Chris writes:
Last year's call for local 5-a-side footballers on Brockley Central met with huge success. However, due to the popularity of fatherhood we're falling low in numbers again.
Anybody out there interested in 60 minutes of 5-a-side football with a group of ageing has-beens should get in touch. We play on the pitches at Catford bridge, kicking off on Wednesdays at 19:30, the cost is £5.
Please email me if you'd like to play.
Sunken Master
Lucy writes:
I go to a really brilliant adult/teenager swimming lesson down at St Dunstan's school pool on Mondays at 8.15-9.15pm.
The coach is an ex Olympic guy and he's amazing. The class is quiet as they have changed venue and lost some swimmers. I just wanted to help them try and get more people as they are really lovely as well as being good!
If people like the sound of that, their website is www.tigersharkssc.co.uk for more information.
I go to a really brilliant adult/teenager swimming lesson down at St Dunstan's school pool on Mondays at 8.15-9.15pm.
The coach is an ex Olympic guy and he's amazing. The class is quiet as they have changed venue and lost some swimmers. I just wanted to help them try and get more people as they are really lovely as well as being good!
If people like the sound of that, their website is www.tigersharkssc.co.uk for more information.
Badminton returns
St Asaph's badminton is back. Vanessa writes:
We are due to start again on Thursday September 5th!
As before we will play from 8pm to 10pm at the Askes' sports hall on St Asaph Rd. Bring rackets and shuttlecocks will be provided. The cost will depend on how many people turn up to play but will be a maximum of £8 per person and could be as low as £5. We are booked for each Thursday in September and will continue into October and beyond provided there is a demand.
We are due to start again on Thursday September 5th!
As before we will play from 8pm to 10pm at the Askes' sports hall on St Asaph Rd. Bring rackets and shuttlecocks will be provided. The cost will depend on how many people turn up to play but will be a maximum of £8 per person and could be as low as £5. We are booked for each Thursday in September and will continue into October and beyond provided there is a demand.
England manager visits Brockley
Despite the fact that Brockley Nick used to work at The FA, doing PR for precisely this sort of thing, we didn't get an invite, but the News Shopper made it along and has a load of nice shots. They say:
Mr Hodgson, who was joined by FA chairman Greg Dyke along with players-turned-pundits Mark Bright and John Salako, stayed around to speak to the young players and their coaches. Football development officer Darren Smith said he had kept the visit as a surprise for the players.
With 375 youngsters and 30 coaches, HF Sports Paulista, based at the King's College ground in Brockley Rise, was created earlier this year by merging three clubs together. It has recently launched two girls' teams. To find out more email Info@paulista.co.uk or call 020 8690 5586.
Very few grassroots club earn community club status, so this is a great tribute to the team who run the club, who need to demonstrate quality coaching, a development pathway for young players and a commitment to fair play.
Honor Oak Women's Badminton Club
Sian writes:
The Honor Oak Women's badminton club is looking for new players when we kick off again on Sept 4th. We meet on Wednesday evenings from 8.30 – 9.30pm in Honor Oak Community Centre, Turnham Road, London, SE4 2JD
We are a friendly informal group of women of varying levels. Costs are £6 a month or £3 for a one off drop in session. Bring your own racket (but if you want to borrow one ask as some of us have spares)
Contact: sian.griffiths@talk21.com
The Honor Oak Women's badminton club is looking for new players when we kick off again on Sept 4th. We meet on Wednesday evenings from 8.30 – 9.30pm in Honor Oak Community Centre, Turnham Road, London, SE4 2JD
We are a friendly informal group of women of varying levels. Costs are £6 a month or £3 for a one off drop in session. Bring your own racket (but if you want to borrow one ask as some of us have spares)
Contact: sian.griffiths@talk21.com
Glass Mill Open Day, July 20th
Fusion writes:
On Saturday 20 July, Lewisham Council and Fusion Lifestyle will be marking the start of the summer holidays with a day of free taster sessions and activities for all ages at Glass Mill Leisure Centre.
