{"id":454546,"date":"2025-09-24T17:58:26","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T16:58:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=454546"},"modified":"2025-10-01T14:52:49","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T13:52:49","slug":"pensioner-will-be-walking-the-london-bridges-to-raise-money-so-continue-helping-people-write-down-their-life-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/pensioner-will-be-walking-the-london-bridges-to-raise-money-so-continue-helping-people-write-down-their-life-stories\/","title":{"rendered":"Pensioner will be walking the London bridges to raise money so he can continue to help people write down their life stories"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>A pensioner who is helping local Peckham people write their life stories is now walking ten miles over 13 London Bridges on Friday October 10 to help keep his sessions alive.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Michael Holland, 70, runs a weekly Life Writing class at the Copleston Community Centre, teaching locals of all ages how to put memorable moments down on paper.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"ZnqeBnEk3mBR6Tyr0zVwgvjGCMpVcdEsKLWXIIvtOxFt5Ur0JLU2JYD64fPxzXHRDmCiF\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"wWDMCwxQKg\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/rotherhithe\/nostalgia-the-bermondsey-bank-girl-that-dreamed-of-running-her-own-pub\/\">Nostalgia: The Bermondsey bank girl that dreamed of running her own pub<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Nostalgia: The Bermondsey bank girl that dreamed of running her own pub&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/rotherhithe\/nostalgia-the-bermondsey-bank-girl-that-dreamed-of-running-her-own-pub\/embed\/#?secret=yf4jyLnS1j#?secret=wWDMCwxQKg\" data-secret=\"wWDMCwxQKg\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, despite support from local grants, the Centre is experiencing funding shortages. To help keep his sessions and the centre alive, Michael will be walking over 13 London bridges on Friday 10 October, starting at Battersea Bridge at 10am and finishing at Tower Bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Michael\u2019s sessions aim to record memories like your first day at school, first kiss, first job, weddings, birthdays, and holidays, that can be passed down through generations.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtOTg2MDkyNDMyIiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtY29udGVudCBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50IiBzdHlsZT0ibWFyZ2luLWxlZnQ6IGF1dG87bWFyZ2luLXJpZ2h0OiBhdXRvO3RleHQtYWxpZ246IGNlbnRlcjsiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC0yeDEiPg0KPHNjcmlwdD4NCmdvb2dsZXRhZy5jbWQucHVzaChmdW5jdGlvbigpIHsgZ29vZ2xldGFnLmRpc3BsYXkoJ2Rpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxJyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgICAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>He said: \u201cMy group ranges from 40 years old to 96 and I\u2019ve heard some great stories, you never know what will be revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRecently, we heard about the time Yoko Ono dropped by to see Stella, Maureen\u2019s journey from growing up in rural Ireland to building a life in Peckham, Ekins\u2019s 40 years as a London bus driver, and Diane\u2019s memories of being asked out by Prince Charles and losing a role to Judi Dench\u201d<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzU3NTUwOTk3MiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>As the Arts Correspondent at Southwark News, Michael recognises the importance of writing and recording. He videos the members reading out their memories, which are uploaded onto a private website for the writers and their families and friends to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTogether we are building up a legacy that is there far longer than any of us will be around,\u201d he claims candidly. \u201cIn my four years here we have already lost a couple of members and the families said that having access to their loved ones\u2019 videos is a great help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Copleston Centre, which relies on a team of dedicated volunteers, has been working with local communities for over 40 years, with more than 500 people using the centre per week. The charity has consistently focused on supporting people facing economic hardship, older people and those with mental health challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"nQqgxJVfFvbKNepcGDdZ4XSPtMoLmCi0hOTw5E\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"HSNdwSbX0V\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/peckham-bus-conductor-was-a-1960s-olympic-weightlifter-and-set-a-british-record\/\">Peckham bus conductor was a 1960s Olympic weightlifter and set a British record<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Peckham bus conductor was a 1960s Olympic weightlifter and set a British record&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/peckham\/peckham-bus-conductor-was-a-1960s-olympic-weightlifter-and-set-a-british-record\/embed\/#?secret=E0TNbgad58#?secret=HSNdwSbX0V\" data-secret=\"HSNdwSbX0V\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Michael, who grew up in Rotherhithe, noticed the demands of funding a year ago, when he was asked to cut the hours of the class. However, he recognised the importance of the class for participants and instead decided to reduce his fee. He contributed four hours a week for the price of one hour, which covers his petrol and expenses.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzM5MTA0NzYiIGNsYXNzPSJzb3V0aC1pbi1hcnRpY2xlLW1wdS0xMCBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1MTAiPg0KPHNjcmlwdD4NCmdvb2dsZXRhZy5jbWQucHVzaChmdW5jdGlvbigpIHsgZ29vZ2xldGFnLmRpc3BsYXkoJ2Rpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1MTAnKTsgfSk7DQo8L3NjcmlwdD4NCjwvZGl2PiAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>When one member of his Life Writing class suggested a fundraising walk across London\u2019s bridges, Michael dived head first into training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said: \u201cI might be 70 but I\u2019m already in training to do this ten-mile hike. It would be a crime if people lost out on this or any of the other activities that bring much needed connections for older people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf the centre can find the money for the lighting and heating, I\u2019ll carry on working cheaply and raising as much as I can to keep those memories coming alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Copleston Centre also provides a meal on Mondays and Wednesdays for a donation of \u00a34 or \u00a35, depending on the budget of attendees, cooked by some of Camberwell and Peckham\u2019s best-loved chefs, who take time out from their restaurants and businesses to share their skills.