Latest news with #Dulwich
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Dancing queen' wants donations for 100th birthday
For her 100th birthday, a woman in south-east London wants donations to a hospice instead of gifts - and plans to dance to ABBA at her birthday party. Gwynneth Pedler, from Dulwich said she "set a target of getting to a hundred" and has learned a routine for her chosen song, Dancing Queen. In the run up to her special day, she has received physiotherapy at St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham and credits them with getting back the use of her left leg after an accident. Born on 23 July 1925, Ms Pedler, a former head teacher of three schools and an air mechanic in the WRNS, once "accidentally" invited a whole class of students in Poland to come and stay with her in England. She also admits to being "a rather unruly child" as an evacuee during World War Two. Oldest person in the UK: How has life changed? The times and life of the world's oldest man When the physiotherapists asked if she had a goal, she told them she wanted to do a routine to ABBA's Dancing Queen at her birthday party, attended by more than 100 people, to celebrate her centenary. She said, "I thought it was ambitious but they said no - it wasn't." So they have choreographed steps and wiggles with sweeping arm movements, which has also helped build strength and balance. She said: "They do such wonderful work - not only with physiotherapy and art therapy - but all the other things that they do, in all sorts of other areas. The drivers are so calm, so helpful - it's a really lovely atmosphere." As a child, she was evacuated from London to the countryside during WWII, where she recalls a very long walk to school, something she wasn't keen on. "So we didn't go! We went out to where the farmer was thrashing the corn and he let us have a stick - to hit the rats as they ran out," she chuckles. It was her time in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) that taught her discipline, she says. And there followed a career in education - one of the things she attributes to having had such a long life. "Keep yourself surrounded by people younger than you and get to know them and socialise with them - because you'll then learn how to be young," she advises. 'I'll get you to England' After her retirement, Ms Pedler taught English in Poland - and once inadvertently invited her students to stay with her in England. All 27 of them. "One of them said, 'We've never been to England'. And I said, 'Oh, don't worry, I'll get you to England'," she recalls. They took that literally and went home to tell their mothers. Word got to the head and rather than cause disappointment, Ms Pedler made it happen. "I hadn't got room for them - my bungalow was big but it certainly wouldn't fit 27 students. So I borrowed tents from the Scouts, tables to put food on and raised some money." With an infectious can-do attitude, she talked her neighbours into bringing dinners for the children - for the next fortnight. "Everybody helped out, all sorts of people. I was just the figurehead really," she says modestly. Several of her Polish students went on to become teachers themselves and some are coming to her birthday party. Raising money and awareness for St Christopher's Hospice, is the latest mission in this determined woman's remarkable life. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Related internet links St Christopher's Hospice
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Dancing queen' wants donations for 100th birthday
For her 100th birthday, a woman in south-east London wants donations to a hospice instead of gifts - and plans to dance to ABBA at her birthday party. Gwynneth Pedler, from Dulwich said she "set a target of getting to a hundred" and has learned a routine for her chosen song, Dancing Queen. In the run up to her special day, she has received physiotherapy at St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham and credits them with getting back the use of her left leg after an accident. Born on 23 July 1925, Ms Pedler, a former head teacher of three schools and an air mechanic in the WRNS, once "accidentally" invited a whole class of students in Poland to come and stay with her in England. She also admits to being "a rather unruly child" as an evacuee during World War Two. Oldest person in the UK: How has life changed? The times and life of the world's oldest man When the physiotherapists asked if she had a goal, she told them she wanted to do a routine to ABBA's Dancing Queen at her birthday party, attended by more than 100 people, to celebrate her centenary. She said, "I thought it was ambitious but they said no - it wasn't." So they have choreographed steps and wiggles with sweeping arm movements, which has also helped build strength and balance. She said: "They do such wonderful work - not only with physiotherapy and art therapy - but all the other things that they do, in all sorts of other areas. The drivers are so calm, so helpful - it's a really lovely atmosphere." As a child, she was evacuated from London to the countryside during WWII, where she recalls a very long walk to school, something she wasn't keen on. "So we didn't go! We went out to where the farmer was thrashing the corn and he let us have a stick - to hit the rats as they ran out," she chuckles. It was her time in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) that taught her discipline, she says. And there followed a career in education - one of the things she attributes to having had such a long life. "Keep yourself surrounded by people younger than you and get to know them and socialise with them - because you'll then learn how to be young," she advises. 'I'll get you to England' After her retirement, Ms Pedler taught English in Poland - and once inadvertently invited her students to stay with her in England. All 27 of them. "One of them said, 'We've never been to England'. And I said, 'Oh, don't worry, I'll get you to England'," she recalls. They took that literally and went home to tell their mothers. Word got to the head and rather than cause disappointment, Ms Pedler made it happen. "I hadn't got room for them - my bungalow was big but it certainly wouldn't fit 27 students. So I borrowed tents from the Scouts, tables to put food on and raised some money." With an infectious can-do attitude, she talked her neighbours into bringing dinners for the children - for the next fortnight. "Everybody helped out, all sorts of people. I was just the figurehead really," she says modestly. Several of her Polish students went on to become teachers themselves and some are coming to her birthday party. Raising money and awareness for St Christopher's Hospice, is the latest mission in this determined woman's remarkable life. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Related internet links St Christopher's Hospice
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
'Dancing queen' wants hospice donations for her 100th birthday
