| 1. Walworth Society April meeting – 7pm Weds 15th April. Our next general WS meeting will be held at 7pm on Wednesday 15th April – online only. To join online please click here or go to Zoom and join with Meeting ID: 813 6742 0549, Passcode: 670700. Our agenda for the meeting is: 1. Welcome, apologies and introductions. 2. Action points from our March 2026 meeting and matters arising 3. Walworth Road McDonalds 4. Planning matters. 5. Other issues. 6. AOB and date of next meeting. To download the minutes of the March meeting click here. There were a number of presentations at our March meeting: From Fabrix there was a presentation about the Chatelain House redevelopment – here  The presentation by Pembroke House about the Walworth Neighbourhood Food Model can be downloaded here  |
| 2. (E&C) Castle Leisure Centre – Castle Festival – 18th April to 2nd May A message from the Elephant & Castle Leisure Centre:  “With the Castle Festival fast approaching we’re very excited to welcome you to our wonderful programme of events across three consecutive Saturdays of 18th April, 25th April and 2nd May 2026 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Castle Leisure Centre. Our website is now available for Registrations and we have already received over 400 following our launch last week! And, better still, many people have already begun booking for events! See https://www.southwarkleisure.co.uk/castle10/ for the programme and to how to book.” PLUS Membership offer at the Castle Leisure Centre. From Southwark Council – ends 29th April. The Castle Leisure Centre is turning 10 years old, and we’re celebrating with a special time-limited offer of 50% off until June and no joining fee using promo code CASTLEFEST. Enjoy unlimited gym, swim and classes for less! Offer ends 29 April 2026. includes 50% off and no joining fee at The Castle Leisure Centre SEE: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKSOUTHWARK/bulletins/4120a52 |
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| 3. Local News. 1. Items about the new town centre at the E&C. a. Evening Standard There is a selection of 29 historic photos of the E&C right at the start. b. Times (not paywalled) 2. Petition against the large number of new fast-food outlets on the Walworth Road: https://www.change.org/p/keep-walworth-road-balanced-stop-the-fast-food-establishment-overload?recruiter=350036704 3. News of new powers for communities to create Assets of Community Value to preserve key local amenities from the English Devolution Bill – includes Community Right to Buy listing period doubling from five to 10 years. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-amendments-will-create-safer-streets-champion-culture-and-strengthen-local-accountability-under-the-english-devolution-bill 4. News on the fight to stop the expansion of Heathrow and London City Airports. Object to Heathrow and London City Airports about aircraft noise. It is critical that as many people as possible making valid noise complaints about aircraft noise to both Heathrow and London City. Include the word ‘object’ to the impact on your health. The airports will assume that ‘no complaint = there is no problem’. This assumption is entirely wrong as Plane Hell and other groups know from comments received from their supporters. See here for how to complain – made simple. 5. News from Southwark Council of a vision for lighting at the E&C 6. Quite a bit of interest in the latest Camberwell (Camberwell Green and St Giles) Neighbourhood Newsletter 7. Southwark News feature about an event on the Aylesbury Estate to release balloons in memory of 16-year-old Junior Dean who died recently in a fire. 8. Feature in The Times (not paywalled) by Father Ben Vertannes of St John’s, Walworth on reasons behind the increasing numbers of visitors to his church – here 9. Senior Health Organiser role at Pembroke House – currently recruiting. Details here 10. Safer Southwark crime and safety news – March 2026. Includes the launch of Southwark’s Women’s Safety Alliance service and an action day in Walworth plus a number of features about tackling crime and ASB in Walworth. 11. Updated Town Centre Action Plan for the E&C and Walworth – here 12. Southwark News – The final phase of the £1.5 billion Elephant & Castle regeneration approved 13. Southwark News feature – Over 50s daytime cabaret at the Elephant and Castle has expanded after ‘incredible popularity’ |
| 4. Cinema Museum: Kennington Bioscope Present The Red Kimono (1925). Wednesday 20th May, The Red Kimono (US 1925) Digital – UCLA restoration. Directed by Walter Lang. Starring Priscilla Bonner, Carl Miller, Virginia Pearson, Tyrone Power Sr., Mary Carr.  The Red Kimono was the directorial debut of Walter Lang, whose greatest fame was from the 1930s to the 1950s, notably for Fox musicals. Written by famed journalist Adela Rogers St. Johns and adapted by future director Dorothy Arzner, The Red Kimono tells the story of a woman on trial for the murder of a man who had tricked her into prostitution.  It was one of a series of social-conscience films produced by former actress Dorothy Davenport under hermarried name, Mrs. Wallace Reid. The first of these, Human Wreckage, was intended to draw attention to the issue of drug addiction that had caused her husband’s early death (Wallace Reid, a famous screen actor, became addicted to morphine after being given it repeatedly following an injury during filming). She introduces the film personally, in a scene set in a newspaper archive, informing us that it is a true story. Reportedly she was sued by the woman in the real-life case on which it was based – thus establishing a landmark privacy law – because her real name had been used. Both The Red Kimono and Human Wreckage were banned by the British Board of Film Censors. While no copy of Human Wreckage is known to exist, we can at least present The Red Kimono to a modern UK audience. Wednesday May 20th at 19:30. Doors Open:18:30. Hot food will be available as well as other refreshments from our licensed cafe/bar. Tickets: £8 click here. Subject to availability, tickets will be sold on the door. However, seats are limited so please arrive early. For more info click here. Or go to cinemamuseum.org.uk. The Cinema Museum: The Master’s House, 2 Dugard Way (off Renfrew Road), London SE11 4TH. |
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| 5. Chatelain House redevelopment. News from the developers Fabrix and their contractor McLaren about the timetable for the redevelopment of 182-202 Walworth Road. The recent letter from the contractor to local residents is here  |
The Walworth Society 