The Beckenham Society had a huge sell out success with their celebration of the life of David Bowie and his time in Beckenham at Zizzi’s restaurant in the High Street, the site of The Three Tuns pub where the Beckenham Arts Lab started in the late 60s.
Mary Finnegan, author of Psychedelic Suburbia and founder of the Arts Lab, gave readings from the book and Daphne Guinness sang some songs.
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Celebrating 300 years from Huguenot Mansion to Venue 28 – from Admiral Brett & Lady Byron to Enid & Carey Blyton and David Bowie. The Clock House District, the cultural heart of Beckenham, is centred on Venue 28, formerly the Beckenham Technical Institute where in 1901 “there arrived outside the gates of a new school in Beckenham the glistening horses, the shining harness, the polished coaches, the smart coachmen, bearing the dignified guests dressed in a manner befitting the Edwardians for the official opening ceremony.”
Above is Beckenham Road, c.1911, looking from Clock House Station towards the High St. On the right is the Clock House Parade with the Baptist Church beyond.
Below is the Technical Institute, now Venue 28, built on the same footprint as the famous Clock House Mansion shown at the bottom from a 1791 engraving.
Saturday April 30th
Bricklayers Arms 3pm: Start point for Procession to Bowie’s Bandstand in Croydon Road Rec.
Methodist Chapel Clock House Road (opposite side entrance to Railway Station)
5 pm: ‘Who do you think you are?’ Talk by Roy Hanscombe, from Wakefield, about his grandfather Bert Hanscombe (a dustman from Churchfields Road) who survived the horrors of WW1 and was honoured by unveiling the Beckenham War Memorial in 1921. 7.45 pm: Magic, Music, and Music Hall An evening with Sarah (Magic Circle), Melanie Jones Soprano & Christian Strover, and the Clock House Wind Ensemble (leader Graham Clayden)
Monday May 2nd Rare Interiors Gallery 249 Beckenham Road (020 3581 5674), Art Exhibition
Tuesday May 3rd Venue 28 10 am: Walking with the Famous led by historian, Cliff Watkins: Starts at 10 am, returning at 12 noon to Venue 28 for light lunch. Walk resumes at 1 pm. Numbers limited.
Wednesday May 4th Beckenham Library 6.30 pm: Talk by local author, Mike Uden
Thursday May 5th Venue 28 2pm: Cliff hangers! Talk by Lena Kroger about her teaching in Venue 28 when the building was used by Bromley Adult Education.
Friday May 6th Venue 28 2pm: Balgowan School and Beckenham Baths : Happy Memories Talk by old boys Jack Hilton and David Johnson
Alhambra Project: 2a Balgowan Road Open Days –mornings 10 to 1pm May 6th & 7th
Belleberry Gallery 7pm: Art Exhibition (020 8658 2568)
Beckenham Library Exhibition: Carey’s Aunt & Enid’s Nephew
Saturday May 7th Baptist Church, Elm Road (opposite the Beckenham Library) 7pm: Concert by Beckenham Junior Choir & Youth Voices and soloists
In Beckenham Library all week are two quizzes. One by Graham Clayden, based his original wood engraving limited edition print of the skyline used as the Festival Logo. The other is a set of “Twenty Questions” prepared by Cliff Watkins. The answers to both quizzes will be available in Beckenham Library from May 6th.
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UPDATE
Cllr Smith has agreed that next year, and for future years, the spring opening of this recycling facility will be arranged around the Easter and May Bank Holidays.
WBRA have pressed Cllr Colin Smith to re-instate the green waste recycling service at Unicorn Primary School car park, Creswell Drive. In particular, we have been approached by members who would like it to be open on the two May Bank Holiday weekends, when they might be able to catch up with the spring clear out.
Cllr Smith has responded
May I firstly apologise for the imminent changes; I more than understand that they are not universally popular and I would hope it is fairly obviously that these are measures I would only to sign up to with a very heavy heart.
Ultimately, we are now having to assess the value of nice to have services such as this, versus reductions to care packages for elderly folk, or the retention of as many case workers for seriously troubled children, and in the final analysis, much as it grieves me to see the partial dismantling of a service I have spent the last 10 years of my life championing, I genuinely do believe, with regret, that it has become a necessary pill to swallow against that backdrop.
Whilst being in no way unsympathetic to the suggestion, I think what I would have say to your request, is that having just spread the word that the service would end at the end of April, and having set budgets for the year on that basis, the first week in May really does come too soon afterwards to consider (and spread further amended communication for) given that we need some hard evidence as to how these changes will play out on the ground in any event.
For your possible interest, please also find immediately below the report showing various trends around which the decision was based :
The whole object of retaining April (which was initially earmarked for deletion as well) being to provide that window of opportunity to catch up with the Spring clean out that you quite reasonably point to.
It’s also very much the case that I couldn’t justify opening the Beckenham site in isolation (especially given residents relatively easy access/proximity to either Churchfields or Waldo compared to others living out in the Cray or Biggin Hill) either (which incidentally is why Green St Green has been retained to relieve pressure on Waldo Road).
I do as I allude to though, definitely accept the validity and relevance of your question and depending on how works out, offer you my undertaking that the Council will re-evaluate the situation on an evidence led basis if necessary, subject to the experiences gained over coming months.
In closing, I am genuinely very sorry once again for any upset and personal inconvenience this decision has caused either yourself or membership.
I very much hope that when better financial times return, this decision might be reversed. That certainly remains my aspiration.
It is clearly true that the central government has imposed severe cuts on local government and hard choices do have to be made by our local authority.
Cllr Smith has however agreed to consider encompassing next year’s early May bank holiday at least within the schedule to allow people to catch up on their gardening over a long weekend (even if it means starting a week later in April).
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The Beckenham Society programme of public meetings has a special one on 19th
April at the Three Tuns (now Zizzi’s Restaurant), to celebrate the life and
music of David Bowie and his connection with Beckenham and the Three Tuns.
Mary Finnegan, Bowie’s former landlady in Foxgrove Road, has written a popular book entitled “Psychedelic Suburbia” about his time in Beckenham. She will be attending to give a talk and answer questions. Tickets are £25, and include food and a drink, and Bowie music.
Tickets available from Beckenham Bookshop
42 High Street Beckenham
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The second monthly Open Mic Poetry event will be held at The Beckenham Bookshop on Friday 1st April 2016 (6.30-8pm). This is an opportunity to share the creative talents of our local ‘literati’ and to hear the voices of Becknham.
The event is hosted by Kelly at Beckenham Bookshop and organised by Adam (www.bujonswords.com). Find out more on Www.facebook.com/beckbeatpoetry page.
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