multi-sensory room to encourage children to explore their environment and increase concentration. Building works have commenced and we look forward to welcoming nursery children into our inspiring setting". What do you think? Please feel free to Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

As I predicted last year, the government's roll - out of smart energy meters has hit another barrier. Government guidance says that since the middle of March 2019 customers should only have been given second generation smart meters (SMETS2). However, eight energy companies are still installing first generation smart meters (SMETS1) say the network is not reliable enough to switch customers on to. People living in high rise flats and those sharing a service inlet, or on a pre - paid meter were especially affected. The whole smart meter deployment project has gone seriously off the rails. The second generation of meters is supposed to be able to connect remotely to a national network, which should make switching supplier possible, for the first time for many customers. In reality many suppliers are still installing first generation meters, and even where they are installing the second generation, in many cases the users are complaining that they do not connect, and also the users are still unable to change energy suppliers. The communication protocols used by different energy suppliers still vary considerably. Smart Meters send real – time power usage data back to the supplier via a 3G mobile phone signal. This means that the meter does not have to be connected to a home data network. This sounds all well and good; the power company can bill you without having to send a meter reader to your house, and you get the option to monitor your power usage in an almost real – time way. There are however, problems. The data sent from the SMETS1 first generation Smart Meters to the supplier is sent unencrypted, and “in the clear”; it is possible to intercept the data stream, and also a malicious attacker can potentially send instructions to the meter remotely. Several Smart Meter companies do tacitly admit this, but they play the whole lack of security aspect down. Some second generation SMETS2 meters do encrypt user data, but not all, and the encryption algorithm used is relatively weak. Over three thousand Smart Meter customers contacted Citizens Advice in 2017 (the most recent year for which figures are currently available) with problems regarding the meters, which the energy supply companies have been reluctant, or unable to address. Some said they had experienced problems when having a smart meter installed, with engineers failing to turn up, or being unable to fit the device into the space available. Some were also frustrated that despite having a smart meter, they still had to submit readings manually. Customers also complained about energy firms using aggressive sales practices to push them into having a smart meter installed when they didn't want one. So far more than 12.1 million smart meters have been installed. Citizens Advice warned that with 39 million smart meters still to go, the 2020 deadline was 'unrealistic'. It has now called on the Government to delay the smart meter deadline to 2023. Even Smart Energy GB, an organisation set up by the Government to promote smart meters but funded by suppliers, has produced research that indicates lukewarm interest amongst consumers. An independent survey by Populus that gathered the views of more than 10,000 people found that less than half of those who didn’t yet have a meter said they would want one installed within the next six months. Negative coverage of the meters including on the BBC’s Watchdog consumer affairs programme may also have dampened householders’ enthusiasm. In July 2018, MPs called on the Government to urgently review the smart meter roll-out which they said was 'over time, over budget and mismanaged'. The British Infrastructure Group of MPs and Lords warned that half of smart meters stop working when customers switch supplier, while a tenth were not functioning due to poor mobile phone signal. The average annual saving on a gas and electricity bill by 2020 was estimated in 2014 to be £26, but this has now been reduced to just £11, MPs said. Smart Meters primarily benefit the energy companies, because they no longer need to employ meter readers. The benefits to the consumer are minimal at best, and when allied to the security and compatibility concerns mentioned earlier, they don't add up for me, especially when the much vaunted money saving aspect turns out to be a white elephant. What do you think? Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

A regular reader who wishes to remain anonymous alerted me to something that I am not at all surprised by. The bungalow at 54 Pembroke Road Erith is to be demolished and replaced with one block comprising 1 x 1 bed and 3 x 2 bed self contained apartments with provision of amenity spaces, landscaping, car and cycle parking spaces and bin store. I feel that this has been a long time coming. In case you were wondering why a house in Pembroke Road would be demolished rather than refurbished and reused, it is because it was the scene of a barbaric triple murder back in 2015, when former Eastenders actress Sian Blake and her two young children were murdered by her partner, drug dealer Arthur Simpson-Kent in the house, and their mutilated bodies buried in shallow graves in the back garden. Sian Blake, 43, and their sons, Zachary, eight, and four-year-old Amon, after the actress, who was terminally-ill with Motor Neurone Disease, planned to leave Arthur Simpson-Kent and take the boys with her. Once he had killed the three, he buried their bodies in the garden of their bungalow in number 54, Pembroke Road, Erith. The bodies were not discovered by the Police for three weeks, when sniffer dogs were used to search the property. All three had been repeatedly beaten and stabbed in a series of frenzied attacks. Simpson-Kent, who admitted three counts of murder, was sentenced at the Old Bailey in October 2016 by a judge who said he had been convinced he should receive the most severe punishment available for his ''truly horrific'' crimes. Mr Justice Singh, when passing sentence said he had been left ‘in no doubt’ that Arthur Simpson-Kent should spend the rest of his life in prison.‘Each murder involved a substantial degree of premeditation or planning. At the very least that must be true of the murder of each of the two little boys individually, and in turn after the defendant had already killed Sian Blake. Further, and in any event, there were serious aggravating features of this case. Each of the victims was particularly vulnerable because of age or disability. There was an abuse of position of trust. There was concealment of the bodies. He made efforts to remove evidence of his crimes at the house, including repainting. He sought to lay a false trail by using Sian Blake's mobile phone. He lied to the police and others about the whereabouts of the family.’ He was thus awarded the very rare sentence of a Whole Life Tariff – which means the only way he will ever be let out of prison is on the written orders of the Home Secretary, something that has rarely if ever happened. In his case, life really does mean life in prison, with no chance of parole. I used to see Sian Blake with her children occasionally walking around Erith Riverside Shopping Centre, and every so often in Morrison’s. I did not know she was an actress, or had been in EastEnders at one time (I am not a soap watcher). I had not seen them for some considerable time before their untimely demise, I guess as her Motor Neurone Disease got worse, and she was forced to limit her mobility; the whole case was tragic. When the case first broke, I used Google Maps / Google Street View to locate the property; when I did, the image that the Google Street View camera car had captured of the house showed one of the little boys standing in the left hand window, looking out into the street. It had obviously been taken some time prior to the tragic events. I immediately decided that I would not publish or make reference to the image out of respect to the deceased and their surviving family and friends. I might have well not have bothered, as a couple of days later, the Sun newspaper published the image of the “ghostly” child in the window. I felt that this was in the very poorest of taste, but then the Sun is not exactly known for letting propriety or good taste get in the way of a story, whatever the circumstances. 