Throughout the day, young people will be able to take part in special gym induction sessions and sample classes including boxercise and bootcamp.
Meanwhile, adults can test their dance moves with Zumba, tone their tum with Ab Attack, experience a full body workout with Body Combat or take inspiration from the Tour de France with an RPM class. The gym will also be offering group sessions as well as rowing, sit-up and press-up challenges.
The brand new 10m climbing wall will also be open, with a series of taster sessions for adults and juniors, beginners and experts.
From midday onwards, Glass Mill’s two pools will be dedicated to swimming assessments and fun family swims. There will also be an underwater hockey demonstration from 4pm.
All sessions are free and are offered on a first come first served basis, subject to availability.
Less sporty members of the family will be kept entertained by face painting, special appearances by mascots, Olly the Octopus and Zoggy the Seal, and fantastic prize draws and competitions.
The award-winning Rhubarb & Custard Café, located in Glass Mill’s foyer, will be serving special hand-made picnic food which can be purchased and then enjoyed in the beautiful surroundings of the adjacent Cornmill Gardens.
For the full programme of activities, visit www.fusion-lifestyle.com/OpenDay
On Saturday 20 July, Lewisham Council and Fusion Lifestyle will be marking the start of the summer holidays with a day of free taster sessions and activities for all ages at Glass Mill Leisure Centre.
Throughout the day, young people will be able to take part in special gym induction sessions and sample classes including boxercise and bootcamp.
Meanwhile, adults can test their dance moves with Zumba, tone their tum with Ab Attack, experience a full body workout with Body Combat or take inspiration from the Tour de France with an RPM class. The gym will also be offering group sessions as well as rowing, sit-up and press-up challenges.
The brand new 10m climbing wall will also be open, with a series of taster sessions for adults and juniors, beginners and experts.
From midday onwards, Glass Mill’s two pools will be dedicated to swimming assessments and fun family swims. There will also be an underwater hockey demonstration from 4pm.
All sessions are free and are offered on a first come first served basis, subject to availability.
Less sporty members of the family will be kept entertained by face painting, special appearances by mascots, Olly the Octopus and Zoggy the Seal, and fantastic prize draws and competitions.
The award-winning Rhubarb & Custard Café, located in Glass Mill’s foyer, will be serving special hand-made picnic food which can be purchased and then enjoyed in the beautiful surroundings of the adjacent Cornmill Gardens.
For the full programme of activities, visit www.fusion-lifestyle.com/OpenDay
The Glass Mill, Loampit Vale
Net gain for Hilly Fields tennis
Patrick Bishop writes:
The Brockley Central Hilly Fields tennis net fundraiser generated an enormous amount of discussion, but it also generated a huge amount of generosity from Hilly Fields locals who read Brockley Central.
Together we successfully raised the money (nearly £300) for the nets which I bought last week. Readers suggested I contact the council and parks contractor who were very supportive too – unsurprisingly, they thought it was great! I handed over the nets to them earlier this week, and they put them up yesterday. So we now have the newest, shiniest tennis nets in Britain. I believe they’ve also given the court a good tidy up too.
Great to see that so many people chose to support the project and give generously. Someone also got in touch to suggest that we explore whether the council might be able to offer some kind of matched funding for these sorts of projects, which would definitely be interesting. There were also a number of suggestions about tournaments and ladders etc., all of which we should look in to, if it’s not already been done!
The Brockley Central Hilly Fields tennis net fundraiser generated an enormous amount of discussion, but it also generated a huge amount of generosity from Hilly Fields locals who read Brockley Central.
Great to see that so many people chose to support the project and give generously. Someone also got in touch to suggest that we explore whether the council might be able to offer some kind of matched funding for these sorts of projects, which would definitely be interesting. There were also a number of suggestions about tournaments and ladders etc., all of which we should look in to, if it’s not already been done!
