Geoff Simmons with a reminder about this Saturday’s Summerstown event!

This Saturday 16th September will be a momentous day in Summerstown. Another plaque unveiling and a celebration of a year of Lottery funding for the Summerstown182 community history project. We really hope lots of children and young people will attend – such days can be remembered forever and we want to inspire the next generation of historians. So if you are a parent or involved in a school, please do spread the word!

The plaque will mark one of the most significant sporting heritage locations in Wandsworth and salutes Robert Sadler, the man who put this small hamlet on the map. It will be placed on Burmester House (opposite Tesco Express on the Garratt Lane/Summerstown roundabout). This was once the site of Althorp Lodge, headquarters of his extraordinary Copenhagen Running Grounds. For eleven years in the middle of the 19th century, it was one of South London's foremost pedestrian venues in the early days of the sport we now call athletics.

Meet at 2pm to see the plaque unveiled by Robert's great great grandson, Robin Sadler, who will travel from the Isle of Man with his family for this occasion. There will also be a few words from the local historian Kevin Kelly who brought us this story, and the author and broadcaster Simon Inglis. Local poet John Byrne will be on hand to give us his own unique take on proceedings.

Afterwards, please join us for refreshments in nearby St Mary's Church (enter via Wimbledon Road) where we are proud to show you the work of Smallwood Primary and Burntwood School, completed over the past year, when in partnership with Big Up Films and supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This includes the screening of three short films based around some of our Summerstown182 stories, a historic timeline and the launch of a unique Smallwood School 'trail map'. We'll be inviting people to take home poppy seeds and grow a flower in memory of the 182. They will be given a pot and encouraged to report back on their progress. There will also be a commemorative stone painting activity. Summersotown182 volunteers will be on hand to talk about what we've been doing and our future plans. You can also buy a copy of Kevin Kelly's book.

Following that you can choose to visit one of Robert Sadler's former residences. The Sir Jeffrey Dunstan is now the location of By The Horns craft brewery who will be hosting The South London Beer Festival that day. Bob was also in charge at The Corner Pin and lived in the cottage next door. The Sadler family also ran The Prince of Wales, now Summerstown Tesco. If that's not enough, it also happens to be 'Wandle Fortnight' so you can finish with a stroll to the riverside site of the printworks where Robert Sadler was once employed as a dyer.

We hope very much to see you on our big day!
Geoff Simmons

Also look out for
'Far From the Western Front' – South Asian Stories of the First World War Exhibition at St George's until 29th Sept (1st Floor, Hunter Wing) supported by two historic hospital walks; 13th Sept 6pm (Geoff Simmons), 23rd Sept 2pm (Colin Davis) Both start from Cranmer Terrace.
http://tooting-news.dailyprss.co.uk/tabs/blog/2017/9/major-historical-exhibition-comes-to-tooting 

'The Greatest Tooting Tour in History' – part of Tootopia Festival Sunday 24th Sept, 2pm, starts outside Tooting Broadway
A guided walk around some of Tooting's lesser known historical hotspots featuring a cast of colourful characters.
http://tootopia.co.uk/ 

Summerstown182 'Walk of Remembrance' – from St Mary's Church, Saturday 11th November, 2pm.
A Summerstown182 Walk for Remembrance weekend featuring some new, never-before-told stories.