It is interesting that historical Erith based arms manufacturer Sir Hiram Maxim was not only an inventor, engineer and very astute businessman, but his son, also rather confusingly named Hiram Percy Maxim (photo above - click on it for a larger version) was also a very successful inventor, who created the first gun suppressor (often incorrectly referred to as a silencer) and also the internal combustion engine silencer. Interestingly, whilst Maxim senior moved to the UK and became a naturalised British citizen, his son stayed in the USA for all of his life. Maxim junior was one of the foremost figures in the early development of radio. Much of the information in the following piece was sourced from an article in the December 1985 edition of Shortwave Magazine, which was co - written by Maggot Sandwich reader and long time friend Colin Turner G3VTT. The ARRL is the U.S.A. equivalent of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB). It was founded in 1914 from an idea of Hiram Percy Maxim earlier that year. Maxim wished to send an amateur radiogram from his home in Hartford, Connecticut to another station in Springfield, Massachusetts. His own radio transmitter did not have sufficient range to reach Springfield, and so he conceived the idea of having it relayed by intermediate station at Windsor Locks, Connecticut. There was nothing particularly unusual about this feat, even in the early part of 1914, as ships had been using the relay principle to get messages from mid - ocean to shore with the assistance of other ships for some time. The idea itself, therefore, had no particular significance. The application of the idea, however, had all the significance in the world. Maxim had for many months thought of starting a national radio organisation. He had not carried it further than the notional state because he could think of no prime moving force, no basic principle around which to build the structure: if an amateur organisation were ever to progress beyond the paper stage it must offer something more than one's name amongst the membership. In short, unless he could find something definite for such an organisation to do, he could not justify its existence. The morning after the Hartford to Springfield relay, while thoughts were harking back to the previous evening's success, the old ideas about the national organisation wandered through his mind, something clicked, and the problem was solved! For here, without doubt, was the idea around which the organisation could be successfully and strongly built. The missing block in the puzzle had been found and fitted. The organisation would be a relay organisation. It would have as its object the developing of relay routes over all the country among all the amateurs, so that by this means an amateur in one part of the country could send a message hundreds of miles to an amateur in another part; perhaps even send a message from one coast to another! Within a week, a name had suggested itself suitable for this new organisation, and a month later it was decided to start the ball rolling. In May 1914 Maxim, together with another Hartford amateur Mr. C. D. Tuska, sat down and wrote to every one of the amateurs listed at that time in the government call book, announcing the formation of the American Radio Relay League, (ARRL). The letter outlined the League's purposes, and solicited for membership; there were no subscriptions, as membership was free upon application. The response was immediate and very enthusiastic, with applications being returned in every postal delivery. In the early summer of 1914 the first publication was issued by the League, a little blue - bound call book listing the names, addresses, calls, radio transmitter power, range, Morse code receiving speed and operating hours of over 300 amateurs; it sold for 50 cents. Membership increased rapidly and in January 1915, the League was incorporated under the laws of the State of Connecticut as a non-commercial organisation with no capital stock. A second call book was issued in March 1915 and this time listed details of over 600 members. In the meantime attempts were being made to build up the relay routes for which the organisation had been formed, and some success was being achieved. During the late summer of 1915 a serious difficulty loomed and demanded attention. It was proving a real task to acquaint the membership with the plans and schedules by means of letters only. Increasingly it became evident that a bulletin of some kind was necessary. The League, however, had no funds; membership was still free and the call books were sold at cost. The answer came in 1915 when each member of the League received in the post a sixteen page magazine called QST. This first edition of QST announced that it was being published privately by Hiram Percy Maxim and Clarence Tuska, and was therefore the official publication of the League. Membership of the League continued to be free, but any member who wanted QST could obtain it by sending a $1 for a year's subscription. Response was again immediate and QST has been published on a regular basis ever since. Nowadays the ARRL has approximately 154,000 members. In addition to members in the US, the organisation claims over 7,000 members in other countries. The ARRL publishes many books and a monthly membership journal called QST. The ARRL held its Centennial Convention in Hartford, Connecticut in July 2014. The ARRL is the primary representative organisation of amateur radio operators to the US government. It performs this function by lobbying the US Congress and the Federal Communications Commission. The ARRL is also the international secretariat of the International Amateur Radio Union, which performs a similar role internationally, advocating for amateur radio interests before the International Telecommunications Union and the World Administrative Radio Conferences. The organisation is governed by a member-elected, volunteer Board of Directors. Each director serves a three-year term and represents the members within their particular region of the country. The national headquarters facilities are located in Newington, Connecticut. Along with the administrative headquarters, the 7-acre (2.8 hectare) site is home to amateur radio station W1AW. The ARRL Field Organisation carries out local and regional activities across the United States. All of this was down to the ingenuity of the son of local historical figure Sir Hiram Maxim.

Bexley Council has published its ‘Final Notification’ decision on BT’s proposals to remove seven public pay phones in the London Borough of Bexley, following feedback from residents. A consultation was held between 2 August and 2 September 2019, inviting comments on the proposed payphone removals. Two responses were received and taken into account in the final submission to BT. The Council objected to the removal of 4 of the 7 pay phones put forward by BT, having had regard to the criteria set out by Ofcom and the representations received from local residents - you can see the objections and consents on the table above - click on it for a larger view. BT says that overall use of pay phones has declined by over 90 percent in the last decade and the need to provide pay phones for use in emergency situations is reducing, with at least 98 percent of the UK having either 3G or 4G coverage. BT have to provide a reasonable number of working pay phones where they are most needed, but need to strike a balance between providing an effective service and running a viable pay phone business.