£20m Lewisham pool and leisure centre opens June 10th
Lewisham Council says:
On Monday 10 June, Glass Mill – Lewisham’s flagship new leisure centre – will open to the public.
The £20m centre, located on Loampit Vale, has been designed by leisure specialists LA Architects and will be operated by registered charity Fusion Lifestyle on behalf of Lewisham Council. The contractor for Glass Mill is Pellikaan, with additional works by Barratt Homes who are developing the adjacent ‘Renaissance’ scheme.
Glass Mill has superb environmental credentials and will offer a range of the most up-to-date facilities and equipment. As well as a regional competition standard 8-lane swimming pool with seating for 300 spectators, there will be a 20m training pool, a 100-station gym, a climbing wall, a creche and two studios offering a programme of classes.
Users of the leisure centre will also be able to pamper themselves in a health suite with treatment rooms and sauna, steam and ‘ice’ rooms.
Great thought has gone into changing areas with separate male and female changing as well as specific areas for families and people with disabilities. The centre is fully accessible and includes moveable floors in both pools, changing cubicles with wheelchair access and signage suitable for the visually impaired.
A key feature of the building is the stunning display of over 1,800 coloured tiles, designed by artist Phil Coy, that form the façade and carry through into a rainbow of light in the various parts of the centre. Glass Mill’s exterior also includes a lighting display that changes in line with the surrounding soundscape.
A full menu of delicious food and refreshing drinks will be on offer throughout the day at the Rhubarb and Custard Café. Items served up by Rhubarb and Custard’s resident chef and dedicated staff will include gourmet burgers, healthy salads, coffee and homemade cakes, and a children’s menu. This local firm – a former recipient of a Mayor Of Lewisham Business Award – already has a committed following in its local neighbourhood of Lee and also operates the café at Wavelengths Leisure Centre in Deptford.
Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock, took a dip in the new swimming pool and said: “I am delighted to mark the open of this outstanding new leisure centre. Glass Mill is the culmination of over a decade of leisure investment in the borough.
“There is now a real opportunity for local people to take part in affordable leisure in all areas around the borough. That is what we have always been aiming for. ”
Fusion Lifestyle Chief Executive, Pete Kay said of the opening: "We are extremely impressed with the high standard of facilities now on offer at Glass Mill Leisure Centre and are proud and excited to begin the management of this fantastic centre.
“We believe that the opening of Glass Mill will make a real difference to the local community by providing first-rate sport, swimming and fitness facilities at an affordable price, and Fusion Lifestyle are committed to continuous development of our programmes and activities in order to offer new opportunities for everyone in Lewisham.”
Alastair Baird, Managing Director of Barratt London said: “We have great pleasure in delivering a landmark building for Lewisham as part of the wider Renaissance development.”
Glass Mill’s opening hours will be 6.30am-10pm on weekdays and 7am-6pm on weekends and Bank Holidays. Rhubarb and Custard Café, located in Glass Mill’s foyer, will operate the same hours. For enquiries about membership options, or the full range of facilities and classes on offer, call Glass Mill on 020 8463 9600.
On Monday 10 June, Glass Mill – Lewisham’s flagship new leisure centre – will open to the public.
The £20m centre, located on Loampit Vale, has been designed by leisure specialists LA Architects and will be operated by registered charity Fusion Lifestyle on behalf of Lewisham Council. The contractor for Glass Mill is Pellikaan, with additional works by Barratt Homes who are developing the adjacent ‘Renaissance’ scheme.
Glass Mill has superb environmental credentials and will offer a range of the most up-to-date facilities and equipment. As well as a regional competition standard 8-lane swimming pool with seating for 300 spectators, there will be a 20m training pool, a 100-station gym, a climbing wall, a creche and two studios offering a programme of classes.
Users of the leisure centre will also be able to pamper themselves in a health suite with treatment rooms and sauna, steam and ‘ice’ rooms.
