Author Archives: mpender

If you have been wanting to support food banks at a time when shopping for yourself is difficult because the shelves of staple food stuffs are empty, you might like to consider making a cash donation – a one off or a standing order. St George’s Church, who represent Beckenham churches at the Town Centre Team, are a collection point for the Living Well Foodbank, which is based in Holy Trinity Church, Lennard Road. You can donate directly to this food bank by downloading their forms.  You can also Gift Aid the payment which means they get an extra 25% from Government – that doesn’t happen if you give a tin of beans!

The Express Review, sent to members and published online shortly, contains a long report on LB Bromley’s proposals for the library and Halls. Since it went to press there have been many calls for LB Bromley to put the feasibility study on hold. This follows a second abandoned attempt at consultation meetings. The first was in February when local organisations were given only 5 days notice of a consultation meeting taking place during the working day. This was cancelled the day before when it was clear few people could attend. The second set of meetings was due to take place in March and was sensibly cancelled because of the coronavirus. Instead the consultants have been asked to do 1:1 telephone consultations before 31 March. This is not satisfactory. The Beckenham Society are leading opposition to the proposals and have pressed LB Bromley to put the proposals on hold while we all deal with the much more urgent virus problems. But they have refused. There is an online survey run by LB Bromley –the deadline is 31 March. 

The council have issued a press release about volunteering.  

They also advise to plan in advance as online shopping deliveries currently take over 7 days to arrive. And to consider alternative delivery services to the supermarket, such as the local milk man (who can deliver groceries as well as milk) or businesses delivering food locally such as “veg box” type deliveries.

CORONAVIRUS SCAMS Please be aware that during these times a small number of people with alternative ideas may seek to take advantage of the situation. The scams include

• Thieves offering to shop for elderly but keeping money.

• Phishing emails – contacting potential coronavirus victims by email claiming to be from research organisations affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), to get personal details.

• Bank scams – claiming to be your bank. Banks will never ask you for your full PIN or password, or request you move money from your accounts.

• Shopping online – using online marketplaces to sell goods like face masks and hand sanitisers that don’t exist, or even self-isolation boxes.

• HMRC fake emails – sending messages promising a tax refund asking for bank information. These may be targetted at the self employed seeking income support at this time.

• Offers for “free,” at-home coronavirus testing equipment.

• False promotions advertising diabetic insulin monitors alongside “complimentary” coronavirus tests.

• Donation requests from fabricated philanthropic organizations.

• In-person COVID-19 test distributor – phony house visits from alleged employees of the NHS, claiming to offer “door-to-door” coronavirus tests.

See this ITV link for more detail on scams

There is a wonderful initiative taking off across the country to help people isolated due to Coronavirus. Where local people are offering to help those who may need it. See this Guardian article. Is there anyone on your street or in your block of flats that might need help? Perhaps pop one of these through their door. Local Beckenham community groups are in contact to see how we can facilitate helping people across our community. We will keep you posted of any initiatives, but in the mean time let’s reach out to offer neighbourly support.

See also LB Bromley’s press release and in particular their advice to watch out for potential scams trying to make money from the crisis.

A Concert Featuring The Choir of St George’s Church Beckenham

One of our outstanding musical treasures is the St George’s Parish Church Choir, recently described as “probably the finest Parish Church choir in England”. St George’s Choir has often deputised for Cathedral choirs in various parts of England, and last year sang in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Now they are to give their first concert in a major London concert Hall, in St. John’s Smith Square, Westminster on Saturday 8 February 2020 at 7 30 pm., together with the Chameleon Arts Orchestra and sometime Beckenham resident, the outstanding young Russian prizewinning pianist, Arina Lazgiian. The concert will be conducted by Marcus Wibberley, Director of Music at St George’s.

A coach will leave St George’s Church at 6 pm on the evening of the concert returning after the concert, and tickets for the coach and the concert can be purchased from St George’s Church Office.