The images above are a bit of a sneak preview of the stand that The Erith Think Tank will have at the Erith Pier Festival next Saturday. The computer generated images were produced by the firm of architects that are advising the Think Tank - they do give a very good impression as to what the Think Tank stand will look like. Bexley Council's announcement regarding the Pier Festival reads thus:- "Enjoy a last blast of summer when the Erith Pier Festival returns to the riverside on Saturday 21 September from 11am to 9pm with a circus theme. Sample delicious street food and local beers and ciders from Bexley Brewery while listening to a variety of live music. This will include The Two Bows, Little Talks and traditional sea shanties sung by the London Sea Shanty Collective. With lots of free activities for children, including circus skills workshops, family games, face painting and mask making, there will be something for everyone. Thanks to sponsors, Wates Residential, Orbit and local eco-development The Quarry (an L and Q and Anderson Partnership) there will also be hook-a-duck, a coconut shy and a giant deckchair - perfect for selfies! Bexley Brewery are back with their ‘Beer on the Pier’ tent. There will be live music well into the evening with plenty of opportunities to sing and dance the night away as part of the September Sounds festival. For £1 you’ll also be able to buy the popular limited-edition Erith Pier Festival refillable cup. Look out for the prize draw on the Pier Festival fliers. Bring your completed entry to the Wates stall on the day for your chance to win some river-related prizes for the whole family to enjoy, kindly sponsored by Wates. Councillor Louie French, Bexley’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Growth said: “Community events such as this are just one of a range of ways we are working with the local community to help Erith become a flourishing riverside town. I hope residents and people outside the Borough will come along and enjoy the Pier Festival and its unique setting by the River Thames.” This year’s festival will feature an African Showcase Market featuring crafts and activities from all over Africa. There will also be a range of stalls where you can find out about local community organisations and what they are doing, as well as enjoying free activities. As always there will be lots of tantalising tastes from the Erith Kitchen. This will include street food from foodie favourites Lalu Catering, JW Ice Cream Co and the Spud Buddies, as well as some new faces like Meltsmiths and Foxy Pizza. Erith Pier Festival is organised as part of the Greater Erith Regeneration programme, funded by the London Borough of Bexley and the Mayor of London. Find out more or follow Greater Erith on Facebook and Twitter". I will be at the old Carnegie library in Walnut Tree Road for most of next Saturday and Sunday. As you may well be aware, in addition to the Erith Pier Festival, next Saturday is also a national event - it is the annual Open House weekend. As some will already know, I am a Director of the not for profit organisation, The Exchange - a Charitable Community Benefit Society, who are restoring the old library building and repurposing it as an arts, education and community centre. In the past on Saturday afternoons I have been running guided tours around the old Carnegie library building in Walnut Tree Road, Erith. Next weekend I will be running a number of tours as part of the Open House weekend on both Saturday and Sunday. The building tours are free, but you do need to book in advance. You can see booking details here. I look forward to meeting you.

Now for the weekly local safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly, the report from Barnehurst ward:- "Another great week for Barnehurst with no burglaries, long may this continue however vehicle crime continues to be a concern. In Hurstwood Avenue on 04/09/2019 a vehicle door handle was snapped off, the victim believes this was an effort to gain entry to the vehicle. In Selkirk Drive on 06/09/2019 at 12.25 two white males were seen stealing a catalytic converter from a transit van. One of the males was holding a reciprocal saw. As the witness approached the two males to ask them what there were doing one of the males swung the saw at him, thankfully missing the witness. They then drove off with the catalytic converter. In Colyers Lane between 06/09/19 and 09/09/19 sliding doors to a Peugeot van were forced open however nothing was taken. On 09/09/2019 at 06.00pm hours a motor cycle was stolen from outside Sainsbury's in Merewood Road. This was whilst the victim was shopping in Sainsbury's so it just shows how quickly your vehicle can be stolen. PC Arif and PC Tom Smith carried out a stop and search whilst out on patrol. One male with a moped was found in possession with Class B drugs and no Insurance was held on the vehicle therefore it was subsequently seized. Target patrols will continue around the Hampton House area and other areas where drug dealing has been reported. PCSOs Cathy Nolan and John Cullingham will be visiting primary schools this week as the Christmas Tree Project is now under way. Children will have the chance to put their artistic skills to paper to drawer a picture of how they see Christmas and there will be a special prize for the winner. The next Community contact session will be held on Wednesday 25th September 2019 at 11.00am in Barnehurst Golf Club. We look forward to seeing you". Belvedere ward:- "The team have been made aware of a group of males that have been gathering at a location in Picardy Road on a regular basis. When at the location, the males have been seen openly using what is thought to be cannabis and have been leaving large amounts of litter at the location, causing nuisance for the residents of nearby properties. We have been patrolling the area of late but have seen no activity of this type as yet. There has been a rise in reports of theft from motor vehicles across the ward. Details of the reports made to Police suggest that a majority of these involves vehicles being entered by persons unknown without keys to any of the vehicles. Please do not leave valuables on display in vehicles. There have also been reports of persons sleeping rough in the storage cupboard of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson House. The team have been in close contact with Orbit Housing officers and Thames Reach (homeless charity) have also visited the location, all in an effort to give assistance to whoever we might discover at the location. We have yet to find anyone however items left behind suggest that someone has been using the cupboard recently. There was a burglary at Claytonville Terrace, a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) in which unknown suspect(s) have damaged the internal front door of the flat and taken several items from within. This took place between September 2nd to September 9th. Exact dates/ times are not known. Our next street a week is on Wednesday 18th September at 6pm in Albany Road". Bexleyheath ward:- "There was a burglary reported along Woolwich Road on the 09/09/2019. Victims had found front door open but nothing seems to be taken. There has been three reports of theft from motor vehicle on the ward: Tow had been reported along Rydal Drive Bexleyheath, overnight on the same night – 09/09/2019. One had items taken and one was searched but nothing was taken. The other was reported along Haslemere Road, Bexleyheath on the 08/09/2019. Vehicle was searched but nothing taken. There was also a report of a purse being stolen from an elderly victim whilst on the bus along the Broadway, Bexleyheath. If you do wish to pass on information to Police then please contact Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111. If you are after crime prevention advice, please look at the Met Police website which has lots of information that you may find useful. Remember in an emergency please dial 999 and 101 for non-urgent reporting". Crayford ward:- "Unfortunately there were two attempted burglaries this week on our ward. On 8th September between 02.00-02.05 in Beech Walk, someone put their hand through a small downstairs window at the front of the house and opened the larger window to attempt to gain entry. The resident was woken as the suspect was speaking on his mobile phone as he was doing this. At Wolsley Close on the 8th September between 00.15 and 05.30 suspect opened a kitchen window but was unable to gain entry due to an obstruction. Theft from motor vehicle is still an ongoing issue locally. At 00.45 on 6th September a significant amount of unusual jewellery and clothing were stolen from a white BMW one series parked on a drive at Woolbrook Road. In the early hours of 7th September it was reported that a male was trying to break in to cars in the Wyatt Road area, police nearby located the male, described as IC1, gingery facial hair and missing teeth, wearing a pointed hoodie who was riding a bicycle. He discarded a white bag with several items within which was retrieved by police. Items of value were stolen from a grey Citroen parked in Maiden Lane on 7th September between 3.25-3.35. Number plates were stolen from a vehicle parked in Thames Road between 4th and 5th September, DN08ORU should be on a white Transit. BT cabling was stolen in the Bourne Road area, an alarm activation alerted police, the vehicle concerned in the crime was seized for forensics, however the suspects had already left the scene, the cabling was retrieved. An aluminium remembrance statue was bent and broken at the base at Hall Place between 6th and 9th September. CCTV captures a theft from motor vehicle in Stephen Road on 8th September between 23.10-23.15. White male seen crossing the road and entering what was believed to be a locked vehicle, after an untidy search it is believed that small change was stolen. On 10th September at 00.25 it was reported that a green coloured all terrain buggy had been stolen from Viridor in Thames Road, this is a hired vehicle and at the time of reporting full details of the buggy were not available. The crimes above are a timely reminder to ensure that all downstairs windows or easily accessed upper windows in your home are totally secured when you go out or go to bed. Also to remove anything of value from your vehicle, often this sort of crime is opportunist, the thief tries car handles until one is open or it is more sophisticated where the offender overrides the security of the vehicle to gain entry. Please don't make it easy for them, for more information on protecting your home and vehicle please see www.met.police.uk/crimeprevention We don't have any community contact sessions for a couple of weeks due to other commitments. The next one will be on Thursday 3rd October at Crayford Library between 14.00-15.00".

