Obituaries – Southwark News

Thousands gather on Aylesbury Estate to release balloons in memory of 16-year-old Junior Dean

Evie Flynn — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:57:40 +0000

Thousands gathered on Walworth’s Aylesbury Estate on Saturday night to release balloons in memory of a 16-year-old, who tragically passed away after a fire at his friend’s home last week. The night’s sky on Saturday was filled with balloons as a whole community mourned the loss of the popular teenager, who was an extremely talented […]

Massive funeral planned for local traveller and daughter of ‘The Old King’

Evie Flynn — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 21:32:44 +0000

The life of a ‘well-known’ Irish traveller from Bermondsey is being celebrated with a huge procession from Dockhead to Forest Hill on Monday (March 23rd). Bridget Joyce, who sadly passed from a short illness on March 8th aged 59, was the eldest daughter of the late Michael O’Brien – who was known locally as ‘The […]

Coin Street’s affordable housing on the South Bank and Borough Market as a foodie paradise are the two glorious legacies George leaves behind

Issy Clarke — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:32:31 +0000

Born a year after World War II in Borough, amid the bombed-out buildings and industrial landscape of the area, George Nicholson went on to ensure local people were given affordable homes while transforming the fortunes of Borough Market. The 79-year-old recently died on 1 February. A campaigner and local politician he fought tirelessly to get […]

‘A true Bermondsey diamond’ social club owner and community leader Mick Hannon passes away aged 67 after short battle with cancer

Issy Clarke — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:05:26 +0000

Bermondsey and Rotherhithe are mourning the loss of a much-loved character who entertained local families at his church social club and worked hard to represent his community on the council. Michael Hannon, better known to his friends and family as Mick – sadly passed away on 15 February aged just 67, after a short four-month […]

Tributes pour in for cake maker Margaret who ‘baked joy’ into Camberwell community for over 40 years

Issy Clarke — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 18:25:02 +0000

An elderly lady who ran a cake shop in Camberwell for almost 40 years and was described as baking joy into the community sadly passed away this month aged of 82. Tributes have begun pouring in for Margaret Akrong, the beloved baker behind Margaret’s Cakes of Distinction, who died suddenly on November 1. The octogenarian […]

Tributes pour in for ‘legendary’ Only Fools and Horses actor Patrick Murray aka Mickey Pearce

Issy Clarke — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:54:08 +0000

Tributes have begun pouring in for Patrick Murray, best known for starring as Mickey Pearce in Only Fools and Horses, who died last week at the age of 68. Last week Thursday (October 2) the Only Fools and Horses Appreciation Society shared the tragic news that Murray had passed away in Rochester where he lived […]

Hundreds pack into St George’s Cathedral for the funeral of Mike McKenna

Kevin Quinn — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:56:19 +0000

Hundreds of people gathered this week at St George’s Cathedral for the funeral of Mike McKenna, who alongside his brother Pat who have been running the Victoria pub in Bermondsey for 40 years. The sudden death of this hugely popular figure shocked locals who paid homage to him as a ‘big man with a big […]

The Vic’s Mike McKenna – a big Bermondsey character whose life was framed around promoting the good work of others

Kevin Quinn — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 19:37:14 +0000

A big man with a big heart to match – that is what anyone would say of Mike McKenna, and his sudden death at just 66 years of age will come as huge shock to generations of Bermondsey people. For 40 years Mike and his brother Pat have been running the Victoria pub on Pages […]

Peckham celebrates the life of Derek Kinrade – local historian, author, and campaigner who saved hundreds of homes from ruin

Herbie Russell — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 08:44:08 +0000

In the late 1980s, Peckham stood on the brink of annihilation amid plans to run a high-speed rail link through its historic neighborhood. Unfortunately for British Rail, a certain Derek Kinrade had just moved to the area—and fallen in love with it. Over the following decades, the talented civil servant emerged as one of the staunchest defenders […]

A proper Bermondsey send-off for fishmonger Russell Dryden – market legend, music marvel and a real gentleman

Kevin Quinn — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 16:22:36 +0000

Over four hundred people flocked to St James’ Church this afternoon (Monday July 1) and crowds poured on to Southwark Park Road in Bermondsey, to say a final farewell to the area’s most beloved fishmonger. Russell Dryden’s sudden death shocked locals, who had come to see him as the face of the Blue Market after […]