Clappers
Clapham News Roundup
Happy summer Clappers! Well, almost. It’s still a bit chilly but the sun’s out, the flowers are in bloom and we at Love Clapham HQ are feeling it. There have been quite a few developments around Clapham over recent months leading us into what promises to be a better summer in Claps than ever. Here’s the roundup…
WHSmith has opened on Clapham High Street, which might not seem like a huge deal but it’s significant as the first big brand shop to open since Boots took over from Woolworths a couple of years ago. Given that Clapham High Street has very limited shops compared to bars and restaurants, we’re happy about this.
Of course, the new Clapham Leisure Centre has been open for a few months now and is being heavily used – a great success after eighteen months without it, albeit with mixed feedback from our loyal readers.
Venn Street has really transformed the Clapham High Street area. Bringing a weekly market on Saturday’s with very high quality produce and snacks, but most noticeably for pedestrianising the road creating a community hub. We love it.
As you’ll see in the previous posts there’s huge debate about the bus station situation in Clapham Old Town – should more busses be stopping in one of Clapham’s prettiest spots?
Finally, Love Clapham has been hit with a series of stray cats, luckily they’ve all been re-homed. But where are they coming from?!
Join the Clapham Community!
Love Clapham has just launched a new, better, easier to use online community to help our mission of bringing everyone in Clapham together using this site. Whether you just want to see who’s in the area or voice a concern about Clapham issues, please join to talk and meet other people in your area. We have a new community events section and an improved directory on the way soon as part of the community. Together we are better connected, better informed and a stronger voice.
Two cult novels by local author
Exciting news! Local author Helen Smith, who lives on the border of Brixton and Clapham, has just had her two novels based in the area republished ten years after their original release. The first, Alison Wonderland, is about a woman who joins an all-female detective agency in Brixton – it includes a scene on Clapham Common and another in Battersea Park . The second, Being Light, is about a man who flies away on a freak gust of wind while setting up a bouncy castle in Brockwell Park. Love Clapham has managed to get our grubby paws on two signed copies of the books to give away to two Clappers. If you’d like to win them, email in the answer to this question: what other famous female author spent some time living in Clapham? Winner to be announced on Friday 16th July. Learn more about the two books below. Read the rest of this entry »
Clapper of the Week: Clapham Common ice snorkel
Yes, you’re right. That is the most amazing picture you have ever seen in your life. As if a man in a wet suit breaking through the ice of a Clapham Common pond wasn’t brilliant enough, a goose decided to honk along and make the picture approximately 1 MILLION TIMES more amazing. Taken on Clapham Common in the winter, John Forbath who runs the Big Squid Dive Centre, donned his wetsuit, cracked open the ice and had a little paddle. Bonkers! This can definitely be filed under ‘don’t try this at home kids’ and ‘only for experts’. John Forbath is one of the nominees for our Clapper of the Year award in the Clapham Awards 2009. More photos in the rest of the post. Read the rest of this entry »
Interview with Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth Council
In this frank interview, Steve Reed the Leader of Lambeth Council, talks about new community developments, solving local youth crime, charity bike rides, where our money is spent and helps us to understand local politics. Did you know there’s been a 2 year Council Tax freeze? If you didn’t, you do now. It is essential reading for anyone that lives in Clapham or the wider Lambeth borough. Read the rest of this entry »
Clapper of the Week: Clapham Common Polo competitors
This week’s Clapper is going like the clappers. Believe it or not, these stunning photos are from Clapham Common at the Toast Festival 2009 polo competition, the festival’s main highlight. From the first day, you can see South Africa vs Great Britain in the above picture. Great Britain won 7:6. Thanks to Eddie Clarke, who runs the Clapham Omnibus blog, for sending these in, see a selection of photos including the Umhlathuzi welcome singers in the rest of this post. Read the rest of this entry »
Clapham Band Stand used by band shocker!
No you haven’t gone mad. This is evidence of the Clapham Band Stand actually being used by a band – and a mighty fine one at that! If you have lived in Clapham as long as Love Clapham, you’ll know how precious this is because the Clapham Band Stand never seems to be used. The band in question is the South London Concert Band and they were ace. They’re back on 12th July, don’t miss them to witness the million pound Clapham Band Stand makeover being put to good use. More pictures of the band are in our Picture Gallery.
MSF Clapham Treasure Hunt
Here’s a cool thing, this month the sixth MSF Clapham Treasure Hunt takes place to help raise money for MSF, a charity that supplies medical aid around the world to people who might otherwise not receive it. It gets better because it’s held in Clapham, organised by local resident Sarah Turtle and you can support it by taking part and donating. Read the rest of this entry »
Clapper of the week: Boots banjo band!
It may look gloomy but it’s a lovely Saturday out there in Clapham and it’s all going off as Clappers far and wide are making the most of the weather to make Clapham feel as villagey as possible. We heard a trumpet on Clapham High Street then lo and behold, a trio were outside Boots playing catchy tunes. We aren’t 100% sure why they were there but assume it’s to celebrate the shop’s first weekend. Then, just up the road Lambeth College is holding its Sixth Form open day with cheer leaders and all sorts of funky goings on. We Love Clapham!
Clapper of the week: daytime disco
So there we were, outside the Windmill pub on Clapham Common relatively early in the evening of Saturday. The sun was blazing, people were sun bathing. Then we noticed the Windmill pub had extended part of its garden into an outdoor clubbing mecha! The above lady was getting her groove on quite seriously by herself in this new area. She and her ‘male friend’ then went on to cause a fair amount of mischief…
Clapham Junction has police injection
Awesome news for Clappers today as blonde bombshell Boris Johnson announced an influx of security in the form of a new police force in Clapham Junction. The nine person strong team will patrol the Clapham Junction area and its public transport. This is very welcome news for Love Clapham because not only are more Bobbies on the Beat a visible sign of reassurance, the size of the team means there’s some serious policing business to be had. Wrong doers begone! On a related note, the Clapham Town Safer Neighbourhoods Team has been in touch to say that “if anyone wants to speak to us in confidence regarding any criminal activities etc, just give us a call on the team number: 0208 721 2825.”
Young Lambeth
Young people in Lambeth are asking local residents to reconsider their opinions of kids and teens in the area. Apparently fewer than 3% of young people get involved in offenses and actually, there are groups of local young people wanting to help the Lambeth area including a Youth Council. There’s more information about the campaign and tonnes of other resources on the Young Lambeth website. Loving the posters.
| 1. | I TRAIN WITH TIM Personal Training | 1. | No Ben & Jerry's Festival this summer |
| 2. | Esca sandwiches - High Street | 2. | Still not enough decent shops |
| Clapham's new Leisure Centre | 3. | Litter on the Common | |
| 4. | Venn Street is now pedestrians only with a market every week! | ||
| 5. | The Black Lab for coffee and cake ... mmm |