Erith ward:- "No Burglaries again this week but still our number one crime is theft from motor vehicles as you can see listed below. Protect your vehicle from catalytic converter thieves: If you can, park your vehicle in a locked garage when it is unattended. If it's not possible to garage your vehicle, park it in a busy, well-lit area as close to your property as possible. Consider installing a Thatcham approved alarm to your vehicle. Ones that activate if your vehicle is lifted or tilted are particularly effective. Use a catalytic converter protection device or marking system. Catalytic converters control and convert exhaust emissions from your vehicle into less toxic substances. If yours is stolen, you will know because your vehicle's engine will sound different. If you suspect your catalytic converter has been stolen, report it to us immediately by calling 101. Crimes of note from the following week: Theft from a motor vehicle on 03/09/2019 Pembroke Road – Items stolen from car including one passport. Theft from motor vehicle on 07/09/2019 Park Crescent – catalytic convert cut out from under the car. Theft from motor vehicle on 08/09/2019 Holly Hill Road - Purse taken and card used. Theft on 07/09/2019 McDonalds Restaurant  – items stolen from locker while at work. Theft from a motor vehicle on 09/09/2019 ST. Fidelis Road – Number plates taken . Theft of a motor vehicle on 07/09/2019 West Street – Car stolen from the location of West Street". Northumberland Heath ward:- "The team have been busy this week investigating a number of crimes that have occurred on our ward, we have made good progress on a number of these crimes and gathered good CCTV footage. We have had a theft of a catalytic converter from a vehicle that was parked in Mill Road. Also in Mill Road Car park the parking pay machine was broken into and a substantial amount of cash was taken. The team are aware of a lot of theft/shoplifting occurring in the Tesco on Bexley Road. The team are now in regular contact with the staff and security and CCTV footage will be viewed, suspects identified will be dealt with. There have been no burglaries in Northumberland Heath this week. Our next community contact session is on Friday 20th September at 3pm in the Mill Road Library, please do come along and meet a member of the team and discuss any issues or concerns you have, or just pop in and say hello".

Slade Green and Northend ward - a report from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association office worker Claire Tack:- "On Thursday 5th September I had the pleasure of meeting 3 of the new coordinators for the Rainbow Road development, in Slade Green (photo above - click on it for a larger version). PCSO Mark Pigott and myself explained their role and responsibilities of being a coordinator. A huge welcome to Derrick, Abdoul and Tracy. I look forward to meeting the fourth coordinator, Andrew in due course. The estate is huge and would benefit from more residents willing to become coordinators, so if you know of anyone who lives there please ask them". The main Slade Green and Northend ward report continues:- "There was a believed attempted burglary on Sunday 08/09/2019. At 2330 hours the victim saw his security light come on at the front of his properly, when he went downstairs he heard footsteps running away and found his very small downstairs toilet window open. This window is too small for anyone to climb in through but it may have been a starting point for the suspect(s). Number plates were taken from a car in Alexandra Road during the evening of Monday 09/09/2019. A white van was seen driving off as a neighbour came out just after they were taken. A car parked at Turquoise Court close to Crimson Road, Slade Green, was subject of a break in overnight from the 10th to the 11th of September. Fortunately nothing was taken. Please remember to take all valuable items from inside your vehicles. This will also include not leaving empty bags on sight or charger leads, even a few pennies, please leave nothing on display. Along with Claire from Bexley N.Watch, we met three of the four new coordinators who have taken up the responsibility of our watch in the Rainbow Road estate. It was nice to put names to faces etc and we look forward to keeping in regular touch with them in the future. Our next community contact session is from 12pm on Tuesday 17/09/2019 at the St Augustines Welcome Café, inside the church". Thamesmead East ward:- "No burglaries this week. Vehicle Crime: Between the hours of 3:30 am and 10:00 of Sunday 08/09/19 a vehicle parked in Eastgate Close had the drivers window smashed , vehicle searched, no property taken. Monday 09/09/19 between the hours of 1:40pm and 2:00pm a vehicle parked in the car park Holstein Way had the front drivers window smashed, a wallet and mobile phone taken. Bledlow Close Monday 09/09/19 between the hours of 09:45pm and 05;40 am Tuesday 10/09/19 , a vehicle was broken into, a wallet was taken. Overnight of Monday 09/09/19 and Tuesday 10/09/19 a vehicle parked in Mangold Way was broken into. Monday 09/09/19 at 11:40pm the drivers window of a vehicle parked in Surlinham Close was smashed loose change and a mobile phone was taken.Tuesday 10/09/19 a vehicle parked in St Helens Road had the drivers window smashed, an untidy search, nothing reported stolen. Between the hours of 02:00am and 12:48 pm a vehicle parked in Seacourt Road had the front number plate stolen. A piece of good news - PC Pruden arrested a male for failing to appear at Maidstone Crown Court, in Relation to being in Possession of an offensive weapon/knife. The male was kept in custody overnight to appear at Court the following morning. After investigation a robbery that occurred in Sedgemere Road, SE2, a female has been arrested/interviewed. Further enquires continue". West Heath ward:- "There were no reported burglaries on West Heath Ward between 04/09/19 and 11/09/19, but there have been 13 reported thefts from motor vehicles and two motor vehicle interferences (attempted theft) during the same period. The thefts were not confined to one area but dotted around the ward. On 05/09/19 at about 0630 hours the informant reported theft his tools were stolen from his car in Chessington Avenue Bexleyheath. On 05/09/19 at 0420 hours the informant reported that two white males broke into his father's car and stole cash outside Malvern Avenue Bexleyheath. One male stood on the drive and the other stood keeping watch. Males had no intention to steal the car only looking for money inside the car. On 05/09/19 at 0300 hours outside Bostall Park Avenue, Bexleyheath. The informant reported that an unknown suspect had broken into their car and stolen items after an untidy search inside the vehicle and cash stolen. The informant did not know how the suspect broke into the car as no damage was done to the doors which were left ajar by the suspects. On 04/09/19 at 2200 hours outside Cranbrook Road, Bexleyheath an untidy search took place inside the vehicle but nothing was taken. On 08/09/19 at 1500 hours outside Preston Drive, Belvedere. The vehicle was broken into and an untidy search was carried out and a watch was stolen. On 08/09/19 at 2200 hours outside Dry Hill the informants number plates of his vehicle a black BMW X5 index MPS55GMU were stolen. On 08/09/19 at 0200 hours outside Mayfair Avenue Bexleyheath informant reported that their car was broken into and cash stolen. On 08/09/19 at 0100 hours outside Mayfair Avenue Bexleyheath the informant left their car unknowingly unlocked and suspect stole items from the vehicle including a navy boys Tommy Hilfiger coat, a black women's Barbour coat and a pair of blue NIKE trainers. A car was also broken into at 2300 hours on 07/09/19 in King Harold's Way, Bexleyheath and tools stolen".

