Brixton 'Splash' 2017 street festival - news and discussion

[wurlycurly]

I thought the comments on the FB page were Jasper-esque as well.

At bottom of this is infighting between different community leaders in the Afro Caribbean community.

On the one side Jasper and the other those that are more close to the Labour administration.

Its about differences of political opinion. Creating power bases.

Trouble is its being fought over a popular festival that people (including me) had a good time at. I never had a any trouble at the festival itself. There were issues about aspects of the organisation if you lived in central Brixton. But apart from that its a loss.

I also think , whatever I might think of Jasper, its not beyond reason to wonder if this Nu Labour Council want a "cleaned" up festival thats just a bit less Afro Caribbean and more reflective of the new more upmarket Brixton they would like to promote.

If Jasper had been a bit more clever he could have got more support here. But instead let personal beef with Brixton Buzz and Ed to get in the way.

• It's a pity it's ended up like this because Splash was really enjoyable for a few years, but everything seems to go a bit arse-up when Jasper gets involved. I'm a bit suspicious of this trademark nonsense. Hints at being an attempt to monetise it for the benefit of a select few. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Gramsci]

• It's a pity it's ended up like this because Splash was really enjoyable for a few years, but everything seems to go a bit arse-up when Jasper gets involved. I'm a bit suspicious of this trademark nonsense. Hints at being an attempt to monetise it for the benefit of a select few. Hope I'm wrong.

IMO the Labour administration didnt like what Jasper represents. He is not good at making friends and influencing people but he does stick up for the Black community and he is not Nu Labour. Were as I get the impression that the other side are. Jasper did stand in elections against Labour candidates. In Nu Labour circles they really do not like this.

Whatever are the faults of Jasper my suggestion is that the Nu Labour Council wanted a community event under there control. Not run by overtly political people who are not on message.

Its why I am not happy with what has happened with Splash.

 

[wurlycurly]

IMO the Labour administration didnt like what Jasper represents. He is not good at making friends and influencing people but he does stick up for the Black community and he is not Nu Labour. Were as I get the impression that the other side are. Jasper did stand in elections against Labour candidates. In Nu Labour circles they really do not like this.

Whatever are the faults of Jasper my suggestion is that the Nu Labour Council wanted a community event under there control. Not run by overtly political people who are not on message.

Its why I am not happy with what has happened with Splash.

I may be a bit cynical but I see a tug-of-war between Lambeth and Jasper as a textbook lose/lose situation.

 

[CH1]

I may be a bit cynical but I see a tug-of-war between Lambeth and Jasper as a textbook lose/lose situation.

Re trademarking etc which Winot researched I note that in fact there are currently only 3 directors left of Brixton Splash BRIXTON SPLASH - Officers (free information from Companies House)
Ros Griffiths resigned in 2011 apparently.
Ashmere House (as the trademark application address) is no longer the address of the company.

I have never before seen such an unstable set of company returns. It moves address year by year - including being at one time registered at Lee Jasper's personal address. And the directors are appointed and terminated with a frequency not seen since the Empress Livia was on a poisoning spree in "I Claudius".

 

[editor]

Re trademarking etc which Winot researched I note that in fact there are currently only 3 directors left of Brixton Splash BRIXTON SPLASH - Officers (free information from Companies House)
Ros Griffiths resigned in 2011 apparently.
Ashmere House (as the trademark application address) is no longer the address of the company.

I have never before seen such an unstable set of company returns. It moves address year by year - including being at one time registered at Lee Jasper's personal address. And the directors are appointed and terminated with a frequency not seen since the Empress Livia was on a poisoning spree in "I Claudius".

There's a whole load of resignations in that list, all on different dates. It looks a shambles.

 

[Tolpuddle]

There's a whole load of resignations in that list, all on different dates. It looks a shambles.

at least it does give us a rough idea of when to send Mr Jasper a birthday card!!

 

[ViolentPanda]

I thought the comments on the FB page were Jasper-esque as well.

At bottom of this is infighting between different community leaders in the Afro Caribbean community.

On the one side Jasper and the other those that are more close to the Labour administration.

Its about differences of political opinion. Creating power bases.

Trouble is its being fought over a popular festival that people (including me) had a good time at. I never had a any trouble at the festival itself. There were issues about aspects of the organisation if you lived in central Brixton. But apart from that its a loss.

