The guardian of time

The 'six-pip' master clock at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, used for the BBC 'six-pip' time signal from 1924. Photo: Paul Lauener

By Paul Lauener

London, Oct 27 (Docklands Wire) – When, twice a year, clocks in Britain shift between British Summer Time and Greenwich Mean Time,  many people are blissfully aware of why this happens.

London museum brings home horror of slave trade

Sign for exhibition at London's Museum in Docklands, Oct 23, 2008. Photograph by Phakamisa Ndzamela.

By Phakamisa Ndzemela
LONDON, Nov 12 (Docklands Wire) – The London financial district of Canary Wharf is full of shiny skyscrapers housing big banks, but overshadowed by them is a brown, older building where British wealth of another age was made partly on the backs of slaves.

Greenwich just a mouse click away

Church Street in Greenwich, October 23, 2008. Attractions in the borough could turn 3D by next year. Photo by Harpreet Bhal.

By Harpreet Bhal

LONDON, Oct 23 (Docklands Wire) – A Chinese company is set to roll out a three-dimensional map of Greenwich that will allow users to wander into the London borough’s shops and tourist attractions at the click of a mouse.

Calls for “Volunteer army” to tackle teen stabbings

South London band, Mr. Man and the Iller Sapiens, perform at the Enough! campaign launch at the Royal Festival Hall. October 23, 2008. Photograph by Samantha Pearson.

By Samantha Pearson

LONDON, Oct 24 (Docklands Wire) – Relatives of stabbed teenagers, youth groups, and a London MP called for an army of volunteers to help steer young people away from knife and gun crime, after a spate of fatal teen stabbings in South London.

Docks Pops: Now are you worried?

LONDON, Oct 24 (Docklands Wire) – Chancellor Alistair Darling said on Friday he was confident the economy would get through a “difficult period”, after data showed the British economy has shrunk for the first time in 16 years.
Docklands Wire asked people in Poplar if they were concerned:

Poplar swimmers hope baths will be reborn

By Harpreet Bhal

LONDON, Oct 24, (Docklands Wire)- Poplar residents, whose once-luxurious swimming pool has lain derelict for two decades, are hopeful it will reopen before the Olympics.

Newham bridges digital divide with mobile site

A poster in Newham advertises the new mobile information scheme. October 23 2008. Photo by Kylie MacLellan

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON, Oct 24 (Docklands Wire) – One of London’s most deprived boroughs is using mobile technology to make information on its activities and services easily available to residents who do not have internet access at home.

London museum pays homage to women’s oldest weapon

French 18th-century fan. 23 Oct., 2008. Photo by Catherine Bosley

Display at the Greenwich Fan Museum. Oct. 23, 2008. Photo by Catherine Bosley

Fan leaf by Paul Gaugin. 23 Oct., 2008. Photo by Catherine Bosley

LONDON, Oct 24  (Docklands Wire) – Many of Europe’s capitals boast sword and rifle museums, but the only place dedicated to women’s weapon of choice is the Fan Museum in Greenwich.

Hard-up shoppers flock to Bow pawnbrokers

By Samantha Pearson

LONDON, Oct 24 (Docklands Wire) – East Londoners are increasingly turning to pawnbrokers for short-term loans, instead of using credit cards, and are cashing more cheques at the money-lenders.

Darren Mills, manager of The Jewel Box, one of two licensed pawnbrokers in Bow, told the Docklands Wire the credit crunch means more people are coming to him for loans, since the 8 percent monthly interest he offers is better than the rate many can get on credit cards. “People are not using banks as much as before,” he said on Thursday.

Thames sailing club aims to launch powerboat for disabled

By Paul Lauener

LONDON, Oct 24 (Docklands Wire) – A London sailing charity aims to launch the world’s first commercially owned powerboat for the severely disabled, allowing wheelchair users to drive a high powered boat unaided on the River Thames.

Beckton gymnasts spring into Hollywood as stunt doubles

By Farah Master

LONDON, Oct 24 (Docklands Wire) – Gymnasts training at an east London club are making the leap to Hollywood as stunt doubles in multi-million dollar action blockbusters.

The East London gymnastics centre in Beckton has trained gymnasts like Jaime Blake, 31, who played Halle Berry’s stunt double in the 2002 James Bond film ‘Die Another Day.’ Blake who stood in for the academy award winning actress with her daring back flips, is a teacher at the East London centre.

London nurses turn pink to raise breast cancer awareness

Constance Boughtwood, 78, with pink items bought to support a Newham hospital's breast cancer team, October 23 2008. Photo by Jean-Baptiste Vey.

