{"id":465352,"date":"2025-12-26T12:44:48","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T12:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=465352"},"modified":"2025-12-26T12:44:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T12:44:50","slug":"bermondsey-and-proud-but-it-steves-fight-for-rotherhithes-russia-dock-woodlands-that-has-been-his-biggest-accompaniment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/rotherhithe\/bermondsey-and-proud-but-it-steves-fight-for-rotherhithes-russia-dock-woodlands-that-has-been-his-biggest-accompaniment\/","title":{"rendered":"Bermondsey and proud, but it Steve&#8217;s fight for Rotherhithe&#8217;s Russia Dock Woodlands that has been his biggest accompaniment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Steve Cornish spent the first half of his life on the Dickens Estate; it was where his deep love for Bermondsey flourished. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second half was spent Downtown when he moved there after Surrey Docks closed; it was there he became a campaigner against developers with big money who wouldn\u2019t be seen dead in SE16 years ago.<\/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<p>Mum, Margaret, done many jobs: \u2018Shuttleworths for a long time, then dinner lady in St Michael\u2019s School\u2019. Harry, his father, was a self-employed roofer.<br>At Riverside, Steve\u2019s first school, he remembers liking \u2018English, sport and History\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"483\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/n-483x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/n-483x560.jpg 483w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/n-241x280.jpg 241w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/n-768x891.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/n-1324x1536.jpg 1324w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/n-126x146.jpg 126w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/n-1320x1531.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/n-750x870.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/n-1140x1322.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/n.jpg 1545w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 483px) 100vw, 483px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Steve as a baby <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"888\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Sister-Susan-on-holidays-at-Coomb-Haven-Hastings.-Nans-Caravan-in-background-WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-11.30.20-888x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Sister-Susan-on-holidays-at-Coomb-Haven-Hastings.-Nans-Caravan-in-background-WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-11.30.20-888x560.jpg 888w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Sister-Susan-on-holidays-at-Coomb-Haven-Hastings.-Nans-Caravan-in-background-WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-11.30.20-444x280.jpg 444w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Sister-Susan-on-holidays-at-Coomb-Haven-Hastings.-Nans-Caravan-in-background-WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-11.30.20-768x485.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Sister-Susan-on-holidays-at-Coomb-Haven-Hastings.-Nans-Caravan-in-background-WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-11.30.20-1536x969.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Sister-Susan-on-holidays-at-Coomb-Haven-Hastings.-Nans-Caravan-in-background-WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-11.30.20-231x146.jpg 231w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Sister-Susan-on-holidays-at-Coomb-Haven-Hastings.-Nans-Caravan-in-background-WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-11.30.20-1320x833.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Sister-Susan-on-holidays-at-Coomb-Haven-Hastings.-Nans-Caravan-in-background-WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-11.30.20-750x473.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Sister-Susan-on-holidays-at-Coomb-Haven-Hastings.-Nans-Caravan-in-background-WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-11.30.20-1140x719.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Sister-Susan-on-holidays-at-Coomb-Haven-Hastings.-Nans-Caravan-in-background-WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-11.30.20.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 888px) 100vw, 888px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve and Sister Susan on holidays at Coomb Haven Hastings. His Nans Caravan in background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Playing out meant \u2018Tin Tan Tommy and those sort of games, but to be honest it was all about being daredevils &#8211; The river was hundred yards away so we\u2019d get into the warehouses and onto the roof and swing on the cranes and get on the barges.\u2019<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMTY1Nzg1Njk1NCIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The wharves featured a lot in Steve\u2019s growing up. \u2018I always made sure I didn\u2019t go home with Thames mud on me shoes cos the old man would know I\u2019d been on the river\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His Uncle Tommy also lived on the Dickens Estate with wife Flo. They were on the new part and it wasn\u2019t long before Steve\u2019s family moved into Tupman House. His mum cried when she see her brand new \u2018proper kitchen\u2019 and indoor bathroom.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzMyNzczMjkxMyIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>At 11, Steve went to Paragon School. \u2018We had a good PE teacher, Mr Roper\u2026 There was always competitions and I love competition &#8211; It brings the best out in me.\u2019<br>Steve was an \u2018average\u2019 schoolboy but excelled at metalwork. The teacher would allow him to do his own thing and still has the cannon he designed and made there. This skill would serve him well.