Following my earlier piece on next Saturday's Erith Pier Festival, and the Open House Weekend tours of the old Carnegie Library in Walnut Tree Road, here is a short CGI video showcasing how the the Erith Think Tank stand at the Pier Festival should look when it is in place. Whilst I will be at the library conducting free guided tours of the historic listed building for much of the day, I do hope to pop along to the pier when tour bookings permit. Leave a comment below, or alternatively you can Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Purple Willows.

Thanks to the eagle eyes of a reader, a mystery has been uncovered. It would appear that the redevelopment plans submitted by Bexley Council to its own planning department in respect of the scheduled improvement works to the garden and seating area at the entrance to Erith Pier have been suddenly withdrawn. The plans had included improved seating, new planters, and a children's play area, amongst other features designed to improve the public realm. The upper image above shows the current layout of the Pier Square entrance in Wharfside Close, and the lower image outlines the area that had been scheduled for improvement by the council. After some investigation by a source within Bexley Council, I was informed that:- "The current planning application for Pier Square was for outline consent and was submitted last year primarily to get early feedback on potential parking and traffic management issues. The process has been really helpful and we now have enough information to address these concerns and move forward with the project. However, the designs were only at early concept stage so the project required a further application full with detailed designs, transport statement and technical packages etc. This week, the planning officer advised we withdraw the current application to make way for a full planning application which will be made in September. The project is still very much going ahead and this was just an administrative requirement. I’ll ask Development Control if it would be possible to add a couple of lines on the planning portal to explain the application will be superseded with a full planning application in September and I will update the Comms team accordingly". Good news; the area around the entrance to Erith Pier could do with some upgrading, as it has remained almost untouched since it was created in 1999. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

The former Cairngall Medical Centre in Erith Road, Upper Belvedere (photo above - click on it for a larger version) is to re-open as the Purple Willows children's nursery and day care centre in October of this year. The new nursery will be offering 92 places and will be split into baby suite, toddler room and Preschool class with each room designed with modern equipment and excellent resources to meet the needs of the children. The nursery will also provide a multi-sensory room to encourage children to explore their environment and increase concentration. Whether another local nursery is needed or not is currently unclear - opinion is divided. What is certain however is that opinion is in unanimous approval that the current doctors surgery is being in internally refurbished and repurposed, rather than being knocked down and being replaced by yet more flats - as is happening to the former Belvedere Police Station, diagonally opposite. 

I know that a fair number of Radio Amateurs and other radio enthusiasts regularly read the Maggot Sandwich; however not all of them are members of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) like myself, and thus it is entirely possible that some hams may not be aware that moves are afoot to take the 2 Metre VHF amateur radio band away from Radio Amateurs. A proposal by France to make the Aeronautical Mobile Service the primary users of the 144-146 MHz (2 Metre VHF) band and demote the Amateur Radio Service to secondary users - effectively removing them from the band. The report says that this is “part of a broader consideration of the spectrum allocated to that service.” The 2M band is not, after all, one of the little-used microwave bands, it is a legally protected main amateur radio band. Not only that, for Europeans 144 – 146 MHz is their entire 2M VHF band. What was really weird about all this is why this is a French proposal and not a European-wide proposal. Apparently this is a move by the French company Thales Group to grab these frequencies for some kind of aeronautical communication system they are proposing. A campaign to prevent the loss of this primary amateur communications band - much used by RAYNET, the disaster and emergency communications service during hurricanes, floods and other disasters, when mobile phones, land lines and other forms of communication are unavailable. 2M VHF gets through when conventional communications cannot. There is now a petition which concerned individuals can sign, which states:- "The 2 Meter Amateur Radio Band (144-146MHz) is under Threat due to a proposal from France during the World Radio Conference 2019 meeting that the 2 Meter band should be allocated as a Aeronautical Band. We, the Radio Amateurs find this totally unacceptable that a harmonised worldwide primary user band for Radio Amateurs is being proposed to be used as an Aeronautical Band as it is meant to be a 'protected' band for Radio Amateurs. We want the CEPT to reconsider the proposal from France. Amateur Radio is still a strong and ongoing hobby for 100 years and we must preserve and protect our hobby". Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) RSGB President Dave Wilson, wrote to Ofcom strongly expressing the RSGB’s concerns about the proposed WRC-23 aeronautical Agenda Item that includes 144-146 MHz - the protected 2M ham band. The President’s letter started by stating that the RSGB “shares the concerns of the global amateur community and views the French proposal as lacking a proper understanding of the implications of sharing an aeronautical application with weak-signal terrestrial and space communications services”. It continued by saying that “from our perspective, and in the view of the wider global amateur community, we do not foresee any realistic feasibility of a sharing scenario which does not seriously degrade or impede amateur usage of the spectrum, given the extent and complexity of current amateur services’ primary usage”. The letter stated that there seems no justification for including this band in the proposed study, and that the RSGB is not convinced that there are “any innovative sharing methods” which would not inevitably constrain both incumbent and new services. The letter went on to say that “inclusion of this spectrum in the study is likely to involve regulators in a lot of extra work, when the outcome can be sensibly predicted at this stage”. On top of this, there are millions of Radio Amateurs world wide who own 2M VHF equipment, who would lose the utility of it should the band be re-allocated to other uses. It has also effectively stopped amateurs from buying 2M equipment for the foreseeable future, hurting specialised radio retailers such as Martin Lynch and Sons, Nevada and Waters and Stanton. You can sign a Change.org petition to try and save the band for radio amateurs by clicking here. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