I also think , whatever I might think of Jasper, its not beyond reason to wonder if this Nu Labour Council want a "cleaned" up festival thats just a bit less Afro Caribbean and more reflective of the new more upmarket Brixton they would like to promote.

If Jasper had been a bit more clever he could have got more support here. But instead let personal beef with Brixton Buzz and Ed to get in the way.

I'm of the opinion that Lambeth Labour are very much in favour of a less overtly-Afro-Caribbean festival, both for the reason you stated, and because it's a bit of an in-their-face reminder that the ethnic composition of their 59 councillors does not reflect that of the borough.

 

[CH1]

There's a whole load of resignations in that list, all on different dates. It looks a shambles.

At least they kept Companies House informed!

 

[Boudicca]

Three new names which you can vote on via Brixton Blog if you have a twitter account: Brixton Wave, Great Brixton and Brixton Ting.

 

[editor]

Three new names which you can vote on via Brixton Blog if you have a twitter account: Brixton Wave, Great Brixton and Brixton Ting.

Great Brixton is the name of the recent book project. Brixton Ting is bloody embarrassing and Brixton wave makes no sense.

 

[CH1]

Three new names which you can vote on via Brixton Blog if you have a twitter account: Brixton Wave, Great Brixton and Brixton Ting.

Sounds to me as though Ros Griffiths is a splitter.

Looking at the link above she joined the board at the same time as Lee Jasper (10th November 2009) - but left on 23rd March 2011.

With all their mucking about they now seem to have lost control to the Tooting Popular Front (Correspondence address c/o, 4a, Trevelyan Road, London, England, SW17 9LN).

Now Ros is staging a comeback by changing the name with the help of a popular poll run by Brixton Blog.

To me this is all a bit reminiscent of TUSC vs Left Unity vs The Socialist Party. Not from a political point of view though - more that people with large egos can't co-exist. And the smaller the church, the more likely it is to split.

 

[CH1]

To be fair and equable I should include the link to vote on Ros's Rebrand and Relaunch of the late Brixton Splash

Vote for a new name for Splash!

 

[editor]

Sounds to me as though Ros Griffiths is a splitter.

Looking at the link above she joined the board at the same time as Lee Jasper (10th November 2009) - but left on 23rd March 2011.

With all their mucking about they now seem to have lost control to the Tooting Popular Front (Correspondence address c/o, 4a, Trevelyan Road, London, England, SW17 9LN).

Now Ros is staging a comeback by changing the name with the help of a popular poll run by Brixton Blog.

To me this is all a bit reminiscent of TUSC vs Left Unity vs The Socialist Party. Not from a political point of view though - more that people with large egos can't co-exist. And the smaller the church, the more likely it is to split.

With the public the real losers.

 

[editor]

I see that the people that nicked my photos without credit or apology (that's Brixton Splash ™ © All Rights Reserved) are busy focusing on the things that really matter to the community

 

[Rushy]

at that last sentence!

 

[trabuquera]

they're all about the goodwill they've built within the local community

 

[Winot]

"Any use of the phrase 'run for the community by the community(TM)' or any confusingly similar phrase will be considered to be a misappropriation of our goodwill and actionable under the common law tort of passing off."

 

[Nanker Phelge]

at that last sentence!

'Own risk' of what I wonder????

 

[urbanspaceman]

It's disconcerting that there is no identification of the directors on the BS website, nor are there the usual photos and brief introductory statements of personal enthusiasm and commitment that one might expect. No phone numbers, no address and no name-specific email addresses.

You have to dig through Companies House public records to find that, following a lot of director churn, the current directors are:
Mr Vassel John Gordon, also a director of the Brixton Market Traders' Federation Community Interest Company
Ms Kelly Shea
Ms Shezal Laing

BS seems to have absolutely terrible communications skills, making threatening legalistic threatening noises at all and sundry, criticising Lambeth Council in the aftermath of BS 2015, and stating on their FB page: "Brixton Splash Ltd has no plans to put on a Brixton Splash 2017 or any other festival of such type" - which is a strange goal to have.

BS's gogetfunding page raised £69 (from 11 supporters) of the £100,000 wanted for unspecified purposes. Perhaps an indication of how little community support BS can muster.