For her 100th birthday, a woman in south-east London wants donations to a hospice instead of gifts - and plans to dance to ABBA at her birthday Pedler, from Dulwich said she "set a target of getting to a hundred" and has learned a routine for her chosen song, Dancing the run up to her special day, she has received physiotherapy at St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham and credits them with getting back the use of her left leg after an on 23 July 1925, Ms Pedler, a former head teacher of three schools and an air mechanic in the WRNS, once "accidentally" invited a whole class of students in Poland to come and stay with her in England. She also admits to being "a rather unruly child" as an evacuee during World War Two. When the physiotherapists asked if she had a goal, she told them she wanted to do a routine to ABBA's Dancing Queen at her birthday party, attended by more than 100 people, to celebrate her said, "I thought it was ambitious but they said no - it wasn't."So they have choreographed steps and wiggles with sweeping arm movements, which has also helped build strength and said: "They do such wonderful work - not only with physiotherapy and art therapy - but all the other things that they do, in all sorts of other areas. The drivers are so calm, so helpful - it's a really lovely atmosphere." As a child, she was evacuated from London to the countryside during WWII, where she recalls a very long walk to school, something she wasn't keen on."So we didn't go! We went out to where the farmer was thrashing the corn and he let us have a stick - to hit the rats as they ran out," she was her time in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) that taught her discipline, she says. And there followed a career in education - one of the things she attributes to having had such a long life."Keep yourself surrounded by people younger than you and get to know them and socialise with them - because you'll then learn how to be young," she advises. 'I'll get you to England' After her retirement, Ms Pedler taught English in Poland - and once inadvertently invited her students to stay with her in England. All 27 of them."One of them said, 'We've never been to England'. And I said, 'Oh, don't worry, I'll get you to England'," she took that literally and went home to tell their mothers. Word got to the head and rather than cause disappointment, Ms Pedler made it happen."I hadn't got room for them - my bungalow was big but it certainly wouldn't fit 27 students. So I borrowed tents from the Scouts, tables to put food on and raised some money."With an infectious can-do attitude, she talked her neighbours into bringing dinners for the children - for the next fortnight."Everybody helped out, all sorts of people. I was just the figurehead really," she says of her Polish students went on to become teachers themselves and some are coming to her birthday money and awareness for St Christopher's Hospice, is the latest mission in this determined woman's remarkable life.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Pro-Palestine campaigner accused of bombarding Labour MP with anti-semitic emails
A Pro-Palestine campaigner has been accused of bombarding Labour MP Helen Hayes with anti-Semitic emails. Austin Crick, 55, appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on Friday after being charged with racially aggravated harassment of the MP. He is said to have sent the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood anti-Semitic emails concerning the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict. The prosecution say the constituent had sent emails on February 21, March 4 and April 9 and May 20. Hayes, 50, has been the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood since 2015 and Crick resides in East Dulwich. Wearing a white shirt, dark red tie with a large Palestinian badge attached to his jacket, Crick indicated a not guilty plea and elected for a Crown Court trial. Prosecutor Medinat Muhammed told the court: 'The defendant repeatedly sent anti-Semitic emails to his MP. 'They relate to the ongoing crisis between Israel and Gaza.' The court heard that Hayes, who is the current Chair of House of Commons Education Select Committee, took the decision to report Crick to the police because his behaviour was effecting members of her team. Crick was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 25 on condition he does not contact the MP or her senior parliamentary assistant Niall Adams.
The Irish Sun
24-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Popular non-league club get major boost to new stadium plans with current ground set to be demolished
A POPULAR non-league club has received a major boost in their hopes to build a new stadium. Dulwich Hamlet have had the next stage of the redevelopment of Champion Hill. Advertisement 2 Dulwich Hamlet's Champion Hill is set to be demolished Credit: Rex Features 2 The new ground would boast a capacity of 4,000 Credit: Southwark Council Southwark Council has to approve plans for the astro turf in the playing fields next to the ground to be the setting for the new venue. The cabinet members have approved the report and signed off on it, which can lead to the demolition of the existing ground. Local media claims that members agreed to the move to the Greendale Playing Fields so Dulwich can progress its plans. The club is keen to build an all-weather pitch and then a new stadium to Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL Reports have suggested that the playing fields will continue to be available for public use and stay in the council's hands. He said: "Since the planning application was approved, the club has demonstrated that it is a responsible and committed pair of hands when entrusted with open land in the area and delivers on the expectation that we will increase sporting provision and community use. 'We look to grow that responsible stewardship with a new stadium that the community and council can be proud of.' Advertisement Most read in Football Latest JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Dulwich has played in the borough for the past 123 years and has been at Champion Hill since the 1990s. The club has regularly pulled in crowds to watch the team which has led to Claser to insist the ground is not fit for purpose. Birmingham give update on new £3billion stadium as they announce major development He claimed that 70,000 fans Advertisement It has also been suggested that the club even had to STOP SELLING tickets to avoid going over-capacity. He added: "These repeated sell-outs are starting to cause negativity in our community. "They drive people away from the game and actually drive people away from SE22 on the weekends who would rather go elsewhere than risk the disappointment of being turned away.' Advertisement There would be a "kick about" space as well as 219 new homes built in the redevelopment. Abandoned stadiums The Highbury Stadium is unrecognisable after it was Prague's Great Strahov Stadium could A 2014 World Cup stadium is A former EFL ground has become
