Anne Schuman

I have lived in Lewisham for the better part of fifty years, and my sons went to Adamsrill School and the Dacres Road Comprehensive School.

I earned my living as a secretary and administrative assistant working for the trades union movement for more than forty years , a career which engaged me in activities over and above mere office work.

I am a life member of what is now UNITE. I enjoy the multi-cultural composition of this district, and support the right of all people to live in peace. I support the principle of directly employed council workers, and am not in favour of sub-contracting.

I am a member of CND, National, London and Sydenham & Forest Hill branch, and publish a monthly newsletter for the Branch, as well as taking part in the various activities of the group, including helping to run a stall at Lewisham People’s Day each year.

I was for fifteen years, until this year, involved in the Committee of the Kent House Leisure Gardens Association, an allotment with about 110 gardeners, and continue to be active in the social events arranged by the Association. I love my allotment plot, although I find it is more difficult to keep it tidy lately.

I am concerned particularly about Council housing (or the lack of it), having been advised over 50 years ago that it would be at least four years before my husband and I would qualify, and then only if we had children, so we rented privately. This really became so expensive, that we were driven to borrow money from family, and buy a property. While my home is currently free of mortgage, as I have lived here for over 35 years, I am responsible for maintenance, and this can be a very costly item from pension and savings, - I feel that families ought to be able to rent a home, at a modest rent, comparative with their income, and know that it will be properly looked after, and considered a public asset.

I would work to prevent the further sale of Council homes, to instigate building of publicly owned homes for reasonable rent, with directly employed caretakers, and attempt to get proper cycle paths installed on our roads.

There is no public recognised central meeting place in the Perry Vale Ward, and I believe that it would be of benefit to people who live in a largely residential area to know that there was a place where young people and their elders could gather for social events, or meetings.

Can you help?

If you want to help get John Hamilton elected as Mayor and Anne elected as one of your three local councillors by

• putting up a poster in your window
• helping us to deliver leaflets to homes in Perry Vale
• helping us to give out leaflets at railways stations and schools

then please email the Perry Vale ward organiser at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

To go to the John Hamilton for Mayor site please click here:  Mayoral site