All-in-all they come across poorly, antagonising everybody who might be well-disposed to them, "lawyering up" in a pitiful attempt to look like tough guys, and burning bridges with Lambeth, the licensor of public events. Surely a bit of friendly outreach is the only viable way to proceed ?

Rosalind Griffiths resigned as a director of BS in 2011 and is not currently a director of any other company. Brixton Blog: "A team led by Brixton-born community organiser Ros Griffiths is planning a series of local engagement meetings, due to start in September this year." I have not heard of any such events - has anyone else ?

I fear that it's all going to descend into a petty legalistic clusterfuck, and that Lambeth will wash it hands of the whole thing. The Standard might get hold of the story, and no third party will want to be associated with such squabbling.

 

[Brixton Hatter]

Brixton Splosh?

Brixton Dosh!

Sponsored by Foxtons, Network Rail & Lambeth Labour.

A vibrant new festival for the new community! Show apartments on Atlantic Road. Squirrel caviar on Coldharbour Lane. Live music from Section 106, the Thin White Family and Austerity DJs, including Matt "Jamm" Bennett & Jumpin' Jack Hopkins.

Plus, in a worldwide exclusive, special guest Ros "Peter" Griffin singing her global hits "The Bird is the Word" & "Peanut Butter Jelly Time."

Speeches from local celebrities including Lee Josstick, Lob Pick and Joy Rayner, plus a small amount of rapping by James Nas-bitt.

Food stalls, including 'Pork' by Alex SmallHam, 'YouJerk' by Pete Robbin, and 'All Vegetables' by the Lambeth Planning Committee Bake Club.

Kids area with unheated paddling pool courtesy of Better/GLL, sandpit donated by Morgan Sindall. 1000-dwelling Legoland community available to look at [no touching the model.]

Further attractions include:
- 10 meter trike track courtesy of the 'most tricycle-friendly borough'
- Free oxygen shop for asthmatics and kids with lung disease
- Tour of Brixton Market* by Elly 'La Roux' Jackson
- Graffiti workshop sponsored by McDonalds
- 'Coalition Duet' by John & Clare Whelan, with backing from the YellowBastard band & the Trinity Arms Players
- 'Anarchy Waterfowl' talk curated by Brian Puddleduck
- Axe-throwing display by local expert Lob Pick
- Live bricking demonstration by the Nu Town Hall Building Crew (free ordnance available at Windrush Square.)
- 'Weed Killa' display by Gly & the Phosphates
- Accessible toilets kindly supported by the Coors Ice Steppas (only 10 steps down.)

£10 entry, with free cocktail. (No concessions.)

Supported by a generous donation of £3m from the Keith Fitchett Memorial Housing Fund.

*Subject to licensing conditions & council approval

 

[GarveyLives]

It might be useful if she could explain exactly who she claims to represent or 'lead'(assuming that "community leadership" comprises more than applying for grants).​

 

[wurlycurly]

It might be useful if she could explain exactly who she claims to represent or 'lead'(assuming that "community leadership" comprises more than applying for grants).​

I don't know her and have nothing against her per se, but I'm not sure if she's the right person to be leading any revival of Brixton Splash. Things get too politicised when the likes of Ros and Lee Jasper are involved.

 

[editor]

Their £100,000 crowdfunding campaign has now run out of time, with just a miserable total of £69 pledged (0.07% of their target).

 

[ViolentPanda]

I don't know her and have nothing against her per se, but I'm not sure if she's the right person to be leading any revival of Brixton Splash. Things get too politicised when the likes of Ros and Lee Jasper are involved.

Some of my Smallie mates complained that with the two of them involved, everything also got a bit too Jamaican, whereas Brixton's black population is much more diverse.
I don't know about "political", though. The biggest issue with the two of them has always been about them making things about themselves - Their treatment of Pat/erasing of Pat from Splash's history being a case in point.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Their £100,000 crowdfunding campaign has now run out of time, with just a miserable total of £69 pledged (0.07% of their target).

Oh dear.

How sad.

Never mind!

 

[Lee Japser]

Awwwwe the l U75 ers... they see me here, (Jasper-esque? how cute)... they see me there. That Jasper he's everywhere...

Sorry to disappoint but Ive had no association with my beloved Brixton Splash since having resigned in 2014. Its laughable to see the constantly repeated bollox about the event being ' hijacked and or taken over by me' or the Im writing their scripts etc...laughable really... but par for the course for this little clique.