One of the disadvantages of the Maggot Sandwich only publishing once per week is that I can often miss out on any "scoop" stories. This has most definitely been the case in this edition. A story broke late on Monday night, and was to my knowledge first covered by Darryl Chamberlain of the excellent 853 Blog, which primarily covers Lewisham, Woolwich and Charlton. As regular readers will be aware, I do not cover issues relating to party politics, and endeavour to remain neutral in my reporting. I do cover issues that relate to local concerns, irrespective of the elected representative who it involves. It came as quite a shock to me that local MP Teresa Pearce has announced that she is not going to stand for re-selection as an MP at the next general election. I know that many local residents - whatever their political affiliation - think very highly of Teresa, as indeed do I. She is that rarest of things - an honest, straightforward and very hard working MP. I have to say that I do not live in her constituency (I live about 300 metres outside of it), but she has always been very helpful and friendly. She will continue as the MP for Erith and Thamesmead until the next general election, which could be as late as 2022, but in the current terrible state of parliament, and the disarray of both main parties, it could be somewhat sooner. One has to also remember that the electoral boundaries are going to be changed at some point in the future, which will effectively do away with her constituency. On top of this, she has been an MP for nine years thus far, and effectively been "on call" 24/7 for all of that time. On top of this I understand that Teresa has a couple of members of her family with serious, long term health problems. I feel that she deserves a rest. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

I was recently contacted by a reader who had attended the recent record breaking charity auction of the guitar collection of David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. Following his auction visit, the reader wrote to me regarding the Vox Guitar Organ that I wrote about at the time. I was able to provide him some information that I had covered on the Blog in the past. The brains behind many of the JMI / Vox musical instruments and amplifiers was a chap called Dick Denney (photo above - click for a larger view). The man who many regard as the UK’s most important guitar amplifier designer was actually deaf in one ear, but Dick Denney’s perforated eardrum may have been the making of him. As a result of his affliction, he was exempted from military service during World War Two and seconded to the Vickers munitions factory in Crayford – something that would permanently alter the trajectory of his life. During the pre-war years, Dick had become infatuated with both jazz music and radio electronics. Early experiments resulted in the inevitable destruction of the family radio, but Dick’s skills improved and his wages from the factory enabled him to buy components. His work at Vickers also meant that Dick was freed from an unwanted apprenticeship in his father’s barber shop, and perhaps most importantly of all, it introduced him to a man named Tom Jennings. During the war, amateur radio activity was prohibited so, as a guitarist, Dick turned his electronic skills to amplifier building. His goal was to develop an amplifier that was loud, but also small and light – and he had ample opportunity to test them out. Munitions factories were understandably a choice target for the Luftwaffe’s bombing attacks, and a as a result, the staff at Vickers in Crayford spent extended periods sheltering during air raids. Entertainment was in short supply down in the shelters, and so to keep up morale, Dick, Tom Jennings and a few other members of the workforce would put on musical performances – these performances with Jennings gave Dick a chance to test and refine his amplifier designs. Jennings was clearly impressed with what Dick had produced, and being of an entrepreneurial mind, discussed a joint venture with Denny where they would produce amplifiers for organs and accordions together. However, nothing ever came of the plan, and after the end of the war, the pair went their separate ways and lost contact. Dick was born in Erith, and, at an early age, became interested in the guitar and amateur radio, whose novelty attracted thousands of hobbyists in the 1930s and to this day. He was soon a leading exponent of the Hawaiian guitar, and his radio skills enabled him to listen to American shortwave radio broadcasts, which inspired his creation of instruments and amplifying equipment. His fragile health excluded him from wartime armed forces; instead, he worked at Vickers' munitions factory, in Crayford, where he first met the accordion-playing Jennings, who shared his interest in musical innovation. After the war, Dick ran a radio and sound equipment shop in Belvedere. By 1951 Jennings was running the fairly successful Jennings Organ Company, but it soon become apparent that diversification was necessary to grow the business. He also owned a music shop and would notice growing interest in guitars during the early rock ’n’ roll years. Since there were very few guitar amplifiers available in the UK, and becoming an importer for American Gibson and Fender amps was not viable due to import restrictions in austerity post war Britain, Jennings tried to adapt one of his organ amplifiers for guitar. It proved unsuccessful, and the project was shelved. Meanwhile Dick Denney had set up in business as an electronics and radio repairer, while moonlighting as a busy dance band guitarist. However, in 1952 he suffered a collapsed lung and was forced to take time off to recuperate. His idea grew from a portable amplifier-speaker unit he developed, while convalescing from  respiratory illness in 1952, for use with his Hawaiian guitar. In 1955, Dick demonstrated his system - not the first to be made in this country, but certainly the most effective - to the owner of a Dartford music shop, Tom Jennings, who proposed a joint manufacturing venture. So began Jennings Musical Industries, and their trademark, Vox, was applied to all Dick's JMI work. Indeed, the early 1960s rise of British guitar groups caused an explosion of interest that left JMI struggling to keep up with demand. Dick produced three more original designs - a 100-watt amplifier, three times the power of any previous equipment; a guitar-organ, allowing the guitarist to produce his own accompaniment; and a wireless microphone system, the forerunner of those used in today's stage musicals. This was on top of his work on his most famous creation, the Vox AC30 amplifier - the sound of the "British Invasion". Jennings sold JMI in 1968, by which time a franchise agreement had been struck with an American manufacturer for use of the Vox name. Dick left the company in 1967 to pursue a career as an independent consultant and designer, which he maintained until his death. He went on to become an instrument technician for The Beatles and local band The Rolling Stones; in an interview some years ago, Denny's grand daughter recalled that:- "He toured the world demonstrating Vox equipment’, sometimes on American TV. He also set up equipment for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones at important shows. Apparently, Dick was fond of The Beatles and enjoyed banter with John Lennon who called him ‘nanny goat’ because of his beard”. Fans once mistook him for a Beatle and tore some of his clothes. They clearly did not notice the cosy cardigan Dick habitually wore, or his trad-jazz goatee. He also came to The Beatles’ rescue at a Scarborough gig when some amplifiers on trolley stands started trundling down the sloping stage towards them. Thereafter, they were fitted with braking casters. Although he never became rich, Dick felt content that he had made a living being paid for what was essentially his hobby. He combined a working knowledge of electronics with a musician’s sensibility and great ears to achieve the sounds he liked using the technology and components of the time. That countless guitarists have appreciated Dick’s amplifiers is testament to his skill and judgment. Dick died a few months after his 80th birthday on the 6th of June 2001, leaving a son, five daughters and the most wonderful sonic legacy.

