HISTORY

This is an interview with Ron Martin, who was the founding worker on Somerville

He along with other community workers in the area were the initial believers that adventure playgrounds were a much needed resource for our children growing up in inner cities.

In or around 1969 play schemes were run from St Catherines church (of which Ron and Rooney Martin were volunteers). The play scheme committee had the idea to apply to L.B.Lewisham for the use of a piece of derelict wasteland on the main road by the fire station. What had been a street known as Somerville Rd.

The play schemes were run from Telegraph hill and the playground was used and run by volunteers. Ron also did some voluntary work at Pimlico adventure playground. From the success from the summer play schemes it was soon realised that this was a much-needed resource in the area.

Ron, who had his own family with four children, was working fulltime on the asphalt at the time when the committee decided if enough volunteers could be sought the playground could open after school. 5 volunteers were sought there was no hut and no cover at all. Slowly the volunteers went from 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1, and Ron was on his own working during the day and volunteering in the evenings.

Next the Big wooden crate appeared and base camp was made!

Jenny Benttel who was the then community worker at the new 170 Neighborhood council decided to seek funding for a workers post. After discussion with his family Ron decided to take a half drop in his wages and pursue his career in Adventure Playgrounds. From then the playground opened 7 days a week with a volunteer working 1-day and Ron working 6. Ron said his job in those days was to find and collect materials, build the playground structures etc, try and organize a committee.

He attended daytime courses on child development and building play structures through the London Adventure Playground Association. The Playground was opened in 1971.

Loads of kids were using the playground and after about 18months, on his own the committee was formed and Jenny Bentell from 170 got funds for a new worker.
First John Richardson who came to the playground via the playscheme. Later came Pauline Urwin who stayed 5 years.

THEN came the interviews by the committee and Ron for the 6 on the shortlist.

One of them a gorgeous tall Dutch girl who was asked various questions. Ron said he remembers one question which was 'what do you see as your duties on the playground' and when she answered 'one was to clean the toilets' he knew she was the one for him. And she has been cleaning them ever since. Ron said it was the best decision he had ever made as they were such a good team and he couldn't have achieved anything without her. Ron was on the playground until 1993 and he and Hanneke worked together for almost 15 years,

Ron also spoke about Bill Girdwood (The then Chair) who has been involved in the playground from the beginning as a worker on the play schemes and to this day an un sung hero!!

The playground has been supported locally, continually over the years by local residents, parents community workers, many of whom still support us today. Clive Brandsbury, Una Shannon (how many of you remember the playground shop?) Rooney Martin, Bill Girdwood, Gill Slater, Janet Baker, Jean Raubould, Carol O'shea, Niky Cann and all the present committee. Ron Said ' As I go into my retirement very often I see adults who were kids on the playground who tell me what great times they had. This made it all worthwhile and overall a very good period in my life.

Hanneke worked on the playground for 30 years and moved back to Holland in 2010. Both Ron and Hanneke will always be remembered for their dedication, love for the playground and Children of New Cross.