Rosie Hattersley is co-director of Brockley Max community arts festival, helping put together a diverse line-up of performers and a broad cross-section of events.
When she’s not designing the festival programme or helping plan and fundraise for it, Rosie enjoys gigs, crafting, exploring London on foot and campervanning trips.
This year, Brockley Max celebrates its 25th anniversary and will run from Friday 29 May to Saturday 6 June with more than 80 events taking place across Brockley, Ladywell, Crofton Park, Honor Oak and downtown Lewisham.
How long have you lived in the area?
I’ve lived in and around Ladywell since 2006, having been drawn back a few years after moving to other parts of south London after graduating from Goldsmiths.
What brought you here?
Happy memories of the area when studying at Goldsmiths meant it was an obvious place to return to when I was ready to put down long-term roots; the parks, independent places to go out, and how easy it is to walk everywhere, as well as quick trains into and out of central London
What has changed most during that time?
Less pollution, more family-friendly, but no longer getting serenaded by the conductors on the 36 bus from Lewisham up to college each morning.
What do you most value about the area/street you live in?
Love the parks, the people and the fantastic sense of community, especially our road in Ladywell
What one thing would you change?
More places to eat out and more places to go out in the evening
What’s the one thing you couldn’t do without?
Cup of tea
Do you know your neighbours?
Of course! We gather for a cuppa outside someone’s house twice a week
The most famous person you’ve seen or met?
Billy Ray Cyrus once stripped off his leather trousers in front of me
Do you belong to any groups?
Brockley Knits
Describe your perfect weekend
Lazy Saturday morning listening to 6Music, long walk somewhere; some cooking or baking
What’s your favourite place for a night out?
Middle of the crowd at a gig
Where are you likely to be found on Saturday?
Finances permitting, dancing away mid-crowd at a gig. Otherwise, dancing away in our kitchen or front room
The best meal I’ve ever had..
Amrutha in Honor Oak. Easily the best meal I have had in the past five years
Cafe, pub or bar?
Pub
What’s your favourite place to go for a drink?
The Swan next to The Globe Theatre
Where’s your favourite place to walk?
Somewhere coastal and blustery; I like a bit of weather
If money were no object..
I’d have the enormous library my heaving bookshelves deserve plus the time and patience to read them all
The book I’m reading at the moment..
The Poisonwood Bible
Photo Credit: Lucy Hattersley