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"366\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/xx-ljzg.jpg-large-366x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/xx-ljzg.jpg-large-366x560.jpg 366w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/xx-ljzg.jpg-large-183x280.jpg 183w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/xx-ljzg.jpg-large-768x1176.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/xx-ljzg.jpg-large-1004x1536.jpg 1004w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/xx-ljzg.jpg-large-95x146.jpg 95w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/xx-ljzg.jpg-large-1320x2020.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/xx-ljzg.jpg-large-750x1148.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/xx-ljzg.jpg-large-1140x1745.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/xx-ljzg.jpg-large.jpg 1338w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 366px) 100vw, 366px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve as a school boy <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Sport has been a \u2018massive\u2019 part of Steve\u2019s life; \u2018Most of my friends are through football and playing for some of the best local teams: \u2018The Dickens Estate team were fantastic! We went unbeaten for two years!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On leaving school, Steve found work at Christians Wharf where his mate was the boss and paid him \u00a310 a week. \u2018I\u2019d never had so much money; a tenner! I didn\u2019t know what to do with it, and this was when beer was one and ninepence a pint!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Steve had signed up for a Pipe Fitter\/Welder apprenticeship, which was about to start soon but meant a drop in wages to almost half of what he had grown used to. <\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjg2NTc5MDA3MiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018I\u2019ll never forget what my dad said: \u201cDo this apprenticeship and you\u2019ll have a job for life, but your mates will always be on a tenner.\u201d\u2019 <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"466\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mum-Margaret-Me-Sister-Susan-Brother-Harry-Dad-Harry.-Late-60s-466x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465358\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mum-Margaret-Me-Sister-Susan-Brother-Harry-Dad-Harry.-Late-60s-466x560.jpg 466w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mum-Margaret-Me-Sister-Susan-Brother-Harry-Dad-Harry.-Late-60s-233x280.jpg 233w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mum-Margaret-Me-Sister-Susan-Brother-Harry-Dad-Harry.-Late-60s-768x924.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mum-Margaret-Me-Sister-Susan-Brother-Harry-Dad-Harry.-Late-60s-1277x1536.jpg 1277w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mum-Margaret-Me-Sister-Susan-Brother-Harry-Dad-Harry.-Late-60s-121x146.jpg 121w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mum-Margaret-Me-Sister-Susan-Brother-Harry-Dad-Harry.-Late-60s-1320x1588.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mum-Margaret-Me-Sister-Susan-Brother-Harry-Dad-Harry.-Late-60s-750x902.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mum-Margaret-Me-Sister-Susan-Brother-Harry-Dad-Harry.-Late-60s-1140x1371.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mum-Margaret-Me-Sister-Susan-Brother-Harry-Dad-Harry.-Late-60s.jpg 1430w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Mum ( Margaret) Setve &#8211; Sister Susan &#8211; Brother Harry &#8211; Dad Harry. Late 60s<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Steve took that advice. With money in his pocket Steve would use local pubs like the Becket, The Fort, The Fleece, The Fellmongers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was when out with mates that he met Christine, his future wife. They got married in St James\u2019s Church and a flat in Pickwick House &#8211; just four doors away from the flat he was born in.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"417\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Chris-late-70s-417x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Chris-late-70s-417x560.jpg 417w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Chris-late-70s-208x280.jpg 208w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Chris-late-70s-768x1032.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Chris-late-70s-109x146.jpg 109w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Chris-late-70s-750x1007.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Me-and-Chris-late-70s.jpg 1072w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 417px) 100vw, 417px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve and Christine late 70s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"413\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-413x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-413x560.jpg 413w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-206x280.jpg 206w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-768x1042.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-1132x1536.jpg 1132w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-108x146.jpg 108w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-1320x1791.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-750x1018.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3-1140x1547.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3.jpg 1509w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 413px) 100vw, 413px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve and Christine on their Wedding Day <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16-400x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16-400x560.jpg 400w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16-200x280.jpg 200w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16-768x1076.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16-1097x1536.jpg 1097w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16-104x146.jpg 104w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16-1320x1849.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16-360x504.jpg 360w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16-750x1051.