Brixton Blog

Streatham resident Roger Bowdery was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s birthday honours for services to the community.

He is the chair of trustees of the Woodlawns Centre in Leigham Court Road, home of the Streatham Darby and Joan club.

The club, believed to be the first of its kind in Britain, was founded in 1942. Darby and Joan clubs were later set up across the country by the Women’s Voluntary service after the Second World War to support old people.

See a 1942 film about the Streatham Darby and Joan club.

Plans for the future of the Pop Brixton and International House sites in central Brixton are to be subject to further public consultation.

Lambeth council and its partner in the development, London Square, said they would undertake consultation on a revised mixed-use regeneration scheme.

About 280 new homes, of which 40% would be “affordable”, are planned, as well as workspace, new street market infrastructure, commercial space and public realm improvements.

The venerable Crown & Sceptre at the top of Brixton Hill, built in 1822, has relaunched as “Tu Pub Latino” – your Latino pub – with a newly decorated exterior and live music.

Typical Daydream, “a California-inspired” jam band are playing a free live session at the venue on Thursday 15 May.

DJs, live music, and sport are on offer and the garden is open.

Insta: crownandsceptresw2

The Post Office has confirmed that, as we reported in November, it is to let go of Brixton and more than 100 other directly owned “Crown” Post Offices.

The current Brixton premises on Ferndale Road, part of the Department Store redevelopment by architects Squire and Partners, opened in July 2016 on the site of a former fire station’s stables.

The 108 Crown Post Offices will either close or be taken over to be run as a franchise.

The play’s the thing* on Thursday 24 April at Dulwich Hamlet’s Champion Hill stadium when professional actors perform Shakespeare’s Hamlet there.

After a 10-week tour of the United States, the professional production will be performed for one night only at 7.30pm.

Funds from the performance will be donated to Dulwich Hamlet’s Freundschaft Centenary tour to Altona 93 in July this year.

Streatham Hill, which was sometimes at a standstill during trials – now postponed – of a local low traffic neighbourhood, is to undergo major traffic changes.

Transport for London (TfL) said today (28 March) that it plans to begin construction work this summer on a major scheme to make the A23 Streatham Hill “safer and better for residents and those visiting the area”.

It said the scheme was developed in close partnership with Lambeth council and would create new pedestrian crossings, a protected cycling route and improvements to bus lanes.

Clapham and Brixton Hill MP Bell Ribeiro Addy today (13 March) introduced an early day motion in the House of Commons highlighting the failure to officially recognise sickle cell disease as a disability.

This means that sufferers – overwhelmingly people of Black African and Caribbean descent – find it harder than people with other disabilities to secure flexible working and medical leave

Very few early day motions get to be debated, but they can achieve publicity for the issues they address and enable other MPs to show support by signing them.

Two of Brixton’s most dedicated workers for young people and the community are recognised in the New Years Honours list announced today (31 December).

Pastor Lorraine Jones-Burrell, founder and chief executive officer of theDwayne Simpson Foundation, is made an MBE, Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to young people and to tackling knife crime.

Steadman Scott, co-founder of Afewee football academy and boxing gym based in Brixton Rec, receives a Medal of the Order of the British Empire.

The trustees of Thrale Almshouse and Relief in Need Charity have opened this year’s grant programme, designed to support community groups and local organisations in Brixton, Streatham, Tulse Hill, West Norwood, Balham, and Tooting – in the “ancient parish” of Streatham.

For more information and to apply, visit the charity’s website at bit.ly/Thrale24

The deadline for applications is Friday 6 December 2024 and grants will be awarded in Spring 2025.

As one Brixton chicken shop closes, another opens – although there are few similarities between them.

Other Side Fried – the only restaurant in the chain – reopened as Buster’s Hamburger Bar on 1 November after frying chicken on Atlantic Road since 2017.

Owners Matt Harris and Tommy Kempton began the brand from a van in 2014. They also own the small plates restaurant Ploussard in Clapham with its list of low intervention, biodynamic and natural wines.