Erroneous comments about personal beef with the ED lol?. Ive never met him and rarely I have written about him ever, he's not that important to me, on the other hand see Eds comments here and he's like a dog with a bone, he cant let go. Such his consistency of criticisms one would have thought he's being paid to do so.

I challenge those who really believe in some of this crap re Splash to an open and public debate about this and the future of Brixton Splash as I'd really like to set the record straight and take on some those who perpetually run their mouth on these issues. When your ready Ed let me know, I'll do it online, off line, with an audience of your choosing, at a venue of your choice, at a time of your convenience Ed. I cant be faire than that, hell I'll even let you organise the entire thing and just turn up by myself. Or I am more than happy to get a mutually agreed venue speakers and chair whichever way you want its/ I joist hope you have the courage of your convictions.

No doubt these keyboard warriors will jump at such an opportunity.

Urban 75 presents...I"d be there in a flash. I know the Ed got a lot to say so lets do this.

On a broader note, I also think site does a disservice to black people in Brixton. U75 should have a public discussion on racism in Lambeth, given the Runnymede Trust has determined, for the second year running, that Lambeth is the most racially unequal borough in the UK. There are massive issues of racism and discrimination that would benefit from additional public scrutiny and discussion What is your strategy around talking racism in Lambeth? Does U75 have a Diversity Strategy, how is the editing function informed by black concerns, priorities and issues and how's that reflected here?

How about U75 who runs it? Who are you accountable too? Whats the diversity of its representation on the management and workers of U75, because this forum is strikes me, using a well known phrase as 'hideously white' in the majority of its articulations and perspectives.,

Back to Splash, I guess what some of you really object to is the event was being run by strong black people, who didn't and don't agree with your view of Brixton and held a black political perspective on arts and culture .

The event was a huge success and literally brought masses of income into Brixton particularly for the poorest communities., Its sad that more war fare has broken out and that disputes are again being played out in public.

I wish the event every success in the future and urge them to forget the moaning minnies whose perpetual criticisms tend to reflects the on going the whinges of Brixton's hipster community about black Brixton. Long live Brixton Splash. Happy Xmas and prosperous New Year.

 

[Lee Japser]

Some of my Smallie mates complained that with the two of them involved, everything also got a bit too Jamaican, whereas Brixton's black population is much more diverse.
I don't know about "political", though. The biggest issue with the two of them has always been about them making things about themselves - Their treatment of Pat/erasing of Pat from Splash's history being a case in point.

Its a bit too Jamaican...for Christ sake...

 

[Lee Japser]

Some of my Smallie mates complained that with the two of them involved, everything also got a bit too Jamaican, whereas Brixton's black population is much more diverse.
I don't know about "political", though. The biggest issue with the two of them has always been about them making things about themselves - Their treatment of Pat/erasing of Pat from Splash's history being a case in point.

Really ? 16 year on still banging on...shit that aint a concern, its a prejudice.

 

[Lee Japser]

I thought the comments on the FB page were Jasper-esque as well.

At bottom of this is infighting between different community leaders in the Afro Caribbean community.

On the one side Jasper and the other those that are more close to the Labour administration.

Its about differences of political opinion. Creating power bases.

Trouble is its being fought over a popular festival that people (including me) had a good time at. I never had a any trouble at the festival itself. There were issues about aspects of the organisation if you lived in central Brixton. But apart from that its a loss.

I also think , whatever I might think of Jasper, its not beyond reason to wonder if this Nu Labour Council want a "cleaned" up festival thats just a bit less Afro Caribbean and more reflective of the new more upmarket Brixton they would like to promote.

If Jasper had been a bit more clever he could have got more support here. But instead let personal beef with Brixton Buzz and Ed to get in the way.

Yessum Massa I knows all black men are stupid.

 

[Lee Japser]

People love the event, but there's not a lot of respect left on the streets for Mr Jasper, Ms Griffiths et al. Too many people think they've been milking the event and the event's cachet for their own purposes.

Oh really would you like to put this too the test? Im happy to publicly debate with you or indeed anyone else. Lets see if people are prepared to publicly articulate these views in front of audience. I'll wait....as for the support I enjoy I am happy to disprove your myopic monocultural political analysis.