There is to be a public meeting / consultation on Thursday 18th July commencing 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Christchurch Primary School on the redevelopment of the Hainault, Lesney Park Road, Erith. The Infant Welfare and Maternity Home was opened in 1920 by the Erith Urban District Council in a large Victorian house named 'Hainault', bought for the purpose as a cost of £1800. The Home had six beds, three of which were in the maternity ward. There was also an infant welfare centre, and antenatal, dental and school clinics were held there.  The coach house and stables were converted into an operating theatre.  The staff consisted of two midwives, a ward maid, a cook and a caretaker. The Maternity Home remained open during WW2, although it was in a danger zone.  A temporary clinic was added in 1943.  In 1944 a flying bomb exploded nearby and caused considerable damage, but the only injury was to a baby in its cot. In 1945 the building was extended and the bed number increased to 22. In 1948 the Home joined the NHS under the administration of the Woolwich Group Hospital Management Committee.  It was renamed the Hainault Maternity Hospital. In 1956 the bed numbers were increased to 24. In 1965 a delivery unit was added, which provided two first-stage rooms and a bathroom, WC and sterilising room. The Home closed in 1974 with 21 beds, a victim of the new NHS policy of placing maternity units in general hospitals. From 2009 until 2014 the Hainault became Hainault Hostel, a long-stay hostel with 12 beds for people with learning difficulties run by the MCCH Society Ltd. After 2014 it was closed, and is now being readied for demolition.

Now for the weekly safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association; firstly the report from Barnehurst ward:- "A great week on the Ward this week with absolutely no crimes of note to report. There were a couple of criminal damages and thefts from Motor vehicle but all these were domestic related with the suspect being known to the victim. Officers continue to patrol the ward and several stop and searches have been conducted in the fight against drugs. Officers also assisted housing officers in the prevention of breach of peace while an empty premises was boarded up at Hampton House. Other good news for Barnehurst residents is that the local police team is now at full strength with the arrival of PC Smith. The next community contact session is to be held at Barnehurst Golf Course on Thursday July 18th at 11am". Belvedere ward:- "There was a recent garage burglary in Mossdown Close. The team viewed CCTV of this incident which showed a white transit van travelling to and from the area on three occasions. Along with a great deal of sentimental items, an orange and black KTM motorcycle was taken from the garage which has then been seen on numerous occasions being driven throughout the north of the borough. The investigation continues – we would ask that anyone that may be able to offer information as to the whereabouts of the vehicle, please contact the team. There was also a garage burglary in Monarch Road from which an orange quad bike was stolen. This was the only item taken from the garage, which had its padlock cut to gain entry. Again, if anyone has any information in relation to this, please contact the team. During patrols of Ruskin Road on Monday night (8th July) we had reason to speak to three males at the location, each of which were searched for drugs. Cannabis was found and a Community Resolution (a warning) was issued to one of the males. We have been continuing our Street a Week initiative recently with visits to Shortlands Close and Hattersfield Close". Bexleyheath ward:- "There have been no reports of burglaries or attempted burglaries on the ward. One report of Theft of motor vehicle at the Civic car park that was reported on the Tuesday 09/07/2019. Also there has been three reports of theft from motor vehicles: Saturday 06/07/2019 - Long Lane Bexleyheath number plates stolen from vehicle; Wednesday 03/07/2019 – Bexleyheath Marriott Hotel – Catalytic converter stolen from vehicle stolen at about 1250hrs; Wednesday 03/07/2019 – Sainsbury's Car Park Broadway Bexleyheath – number plate and catalytic converter stolen from vehicle. A purse was reported stolen on Friday 05/07/2019 between 1300hrs-1415hrs. Purse was taken from victims handbag in the M and S store Bexleyheath. Also on the Saturday 06/07/2019 between 1245hrs and 1315hrs – Victim was pick pocketed along the Broadway and mobile phone was stolen. 13 youths have been stopped and searched around the ward and two have been dealt with for possession of cannabis. The team regularly conduct patrols along drug hot spot areas and ASB areas on the ward and conduct regular stops and searches where necessary". Crayford ward:- "No burglaries to report. The biggest crime generator on the ward this week has been motor vehicle crime with 5 theft from motor vehicle and 2 theft of motor vehicle. Theft from motor vehicle at Hall Place on Wednesday 3rd July; Theft from motor vehicle in Perry Street on Saturday 6th July; Theft of motor vehicle from Crayford Way on Saturday 6th July; A catalytic convertor was taken from a vehicle overnight of Friday 5th July in Tanners Close; A vehicle was stolen from Tower retail park on Sunday 7th July; Theft from motor vehicle on 8th July outside Bookers Cash and Carry in Thames Road. And finally a theft from motor vehicle on Wednesday 10th July at Hall Place, Bourne Road. Officers continue to patrol drug hot spot areas carrying out stop and searches, recently completing several positive searches. One of these after a foot chase in Marden Crescent. The same officers have also recovered two stolen mopeds over the last week. Crayford officers also assisted housing officers in preventing a breach of the peace while evicting a squatter before boarding premises".