By Jean-Baptiste Vey

LONDON, Oct 23 (DocklandsWire) – Nurses dressed in pink sold bright fuchsia bras and rosed-tinted teddy bears at Newham University Hospital on Thursday to raise public awareness of breast cancer, the most common type of the disease in Britain.

Teen mayor rocks the vote in Lewisham

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON, Oct 24 (Docklands Wire) – Young people vote less than any other age group but through a teenage mayor with his own £25,000 budget, Lewisham may have engaged the next generation of voters.

Londoners seek spiritual help as recession worries nag

St Alfege Church in Greenwich, October 23, 2008. Photograph by Martina Fuchs.

By Martina Fuchs

LONDON, Oct 24 (Docklands Wire) – Growing numbers of Britons are seeking solace from spiritual healers, psychologists and religion as recession fears spread, practitioners said.

“Scoop the poop”, London dog wardens warn

A dog next to its owner at a Plaistow shop, Oct 22, 2008. Photo by Martina Fuchs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A dog walker in a Plaistow park, October 22, 2008. Photo by Martina Fuchs.

By Martina Fuchs

LONDON, Oct 22 (Docklands Wire) – Animal wardens in uniform or undercover patrol London’s Tower Hamlets seven days a week to ensure dog owners scoop the poop.

East London councils declare war on flab

By Miles Johnson

LONDON, Oct 24 (Docklands Wire) – Business is brisk at the Wimpy burger bar on Watney market. “We do the cheapest ice creams, just 60p”, says franchise holder Ahmet Hilmy, beaming with pride. “That is why we get the school kids. If anyone can do cheaper ice cream I will eat my own hat.”

You don’t have to take Hilmy at his word. Outside there are two young children pointing at the menu and looking expectantly at a tired-looking woman carrying shopping bags.

But while Hilmy’s hat may be safe, there may be fewer teenage buyers of his 60-pence ice creams. East London’s councils have redoubled their efforts to wean children off unhealthy food, after statistics this month showed its boroughs have some of Britain’s highest rates of obesity.

Docklands estate agents see better business in lettings

Estate Agent Jennie Wood uses a Blackberry to keep in touch with clients, October 21, 2008. Photo by Phakamisa Ndzamela

By Phakamisa Ndzamela

LONDON, Oct 24 (Docklands wire) – Estate agents in London Docklands say they are switching their focus to lettings from sales to weather the housing market slump.

Traders at east London market say rent increases will hurt

The century-old Queens Market is slated for redevelopment in 2012. October 23, 2008. Photo by Nick Vinocur.

By Nick Vinocur

LONDON, Oct 23 (Docklands Wire) – Traders at a historic market in east London are facing rent increases so steep that some say they will be forced to move to a cheaper location to survive – or close altogether.

Newham academy plans worry parents, teachers

The Royal Docks Community School in Newham, October 23 2008. Photo by Kylie MacLellan

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON, Oct 23 (Docklands Wire) – Council plans to turn a failing Newham school into a privately-sponsored academy have left teachers worried about their jobs and parents concerned about their children’s futures.

Docks Pops: Live CCTV on the buses

Docklands Wire talks to people in Stratford about plans to fit London buses with cameras that will stream live images to the police.

Video by Phakamisa Ndzamela and Harpreet Bhal, with additional editing by Paul Lauener.

South Londoners rewrite Britain’s black history

By Samantha Pearson

LONDON, Oct 23 (Docklands Wire) – Sinners, saints and slaves: characters in African and Caribbean literature often tell a black-and-white story about the past.

But writers in South London believe it is time to challenge stereotypes and explore Britain’s 500 years of documented black history, which they say is barely touched by a school curriculum that focuses more on African-American history. 

Cats cast aside as credit crunch bites

By Farah Master

LONDON, Oct 22 (Docklands Wire) – A charity is rescuing more cats than at any point in its 22-year history, as cash-strapped East Londoners abandon their pets.

Newham police give out dusters to clean up sat nav crime

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON, Oct 22 (Docklands Wire) – Police in Newham are taking a novel approach to tackling car crime in the borough, by giving people free dusters to wipe away the “sucker” ring left on car windscreens by satellite navigation devices.

Businesses warn over potential DLR extension freeze

By Jean-Baptiste Vey

LONDON, Oct 22 (Docklands Wire) – Entrepreneurs and business representatives fear that cancelling a planned extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Dagenham Dock would hinder economic development in the Barking and Dagenham area.

Docks pops: Is Britain short of toilets?

An influential committee of British lawmakers is worried about the state of Britain’s public toilets. It thinks the number of public lavatories has fallen (although data is difficult to obtain), and says local authorities should develop a “public toilet strategy”.

Martina and Jean-Baptiste hear the views of people in Greenwich: