Norwood Forum is a volunteer-led organisation covering the south-east area of the London Borough of Lambeth: West Norwood, Gipsy Hill and Tulse Hill. We aim to celebrate our wonderful neighbourhood and its vibrant, diverse, but cohesive community whilst making a positive difference to the quality of life for people who live and work here. Register for our regular newsletter, dedicated to communicating and connecting the local community.
Norwood Forum Committee members
All can be contacted by email to: info@norwoodforum.org
Jane East, Co-Chair
I have lived in West Norwood for 14 years, though until 2019 was working in international development, so spent long periods away. Since returning home, I have worked for The Cares Family, which builds social connections through intergenerational friendships, and Public Voice, which mobilises local residents to help improve public services. I am now a manager in the NHS. As a passionate advocate for community and citizen voice, I hope I can use my work experience for good in my own neighbourhood.
Tom Palmer (Co-Chair)
I am a violin dealer and live in West Dulwich. I am an active member of Rosendale Clean Air and Solve the School Run, both of which are local parent groups with the aim of reducing traffic in the area, much of which is generated by school journeys. I am also part of projects to replace and plant areas of Rosendale School playing areas and enjoy being part of our community orchard on Rosendale Gardens Estate. I love music and cricket.
Kim Hart, Secretary
Kim has lived in West Norwood for more than 20 years, a period which has witnessed the incredible revitalisation of our community which has made our town such a joy to live in. She works full time, currently as the Activities and Community Officer in West Norwood Cemetery as part of the current National Lottery Heritage project, and previously as a cultural consultant, and before that running the national development agency for arts festivals. Kim's areas of interest are health and wellbeing, culture and creativity, and the environment - specifically the impact of climate change and what genuine difference we can make at grass roots level and as part of this, she is heading up Norwood Forum's new campaign 'Working towards a greener Norwood'.
Noshir Patel, Treasurer
Noshir has lived in Norwood for the last 40 years. He trained originally as a research neuroscientist and subsequently worked as a manager in the NHS. He is currently retired and enjoys living in Norwood and would like to help make it a more lively and thriving community. He is currently involved in several local groups and amenity societies including the Norwood Forum and the Friends of Brockwell Park.
Odilon Couzin
Odilon has lived in West Norwood since 2017 but has family ties going back more than 20 years. He has many years of experience working in the voluntary sector, including in literacy, emergency relief, HIV treatment, harm reduction and health access advocacy. Most recently he has focused on Indoor Air Quality. He is a strong proponent of solar power and an avid cyclist, though still trying to get used to London traffic.
Anne Crane
Anne has lived in the area for the past 21 years with connections going back more than a quarter of a century through a local school which both her daughters attended. She is a chartered town planner currently working for Transport for London but who started her career in the Lambeth Planning Department. Anne is Chair of the Norwood Action Group and is active in her street Residents’ Association. She wants to make Norwood an even better place in which to live, work, shop and spend leisure time – and to protect what is good and try to prevent what could be harmful to the area.
Dr Andrew Johns
I have lived and worked in South London since entering Guy’s Medical School in 1972; and I have lived in West Norwood for over 30 years. My family and I have found it a marvellous, varied and friendly place to live. I was a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist at the Maudsley for over 30 years with experience of complex mental health care in community and hospital settings; involving working with prisons, police and the courts. I continue to do part-time medicolegal work. My main interests are spending time with family and friends, opera and literature. I am convenor of my street neighbourhood watch. I hope to use my knowledge of health issues to improve working links with a range of local resources.
Gloria Orosungunleka
I moved to Norwood in 2011. I have enjoyed seeing the changes in Norwood and enjoy participating and seeing changes on behalf of the people in Norwood. As a trade union activist, I believe that the workers are the union and are stronger together in their outcomes. I believe that the community in Norwood has grown from strength to strength with togetherness, and believe that all people who live, work, study and visit Norwood have and will continue to have their views heard. I enjoy seeing the community thrive and look forward to seeing Norwood grow further to being a wonderful, exciting cultural hub. I am currently involved in the faith community and currently attend a church in Brixton. I enjoy reading and exploring the local community.
Sue Osborn
Sue has lived in West Norwood for almost 40 years. She was a Chief Executive in the NHS for 30 years and then became the Chief Executive of a charity providing supported living services for adults with autism. She undertook autism design work with the Royal College of Art and became a Fellow in recognition of the work. She has been a school governor in Lambeth for almost 10 years and is now the Chair of the local Lansdowne Turney Federation which provides education for students with autism.
Jane Pickard
Jane has returned to the forum committee after a gap of 20 years. She was first chair of the Forum, secretary of Norwood Action Group and a local councillor from 2010 until May 2022. She has lived in West Norwood for 32 years and believes that by working together we can improve our area for the good of all of us and resist unwanted development – which means involving the whole community and building a consensus about what we want.
Tim Stephens
I have lived in West Norwood since 1988, and after retirement began contributing to the work of the Forum. I want to help the neighbourhood to continue to improve and grow, but also hope it will be possible to maintain its unique character and community. West Norwood and the wider area has been much improved by public sector investment over the past decade or so: the Health and Leisure Centre, Library and Picturehouse and town centre improvements, and is gradually benefiting from the work to improve and open up West Norwood Cemetery. Keeping the mix in our local community of independent shops and smaller national stores in the shopping centres, and further improving the local entertainment and cultural scene, is of key importance to me.
Philip Virgo
South Londoner born and bred, returned in 1996 after 23 years exile north of the River. Aiming to spend more time on local issues after 40 years organising all-party studies into high tech, skills and social cohesion policy, including local, national and international partnerships.
Norwood Forum · c/o The Old Library · 14-16 Knights Hill · London, SE27 0HY · United Kingdom