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16-1140x1597.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-at-16.jpg 1462w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve and Christine on their Wedding Day <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>By the early 80s The Cornishes were happy with life but Christine would say, \u2018We don\u2019t even own the door knobs in this flat\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One day she heard new houses were up sale in the old docks and sent Steve down there. All he could see was a Portakabin on a muddy wasteland, which he made his way to and found that house plots would be sold in the morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He slept there in the car and was 6th in the queue to put down his \u00a3100 deposit and wait for the house to be built. They moved in a few months later.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"660\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Checking-on-the-New-House-in-the-New-Downtown-1982.-moved-in-a-few-months-later-when-it-was-a-bomb-site-from-one-side-of-the-peninsula-to-the-other-660x560.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Checking-on-the-New-House-in-the-New-Downtown-1982.-moved-in-a-few-months-later-when-it-was-a-bomb-site-from-one-side-of-the-peninsula-to-the-other-660x560.jpeg 660w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Checking-on-the-New-House-in-the-New-Downtown-1982.-moved-in-a-few-months-later-when-it-was-a-bomb-site-from-one-side-of-the-peninsula-to-the-other-330x280.jpeg 330w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Checking-on-the-New-House-in-the-New-Downtown-1982.-moved-in-a-few-months-later-when-it-was-a-bomb-site-from-one-side-of-the-peninsula-to-the-other-768x652.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Checking-on-the-New-House-in-the-New-Downtown-1982.-moved-in-a-few-months-later-when-it-was-a-bomb-site-from-one-side-of-the-peninsula-to-the-other-1536x1304.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Checking-on-the-New-House-in-the-New-Downtown-1982.-moved-in-a-few-months-later-when-it-was-a-bomb-site-from-one-side-of-the-peninsula-to-the-other-172x146.jpeg 172w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Checking-on-the-New-House-in-the-New-Downtown-1982.-moved-in-a-few-months-later-when-it-was-a-bomb-site-from-one-side-of-the-peninsula-to-the-other-1320x1121.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Checking-on-the-New-House-in-the-New-Downtown-1982.-moved-in-a-few-months-later-when-it-was-a-bomb-site-from-one-side-of-the-peninsula-to-the-other-750x637.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Checking-on-the-New-House-in-the-New-Downtown-1982.-moved-in-a-few-months-later-when-it-was-a-bomb-site-from-one-side-of-the-peninsula-to-the-other-1140x968.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Checking-on-the-New-House-in-the-New-Downtown-1982.-moved-in-a-few-months-later-when-it-was-a-bomb-site-from-one-side-of-the-peninsula-to-the-other.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Checking on the &#8216;New House in the &#8216;New Downtown &#8216; 1982. Steve moved in a few months later when it was a bomb site from one side of the peninsula to the other<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The late \u201880s recession killed off his industry and after 24 years at the same company Steve had to find his own work &#8211; \u2018I had a mortgage to pay!\u2019 The next job came by chance when he went to the Jobcentre. That very day a vacancy had come up that required someone with all the skills Steve had &#8211; Thomson Reuters in Canary Wharf needed a Maintenance Engineer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Steve got an interview and was pleased to find the interviewer was \u2018one of us\u2019. He noticed a West Ham badge on the man\u2019s coat so when the work questions were done, Steve let on he was a West Ham fan. He wasn\u2019t, but he got a second interview and got the job. Steve stayed there 22 years until he retired and it wasn\u2019t the only time he has used cunning to get what he wants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Bermondsey became trendy the developers hovered. The area changed fast and not always for the better. As Chairman of Friends of Russia Dock Woodlands for 25 years, he is \u2018very proud of keeping developers away from our 35 acres of woods\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it hasn\u2019t been easy. He didn\u2019t like it when they wanted to build a 15-storey block on the duck pond. The Downtown Defence Campaign was formed to fight developers who told Steve \u2018they\u2019d crush him like a beetle\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The group took them to the Royal Courts of Justice where Steve spoke in front of four Law Lords\u2026 The duck pond now has kingfishers enjoying it and the 15-storey building became just four floors. \u2018We pulled all the local campaign groups together to form Green Connections. It\u2019s to ensure developers fulfil their own green ambitions and not just put a few plants in a pot!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"417\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-29-at-16.07.59-417x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-29-at-16.07.59-417x560.jpg 417w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-29-at-16.07.59-209x280.jpg 209w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-29-at-16.07.59-768x1031.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-29-at-16.07.59-1145x1536.jpg 1145w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-29-at-16.07.59-109x146.jpg 109w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-29-at-16.07.59-1320x1771.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-29-at-16.07.59-750x1007.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-29-at-16.07.59-1140x1530.