Erith ward:- "Police seized a vehicle for being driven with no insurance, residents complained about the noise it was making and the poor manner of driving so we took action. We attended a Recruitment day in Erith town centre on Wednesday hopefully there will be more of these (See image above) Dates for your Dairies: Erith community fun day St Fidelis Road Saturday 20th July 11am/3pm. CCS Costa Coffee Erith Wednesday 17th 4pm". Northumberland Heath ward - no report received this week. Slade Green and Northend ward:- "This week is a good news weekly update as there are no significant crimes to report on our ward. On Monday 08/07/2019 PCSO Mark and PCSO Adam from Erith SNT attended Erith Sports Centre, where Peareswood School and the other schools in the Woodland Academy held a “Race for Life” event in aid of Cancer UK. All year groups from years 3 to 6 from all 3 schools did one and a half laps (600m) of the track and everyone should be commended for their efforts on the day. On Tuesday 09/07/2019 PCSO Mark attended St Pauls school to speak with years 5 and 6 about behaviour in and out of school. From September the school will have regular visits from Mark to carry on engagement with the pupils (this is already happening at Peareswood School). After attending the school, Mark then attended the “Welcome Café” at St Augustines Church for tea and cake with local residents, Vicar Jim Bennett and church staff. The café is open to all from 11am until 2pm every Tuesday with lunch served from 1230. On Wednesday 10/07/2019 Mark was asked by PCSO Lorraine from Northumberland Heath SNT to join her at Jacqueline's Gems nursery in Stelling Road on Northumberland Heath ward to have a chat with all the pre school children about our role in the community. A great time was had by all with the children posing for pictures wearing our hats and pretending to use our radios. Proactive patrols are regularly taking place across the ward with PC's Mark and James regularly seen out and about on their pushbikes. We are aware of several cars that are driving in an anti social manner in recent weeks with “drifting” and wheel spins reported across our ward and Erith Town Centre. 3 vehicles are being investigated with one already seized by Erith SNT. If you do see anything relating to this or any other local issue, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Our next CCS is on Saturday 20/07/2019 from 1000 hours in Forest Road café". Thamesmead East ward:- "Burglary - Sydney Road Saturday 6/7/19 between 10am – 10:30pm Victim reported unknown suspect/s have forced entry to bedroom door, no damage seen. A tidy search with draws being disturbed and items taken from within. Vehicle crime - Lensbury Way Wednesday 3/7/19 Victim tried to unlocked van and noticed the lock had been tampered with. Victim was unable to unlock the vehicle with the key. On Sunday 7/7/19 suspect stated the vehicle would not drive over 15mph. A mechanic informed the victim suspect/s have cut 3 inches of a sensor lead from underneath the vehicle. Sydney Road Thursday 4/7/19 between 3:30 – 10:30am 5/7/19 Victim reported unknown suspect/s have approached the vehicle and removed the catalytic convertor without permission or knowledge. Lensbury Way Saturday 6/7/19 between 9am – 5pm 7/7/19 Victim left vehicle locked in a parking bay. The vehicle was not drivable as needed a new engine. When victim returned to vehicle at 5pm on Sunday 7/7/19 at 5pm it was no longer parked at the location. No evidence of broken glass and victim is still in possession of the keys. A neighbour told the victim that they had seen a low loader truck near the vehicle but the time is unknown. However the neighbour did not see any suspect/s and did not see the vehicle being placed on the truck. Southmere Drive Saturday 6/7/19 between 6pm – 11am 7/7/19 Victims vehicle windscreen has been smashed by suspect/s unknown, unsure at present if anything removed. Kale Road Sunday 7/7/19 between midnight – 4am Monday morning Victim reports vehicle's exhaust and Catalytic Converter had been cut out from underneath car. Leatherbottle Green Sunday 7/7/19 between 10:30pm – 5:37am Sunday Victim's vehicle broken into. Ipad in Gucci case and loose change taken by suspect/s unknown. Yarnton Way Sunday 7/7/19 between 7pm – 8:35 Monday victim reported vehicle broken into Satnav and loose change removed by suspect/s unknown. Hinksey Path Monday 8/7/19 between 8pm – 5am Tuesday 9/7/19 victim reports front passenger side window smashed, seems suspect/s have leant inside vehicle. Tavy Bridge Wednesday 10/7/19 between 4pm - 8:30am 11/7/19 Victim reported that unknown suspect/s have gained entry to vehicle and stolen property from within, no signs of forced entry. Vehicle was parked in the resident's car park that has a security gate. Victim is concerned as suspect/s now have a fob for the gate. Good News: A Street A Week was held in Sydney Road and we were happy to see several residents come along. Any issues were discussed and some residents were interested in our Weekly Crime Update. If you are interested please email the team and ask to be added to our list". West Heath ward:- "One theft from motor vehicle in Pembury Road. The victim discovered his car ransacked on Tuesday July 2nd. This is the second incident of this nature in Pembury Road over the last week. PCSO Reid held at street briefing last Saturday in Pembury Road and spoke to a number of residents regarding their concerns. A moped was stolen from Bedonwell Road on Sunday July 7th between 06.30 – 07.30. The vehicle was later found near Streamway but had sustained damage. On Monday July 8th a vehicle was stolen from an address in Glenview. The suspect made off with the vehicle having taken it for a test drive. The vehicle was later found in Ramsden Road Erith. It is not known at this stage if the vehicle was damaged when found. A blue Yamaha bike was stolen from the driveway of a property in Lansdowne Avenue on Tuesday July 9th between 00.30 – 0035am. The vehicle had a disc lock on it and it is not known how the lock was cut off. Several males were seen on the victim's driveway at the time of the incident. The team, along with our colleagues from Crook log, arrested a Male last Thursday in Darenth Road for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and for being in possession of a machete".

The end video this week comes from American firearms historian Ian McCollum, who examines the rather chequered history of a Maxim machine gun that was manufactured in Hiram Maxim's factory in Fraser Road Erith, and was then sold to the Russians, only for it to be captured by the Germans during the First World War, and subsequently modified for their own use. Leave a comment below, or alternatively you can Email me with comments to hugh.neal@gmail.com.