onionbagblog
Mad March
A week is a long time in politics, especially the firebrand of local Brixton politics. Another Tuesday, another barmy Brixton Rec Users group gathering.
You may remember that seven days ago 'we' (a more fractured group you wouldn't find taking to the field as the England cricket team) resolved to fight for the right to keep the Rec open.
Could we walk it like we talk it?
Best put your best foot forward then and siege the Town Hall to let the Lambeth Council knobbers know that the Free Badminton For All branch of BRU means business.
And so on a bitterly cold Tuesday evening, BRU marched the short distance from the Rec to the Town Hall; placards proclaiming 'NO CLOSURE,' a baying Brixton mob with a badminton fixation squaring up to face the anti-sport administrators and a lone rock climber who was determined to take urban climbing to a new height.
Once again: I F-ING LOVE BRIXTON.
As per the onionbagblog leisure lifestyle... I was late. I arrived at the Rec just as the mob was marching down Station Road. Mr Wilson of Peckham was quickly locked up, and then I legged it down Brixton Road to meet up with the masses.
The thing about these rallying causes is that they genuinely do unite different people with different experiences. The Brixton Bruv's who monopolise the gym equipment were hand in hand with the Muscle Mary's who monopolise the showers. Well, not quite hand in hand, but you get the idea.
Pushchairs-a-plenty with young families being especially vocal, concerned about the future of sports provision in Lambeth.
I didn't recognise most of the marchers with their clothes on, although I did manage to strike up a decent conversation with the bloke who I normally just nod my head at sometime around 7am each morning as we do the early bird breast stroke thing.
And then after about five minutes of marching, we took the steps of the Town Hall. The local snappers were out and about for what has now become something of a staged picture. Speeches were given questioning the wisdom of closing the Rec for three months, with much concern for the future.
Brixton is all about speaking up for yourself, and so South London Yoof LOVED the open mic with the opportunity to rant about the Rec closure, price increases and a bit of freestyle thrown in.
The lone climber (where else will you find an indoor rock climbing wall in South London?) scaled the Town Hall (well, a lamppost) and put across his message in fine style.
With the momentum still with us, it was an about turn and back towards our spiritual homeland. The Rec was then stormed (true!) in a manner I've not seen since my Essex University days when there was a mass sit in, rallying around Swamp Thing being thrown out of his Halls of Residence because he 'nicked someone else's cheese' (actually it was 'cos he was a smelly arse.)
A final rallying call and a reminder to meet up next Wednesday at the Town Hall for the Brixton Area Forum, and we were finished for the evening.
I made a point of looking in on Circuit Training Joe, my fitness mentor for the past decade. I've been a little lapse at Tuesday circuits for the past six months, knackered knee and all that.
But Joe embraced me, made some comment about my need to do some more fitness and then demanded fifty press ups from me.
Same as it ever was.
This is what Brixton Rec is all about. The sport is secondary, the community comes first. Friendships made at the Rec have served and helped me well out there in mad, bad, beautiful Brixton. Take it all away, and there's not a lot of hope for a lot of Rec lovers out there.
Clap'ham Manor Pool?
I'd rather drink my own piss, which is what you usually end up doing in the SW4 pool anyway.
I could think of no better way of celebrating my birthday than actually doing something that I genuinely believe will build for the future.
NO CLOSURE!
GIVE US WHAT WE WANT!
ASK US WHAT WE WANT!
technorati: brixton rec
| Wednesday 21 March, 2007 |
A week is a long time in politics, especially the firebrand of local Brixton politics. Another Tuesday, another barmy Brixton Rec Users group gathering.
 No closure! |
Could we walk it like we talk it?
Best put your best foot forward then and siege the Town Hall to let the Lambeth Council knobbers know that the Free Badminton For All branch of BRU means business.
And so on a bitterly cold Tuesday evening, BRU marched the short distance from the Rec to the Town Hall; placards proclaiming 'NO CLOSURE,' a baying Brixton mob with a badminton fixation squaring up to face the anti-sport administrators and a lone rock climber who was determined to take urban climbing to a new height.
Once again: I F-ING LOVE BRIXTON.
As per the onionbagblog leisure lifestyle... I was late. I arrived at the Rec just as the mob was marching down Station Road. Mr Wilson of Peckham was quickly locked up, and then I legged it down Brixton Road to meet up with the masses.
The thing about these rallying causes is that they genuinely do unite different people with different experiences. The Brixton Bruv's who monopolise the gym equipment were hand in hand with the Muscle Mary's who monopolise the showers. Well, not quite hand in hand, but you get the idea.
Pushchairs-a-plenty with young families being especially vocal, concerned about the future of sports provision in Lambeth.
I didn't recognise most of the marchers with their clothes on, although I did manage to strike up a decent conversation with the bloke who I normally just nod my head at sometime around 7am each morning as we do the early bird breast stroke thing.
And then after about five minutes of marching, we took the steps of the Town Hall. The local snappers were out and about for what has now become something of a staged picture. Speeches were given questioning the wisdom of closing the Rec for three months, with much concern for the future.
Brixton is all about speaking up for yourself, and so South London Yoof LOVED the open mic with the opportunity to rant about the Rec closure, price increases and a bit of freestyle thrown in.
The lone climber (where else will you find an indoor rock climbing wall in South London?) scaled the Town Hall (well, a lamppost) and put across his message in fine style.
With the momentum still with us, it was an about turn and back towards our spiritual homeland. The Rec was then stormed (true!) in a manner I've not seen since my Essex University days when there was a mass sit in, rallying around Swamp Thing being thrown out of his Halls of Residence because he 'nicked someone else's cheese' (actually it was 'cos he was a smelly arse.)
A final rallying call and a reminder to meet up next Wednesday at the Town Hall for the Brixton Area Forum, and we were finished for the evening.
I made a point of looking in on Circuit Training Joe, my fitness mentor for the past decade. I've been a little lapse at Tuesday circuits for the past six months, knackered knee and all that.
But Joe embraced me, made some comment about my need to do some more fitness and then demanded fifty press ups from me.
Same as it ever was.
This is what Brixton Rec is all about. The sport is secondary, the community comes first. Friendships made at the Rec have served and helped me well out there in mad, bad, beautiful Brixton. Take it all away, and there's not a lot of hope for a lot of Rec lovers out there.
Clap'ham Manor Pool?
I'd rather drink my own piss, which is what you usually end up doing in the SW4 pool anyway.
I could think of no better way of celebrating my birthday than actually doing something that I genuinely believe will build for the future.
NO CLOSURE!
GIVE US WHAT WE WANT!
ASK US WHAT WE WANT!
technorati: brixton rec
| #permalink |