Great thought has gone into changing areas with separate male and female changing as well as specific areas for families and people with disabilities. The centre is fully accessible and includes moveable floors in both pools, changing cubicles with wheelchair access and signage suitable for the visually impaired.
A key feature of the building is the stunning display of over 1,800 coloured tiles, designed by artist Phil Coy, that form the façade and carry through into a rainbow of light in the various parts of the centre. Glass Mill’s exterior also includes a lighting display that changes in line with the surrounding soundscape.
A full menu of delicious food and refreshing drinks will be on offer throughout the day at the Rhubarb and Custard Café. Items served up by Rhubarb and Custard’s resident chef and dedicated staff will include gourmet burgers, healthy salads, coffee and homemade cakes, and a children’s menu. This local firm – a former recipient of a Mayor Of Lewisham Business Award – already has a committed following in its local neighbourhood of Lee and also operates the café at Wavelengths Leisure Centre in Deptford.
Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock, took a dip in the new swimming pool and said: “I am delighted to mark the open of this outstanding new leisure centre. Glass Mill is the culmination of over a decade of leisure investment in the borough.
“There is now a real opportunity for local people to take part in affordable leisure in all areas around the borough. That is what we have always been aiming for. ”
Fusion Lifestyle Chief Executive, Pete Kay said of the opening: "We are extremely impressed with the high standard of facilities now on offer at Glass Mill Leisure Centre and are proud and excited to begin the management of this fantastic centre.
“We believe that the opening of Glass Mill will make a real difference to the local community by providing first-rate sport, swimming and fitness facilities at an affordable price, and Fusion Lifestyle are committed to continuous development of our programmes and activities in order to offer new opportunities for everyone in Lewisham.”
Alastair Baird, Managing Director of Barratt London said: “We have great pleasure in delivering a landmark building for Lewisham as part of the wider Renaissance development.”
Glass Mill’s opening hours will be 6.30am-10pm on weekdays and 7am-6pm on weekends and Bank Holidays. Rhubarb and Custard Café, located in Glass Mill’s foyer, will operate the same hours. For enquiries about membership options, or the full range of facilities and classes on offer, call Glass Mill on 020 8463 9600.
Raise a tennis packet for Hilly Fields
Patrick Bishop writes:
I’m a Hilly fields local, and work for JustGiving, who you have probably heard of – we’re an online fundraising platform.
I’m also a keen tennis player and regularly use the great free courts that we have on Hilly Fields. Anyone who plays on them, but if so, you’ll know that whilst the courts are great, the nets themselves are terrible and are completely broken and holey:
Unfortunately, the council haven’t got round to replacing the nets in years, so I’m looking to see whether as a community we can raise just over £200 to buy and install three new tennis nets!! I’ve just set up a project page on JustGiving to do this and I’d be very grateful for any help.
www.justgiving.com/local/project/hillyfieldstennisnets/
It’s worth saying that JustGiving Projects is a new tool that we’re launching to help people raise money for local community projects that they really care about (rather than just charities, which is our bread and butter). Given that the tennis court nets were something that I really wanted to get fixed myself, I thought I would set up a page myself and give it a go.
It’s worth pointing out that people just pledge to support a project, so unless the project gets fully funded, then you don’t donate anything!
I’m a Hilly fields local, and work for JustGiving, who you have probably heard of – we’re an online fundraising platform.
I’m also a keen tennis player and regularly use the great free courts that we have on Hilly Fields. Anyone who plays on them, but if so, you’ll know that whilst the courts are great, the nets themselves are terrible and are completely broken and holey:
www.justgiving.com/local/project/hillyfieldstennisnets/
It’s worth saying that JustGiving Projects is a new tool that we’re launching to help people raise money for local community projects that they really care about (rather than just charities, which is our bread and butter). Given that the tennis court nets were something that I really wanted to get fixed myself, I thought I would set up a page myself and give it a go.
It’s worth pointing out that people just pledge to support a project, so unless the project gets fully funded, then you don’t donate anything!
Yee-hah! Brockley Mini Marathon Glory
After Ladywell's success in the London Marathon, , Lewisham Council reports:
A schoolboy from Brockley has won this year’s Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon held on Sunday 21 April in the ‘Under 15’ category.
Fifteen-year-old Alex Yee, from Brockley Road, was chosen to represent Lewisham at this year’s Mini London Marathon and covered the three miles in 15mins 14secs. He was presented with his trophy by Prince Harry, Patron of the London Marathon Charitable Trust.
In March, young people from Lewisham were invited to take part in trials at Ladywell Fields. Alex not only won his category trial but also beat runners in the ‘Under 17’ category as well; automatically securing his place in the Mini London Marathon.
Alex, who went to Stillness Primary School, is a keen triathlete and trains with Crystal Palace Triathletes and Kent Athletics Club at Ladywell Arena.
His talents don’t stop at running; he also represented Lewisham at the 2012 London Youth Games in cycling and the aquathlon where he won individual Gold. He was awarded the Mayor’s Special Award at the Lewisham Sports Awards in 2012.
Alex says: "I am pleased with my performance in the marathon and I am now looking forward to the triathlon season."
A schoolboy from Brockley has won this year’s Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon held on Sunday 21 April in the ‘Under 15’ category.
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| Look upon his works, Yee mighty |
In March, young people from Lewisham were invited to take part in trials at Ladywell Fields. Alex not only won his category trial but also beat runners in the ‘Under 17’ category as well; automatically securing his place in the Mini London Marathon.
Alex, who went to Stillness Primary School, is a keen triathlete and trains with Crystal Palace Triathletes and Kent Athletics Club at Ladywell Arena.
His talents don’t stop at running; he also represented Lewisham at the 2012 London Youth Games in cycling and the aquathlon where he won individual Gold. He was awarded the Mayor’s Special Award at the Lewisham Sports Awards in 2012.
Alex says: "I am pleased with my performance in the marathon and I am now looking forward to the triathlon season."
Ladywell double in London Marathon
Richard Elliott writes:
Two male runners from Kent Athletics Club (based at the Ladywell Arena) came first and second in the mass participation section of the London Marathon yesterday.
If they were running in the Elite Men's race they would have come 14th and 15th respectively. Bloomin' impressive stuff.
I train at Ladywell every Tuesday night with Kent. The top guys train in a different group to me. I don't know Paul (who won), but John (came second) trains at the track every week and I think lives locally.
Two male runners from Kent Athletics Club (based at the Ladywell Arena) came first and second in the mass participation section of the London Marathon yesterday.
If they were running in the Elite Men's race they would have come 14th and 15th respectively. Bloomin' impressive stuff.
I train at Ladywell every Tuesday night with Kent. The top guys train in a different group to me. I don't know Paul (who won), but John (came second) trains at the track every week and I think lives locally.
The Running Clan
Lee writes:
Fancy joining a Hilly Fields running club?
I am a keen runner living in Brockley and would like to see if there is interest in a local running club. I envisage our organised runs starting from Hilly Fields and ranging in distance and pace to suit the membership that we attract. There would be a particular focus on helping new runners to enjoy this wonderful sport.
If you are interested in finding out more, please email Lee Cash at leealexandercash@gmail.com with the subject line "Hilly Fields Running Club".
Fancy joining a Hilly Fields running club?
I am a keen runner living in Brockley and would like to see if there is interest in a local running club. I envisage our organised runs starting from Hilly Fields and ranging in distance and pace to suit the membership that we attract. There would be a particular focus on helping new runners to enjoy this wonderful sport.
If you are interested in finding out more, please email Lee Cash at leealexandercash@gmail.com with the subject line "Hilly Fields Running Club".