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Copleston-gardening.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-454922\" style=\"width:451px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Copleston-gardening.webp 320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Copleston-gardening-195x146.webp 195w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>There are a wide range of affordable activities on offer at the centre, including African and Caribbean dance fitness sessions, dominoes, chair yoga, tai chi. They also run a range of community gatherings, including Black History Month and Pride events, seasonal celebrations, public talks and discussions, and film screenings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Participants describe the centre as \u201ca very warm and welcoming place\u201d and somewhere to go \u201cfor the wide variety of activities and the community vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Life Writing group is keen to continue, so came together to write about the importance of the weekly gathering. Leo, who attends the Life Writing Class says: \u201cIt gives me the chance to express myself and maintain my mental health in a friendly, therapeutic atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ekins said: \u201cI\u2019ve met a lot of beautiful people who have convinced me that every person has a book in them. Each week I get the desire to keep coming because recording our memories for posterity is important for the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"nq9QAyaFRk7O0w5YPDUuTsiKtl\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ZiM5U3DOQ3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/rotherhithe\/freddie-allistons-playground-growing-up-in-post-war-bermondsey-and-rotherhithe\/\">Freddie Alliston\u2019s playground &#8211; growing up in post-war Bermondsey and Rotherhithe<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Freddie Alliston\u2019s playground &#8211; growing up in post-war Bermondsey and Rotherhithe&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/rotherhithe\/freddie-allistons-playground-growing-up-in-post-war-bermondsey-and-rotherhithe\/embed\/#?secret=znFCFeplkn#?secret=ZiM5U3DOQ3\" data-secret=\"ZiM5U3DOQ3\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI love coming because we can talk freely in very good company,\u201d Maureen reflected. \u201cI\u2019m sure that dredging up memories from the past helps our memory now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Karen said: \u201cThe writing can be therapeutic, cathartic or just happy memories. We can bare our souls, we don\u2019t seek validation, we can just be ourselves without fear of judgement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Copleston director, Julia Honess, said: \u201cWe are so grateful to all the people who go above and beyond to keep our much-needed programme running. I am so taken with the idea of the walk that I am going to join Michael on the fundraising walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Crossing Bridges Walk will take place on October 10th at 10am and we\u2019d really appreciate your donations, however big or small. All you need to do is click on the link.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Full details and programme: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.coplestoncentre.org.uk\/copleston-weekly-programme-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.coplestoncentre.org.uk\/copleston-weekly-programme-2025<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>To donate to the fundraising walk: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/crowdfunding\/coplestoncentre?utm_medium=CR&amp;utm_source=CL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/crowdfunding\/coplestoncentre?utm_medium=CR&amp;utm_source=CL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Copleston Centre, Copleston Road, Peckham, SE15 4AN.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"GgtJLI5kyS0Q2raX1KzCj8Aciu3mqNHeYFZdlDEpV4Ob97f6onWwMvT\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"tJa02ZcZpR\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/community\/there-used-to-be-37-pubs-on-old-kent-road-now-theres-only-two\/\">There used to be 37 pubs on Old Kent Road, now there&#8217;s only two<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;There used to be 37 pubs on Old Kent Road, now there&#8217;s only two&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/news\/community\/there-used-to-be-37-pubs-on-old-kent-road-now-theres-only-two\/embed\/#?secret=xaMmBSmaMO#?secret=tJa02ZcZpR\" data-secret=\"tJa02ZcZpR\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A pensioner who is helping local Peckham people write their life stories is now walking ten miles over 13 London Bridges on Friday October 10 to help keep his sessions alive. Michael Holland, 70, runs a weekly Life Writing class at the Copleston Community Centre, teaching locals of all ages how to put memorable moments [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19233,"featured_media":43008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"The 70-year-old, runs a weekly Life Writing class at the Copleston Community Centre in Peckham "},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"33"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7375,13539,18246,13602,18168,33,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-454546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","category-lifestyle","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-peckham","category-rotherhithe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19233"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=454546"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454546\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=454546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=454546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=454546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}