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-29-at-16.07.59.jpg 1345w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 417px) 100vw, 417px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Steve makes headlines in his battle to save Downtown from over developement<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>For the past seven years he has been secretary of the Surrey Docks Angling Club. The club has just negotiated with developers for: new decking for the angling pontoon, access for disabled anglers, the dock restocked with fish, and Decathlon will sponsor matches for the younger anglers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And just as he pretended to support West Ham to get a job, Steve twice impersonated a Health &amp; Safety Office in order to get on to building works where he suspected foul play was taking place. Once in he would ask where the workers\u2019 hard hats were, why there were trip hazards and rubbish in doorways as fire hazards. In the panic created he would take photos of the suspected destruction of listed buildings\u2019 features and fittings to use as evidence against developers trying to turn Bermondsey pubs into flats. Two pubs were saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Albert McKenzie VC Statue in Tower Bridge Road was also very special to Steve. Stansfeld Oxford and Bermondsey Club members began raising funds, which brought all of Bermondsey together to raise enough to have the statue built by Kevin Boys the Rotherhithe blacksmith.. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"420\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-10.54.54-420x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465362\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-10.54.54-420x560.jpg 420w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-10.54.54-210x280.jpg 210w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-10.54.54-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-10.54.54-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-10.54.54-110x146.jpg 110w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-10.54.54-1320x1760.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-10.54.54-750x1000.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-10.54.54-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-10-30-at-10.54.54.jpg 1512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The memorial on Tower Bridge Road<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Steve\u2019s metalwork and welding background meant he was recruited into creating the rifle part of the sculpture. \u2018Albert McKenzie was a Bermondsey boxing champion who became a war hero,\u2019 he says proudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In retirement, Steve fills his day caring for his father-in-law and forever campaigning to keep Bermondsey from over-development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He loves Bermondsey people: \u2018The banter can be wicked, but funny,\u2019 he laughs with a wry smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His favourite place is the Dickens Estate and visits for nostalgic reasons regularly.<\/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=\"WQ349qnSY0XpieUfsucTCrl8LktvZm1g7ohJ5\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"d7EEcPUUB5\"><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=L3Ba0T2qCp#?secret=d7EEcPUUB5\" data-secret=\"d7EEcPUUB5\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Sadly, Christine died in 2024 and now there is just daughter Victoria, a dentist whom he is very proud of. \u2018She has been fantastic with what we\u2019re going through.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Victoria lives close by in a flat overlooking the Woodlands. Steve still lives in the house built on a muddy Docklands wasteland and has no plans to move.<\/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=\"keeRQFyuCFKvDqtlBW1VUM6S3VK8zibfDPhGZELm1H40ghXnIB3pjA9iEuSrsjMLc9kNIyx2QN5abRY7mPJGgAfWdoo\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ngzj59T2A6\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/history\/history-plus\/remembering-the-bon-bonne-herne-hills-legendary-nightclub-and-the-revellers-keeping-its-memory-alive\/\">Remembering the\u00a0Bon\u00a0Bonne: Herne Hill&#8217;s legendary nightclub and the revellers keeping its memory alive<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Remembering the\u00a0Bon\u00a0Bonne: Herne Hill&#8217;s legendary nightclub and the revellers keeping its memory alive&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/history\/history-plus\/remembering-the-bon-bonne-herne-hills-legendary-nightclub-and-the-revellers-keeping-its-memory-alive\/embed\/#?secret=oZ73k7gHTg#?secret=ngzj59T2A6\" data-secret=\"ngzj59T2A6\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Steve Cornish spent the first half of his life on the Dickens Estate; it was where his deep love for Bermondsey flourished. The second half was spent Downtown when he moved there after Surrey Docks closed; it was there he became a campaigner against developers with big money who wouldn\u2019t be seen dead in SE16 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18771,"featured_media":465360,"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","show_comment_section":"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":"Local people: The life and times of Steve Cornish "},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"41"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,7375,13539,13618,13602,18168,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-465352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bermondsey","category-community","category-featured","category-history","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-rotherhithe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465352","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\/18771"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=465352"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465352\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/465360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=465352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=465352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=465352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}