Pagan Belly Dance Peckham

Meet together to mark the darkening days as we approach midwinter and explore the ritual aspect of this ancient dance. Work with elemental energies to create a group dance for the season.

Workshop facilitated by experienced dancer, teacher and co-founder of Norse Belly Dance, Polly Hallam and Clare Wood (South East London Folklore Society and former local PF co-coordinator). All levels of ability / experience welcome.

Soft shoes,’ sticky socks’ optional, wear cool loose comfortable clothing, a skirt that feels good to dance in. If you like, bring a small natural object (e.g. leaves, berries, fruit or nuts) for our seasonal altar.

 Contact Polly: mrsmiggins13@hotmail.com  or Clare:cgbwood@gmail.com

Suggested donation £6 – £9

Sunday 20th November, 3.15-5.15pm at the Scout Hut 212 Bellenden Road East Dulwich London SE22 8LD

Nearest stations: East Dulwich, Peckham Rye; buses include 185, 176, P13, 40, 37, 484

November 23rd is St Clement’s day. The patron saint of blacksmiths, his day was celebrated by processions, dinners, effigies, poetry and appeals for money. The day was celebrated at village forges and – with rather more rowdiness – at the dockyard smithies. It also merged with similar celebrations 2 days later for St Catherine, the patron saint of ropemakers. This talk will look at the saints and their celebrations, taking in along the way Dickens, doles, the docks, and, indeed, dynamite.

Aleister Crowley, seven violins, three nymphomaniacs, four dipsomaniacs, two prudes and pre-Revolutionary Russia to play in. What could possible go wrong? It was a caper, an adventure and is a largely unexplored episode in the life of the man who had the most fun of anyone who lived in the last century. Add the man who took Ragtime to Russia to the list of whatever you already know about him.

Phil Baker, biographer of the truly fascinating London artist, will be offering insight into his art and interesting practices.

7pm meeting at the junction of Trafalgar Avenue and Waite Street, SE15 (buses 363 and 63)
nb some of the park will be closed for improvement

Barry could often be found at the back of SELFS meetings in the last few years, listening in with his fierce curiosity and passion. I think he was drawn to us because we met in his beloved Southwark and often covered the strange side of one of his passions: London. Barry also put his energy into Southwark Cyclists, Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Green Enthusiasts, was on the board of the Southwark Mysteries and, after leaving Southwark Council, poured part of his endless enthusiasm into managing Surrey Docks Farm and making it a successful community space.

He was mainly famous to us for organising inspired ways of exploring the world by bicycle including the annual Christmas bike ride to two-wheeled ghost tours and much more. His premature death at 60 leaves an enormous gap in Southwark and London life and the sadness that there is one less person out there that really cares about the important things.

We were lucky enough to have Barry ride in and see us regularly and share his ideas and actions with us. Our thoughts and sympathies are with those who were closest to him.

One of my own favourite memories of Barry was him announcing a bike-ride and picnic he had organised in 2008 to celebrate the 100 anniversary / birthday of the Rotherhithe tunnel. This, for me, covered a lot of what Barry was about: history, architecture, celebration and just getting out there and doing something. It also paid attention to a part of our city that is usually over-looked ands ignored.

In memory of Barry I shall look at, think about and celebrate a forgotten piece of London. I’m sure Barry would want everyone to remember him by doing their own unique thing too.

I shall give him the last word as he sums himself up on the London Festival of Architecture website:

I’m Coordinator of wonderful Southwark Cyclists, Chair of lovely BARGEs (Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Green Enthusiasts), on the Board of Southwark Mysteries, live by South Dock in Rotherhithe with goldfinches on the feeders outside my bedroom window and gorgeous great crested grebes nesting on the dock outside my living room window.

And every night in my tiny spare bedroom my bright red bike sleeps dreaming of tomorrow and me. Drifting round London together. Smiling.

Dr David V Barrett is the author of many books on unusual beliefs including The New Believers, A Brief History of Secret Societies and his latest, A Brief Guide to Secret Religions.

Nigel Of Bermondsey is a purveyor of psycho-geographical songs and stories from Bermondsey, South London. Also songs and tales of Wapping, Rotherhithe, Walworth, and presently, the area within the London Orbital.

Deptford Jack in the Green May Day 2006

8pm – 10.30pm

Scott Wood will speak briefly on May Day superstitions and folklore.

Neil Transpontine will speak on May Day and Beltane rites from the Roman era to the present day, concentrating on celebrations and festivals in South London.

Rediscovering Urban Rituals show their film on their Jack-in-the-Green procession with the Fowlers Troop with a live musical re-enactment. Come watch footage of a Jack-in-the-Green in its natural environment.