Catford Dreams

I am running for the Green Party in Catford (Rushey Green) in the local elections on May 7. You can follow me here - https://www.instagram.com/catfordreams

The choice is simple. More of the same with Labour, or the kind of change I talk about in this episode. Only Labour or the Green Party can win this election.
If you live in Catford, there's a good chance you live in the Rushey Green council ward. The map can be found here: https://lewisham.gov.uk/mayorandcouncil/elections/ward-maps

Here is an article covering Zack Polanski’s recent visit to Lewisham: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/05/green-party-lewisham-zack-polanski-labour

You can register to vote here: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-voteand apply for a postal vote here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

My running mates are Samantha Gardiner and Claire Wills. Here are their Instagram accounts for the election:
https://www.instagram.com/samanthagardinerforrusheygreen/
https://www.instagram.com/clairewillsforrusheygreen/
Promoted by Daniel Dream, Green Party, PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ.

There are yellow bricks all over South East London, forming our homes and the school walls opposite my house. These bricks were once dug from the brickfields that used to stretch across Lewisham.
A wall marks where responsibility lives.
Things mentioned:
The essay on the Berlin Wall by Rem Koolhaas:
https://www.scribd.com/document/235581097/The-Berlin-Wall-as-Architecture
The BFG appears next to Holbeach Primary School in this advert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaF1my5h-Os
A 360-degree view from above Blythe Hill Fields:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/1WVzRmHjKt5iDUMq5
Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah was a student at Holbeach Primary School who died as a result of air pollution aged nine. Her mother's campaigning can be supported here:
https://www.ellaroberta.org/about-ella
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Since beginning work on this episode, I have been selected to run as a candidate in Catford (Rushey Green) in the May local elections. With the possible exception of one episode, this will not change the podcast, as this is who I am regardless. Legally, I have to say: Promoted by Daniel Dream, Green Party, PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ.

I’ve been seeing a lot of parakeets in a lot of different places recently, and thinking about how we can turn Goldsmiths moving to Catford from a good idea into an absolutely outstanding one.
Here’s the Instagram account linked to the podcast: https://www.instagram.com/catforddreams/
And here’s a short piece on the artists being displaced as a result of the Goldsmiths move: https://lewishamletter.co.uk/artists-face-being-forced-out-of-capital-due-to-council-studio-eviction/

The five principles mentioned are:
Radical Openness
Protecting Legacy Businesses
Community Wealth
Renter Protection
Ground-up Culture

There’s a huge amount of material online about the work of Stuart Hall (1992-2014), worth exploring.
Shepherds, not sheep.

Uploaded at sunset on January 5th, 2026, Twelfth Night.
Huge thanks to the Black Cat pub in Catford Shopping Centre for hosting us.
A quick fact check: Bill accidentally said he had lived in Catford for 14 years. He actually meant he has lived here since 2014.
The postman keeps walking, and Catford keeps dreaming.
Happy New Year.

Some thoughts from Vera, who has lived in Milford Towers, Catford, for the past five and a half years. She makes Catford a better place.