Quality local newspaper

The Little Sufferer. That is what local newspapers are sometimes called in the Netherlands. I’m referring to free newspapers, like the Biltse & Bilthovense Courant and De Nieuwsbode, that I used to deliver door-to-door after school. I have never liked this somewhat condescending term, because such newspapers serve an important role in communities. Last year, Lieven’s London team had a match at my old club DOSC and my old neighbours from across the street suddenly showed up. Jan and Ans eMens had read a piece about the match in De Nieuwsbode and, although frail, had come to watch. That moved me.

Here in Maze Hill, we also have a door-to-door newspaper, the Westcombe News. Produced by local residents, it is a monthly eight-page publication printed on thick, white paper. The print run is 3,800 copies, and delivery is seen to by volunteers. Compared to so-called ‘little sufferers’ in the Netherlands, it is a quality newspaper. It also fits in well with this leafy neighbourhood, where Jools Holland is the most famous resident, where David Bronstein once played chess, and where Sir John Vanbrugh built his castle in the 17th century. Consequently, the 300th anniversary of Sir John’s death was written about extensively in Westcombe News.

As is right, the front page is dedicated to news. This usually concerns transport issues: the number of trains running to central London during rush hour, the (hated) low-traffic zones in the leafy residential areas, and municipal plans to put an end to free parking for rental bike users (boohoo!). The uncertain fate of bus 380 towards Belmarsh, the notorious prison, is also discussed. The newspaper is funded by advertisements so it can be critical of the red borough administration, but it is normally constructive criticism.

It also features reviews every month. For instance, a scholarly book on the history of the Huguenots on Crooms Hill —one of London’s oldest streets, situated on the other side of Greenwich Park – was recently reviewed. The newspaper also revealed which film was recently shot just around the corner from me. It turned out to be a BBC series about The Beatles. After all, a villa on Beaconsfield Road bore a striking resemblance to Sir Paul McCartney’s in St John’s Wood. I also came across a lovely piece about the early years of Daniel Day-Lewis, who went to school in this neighbourhood.

I learn a lot from the newspaper, especially on a personal level. Some time ago, I started missing a resident of a nearby flat, an old and somewhat scruffy man who always walked past with the same plastic bag. It turns out he had been run over, I read this to my sorrow. More cheerful was the report that Lieven’s former football coach, Matt Purser, has opened a travel agency in the Royal Standard, the local shopping district. Maybe one day I should write a story about the man who, for 17 years, has ridden his unicycle through the wild park at exactly ten o’clock on Saturday morning, as I look on.