Words by Darryl Munroe, Johann Chan, Zach Shaw
Video from Emer – Record Collection (2001) by Johann Chan
Photos Credited
Last month, Long Live Southbank announced an exciting new campaign. They launched a £790,000 crowdfunding project alongside Southbank Centre to enable the renovation of a huge covered area at Southbank, which has been closed off since 2004.
“The Undercroft, adjacent to the Thames in London, is the longest continually used skateboarding spot in the world, initially used in 1973 by some of the UK’s first skateboarders. The section of the space which will be restored, last skated in 2004, is of particular historical importance to skateboarders, with its original architectural layout the scene of a number of tricks which have gone down in skateboarding history.” –LLSB
The area they’re trying to reopen is ‘the real Southbank’ to many riders and skaters, with the current facility seeming like a bit of a compromise. The renovation of the old space will be a serious moment of recognition for the cultural significance of both the spot and the lifestyles embedded in it.
“Plans now approved by Lambeth Council will see the reconfiguration of the existing Undercroft space on the Southbank to allow for the extension of the internationally renowned skate space, including improvements to lighting and a restoration of some original 1960s banks and concrete paving.” –LLSB
We spoke to three key riders who were proud locals of Southbank in the years leading up to the closure of the old space in 2004. Read on below and please donate.
DARRYL MUNROE
I’m a second generation BMX rider. Born in Lambeth, London and grew up in Jamaica from the age of three. I began riding properly at thirteen years old in 1983 in Jamaica, although I had a BMX bike a few years prior to that.
I finally returned to London as a young adult to meet and finally get to know my mother and place of birth. On the way to her house, I spotted Stockwell Skatepark from the car and memorised the entire route from there to Battersea, returning on my own the next day with a skateboard I was able to take on the flight. I couldn’t take my half-broken, custom welded BMX with me from Jamaica. About a month later, I snatched up an Ammaco BMX – dark green with black fades and black mag rims I had found in a car boot sale in Clapham Junction, dirt cheap and went for my first session in London, happier than ever.
“I remember feeling a deeper, newer level of happiness, as we made our way. That’s how I began riding Southbank, in 1992.”
I got to Stockwell, the only place I knew at the time and bumped into a few other riders for the first time. They introduced themselves and I remember, Paul, Jerry Galley, Simon Tabron, Phil from Luton, Zach Shaw, Phil Dolan, Aju and a few more whose names elude me. They asked if I was headed out to ride Southbank and I naturally said yes and rolled with, not having a clue where we were going, memorising all jumps, turns and short-cuts as we tore up the streets towards the city. That was my true home-welcoming, rolling with a pack of BMXers at full throttle into the heart of London. In every direction we went, there was something to jump over, onto, and squeeze between in order to maintain pace with the pack. I remember feeling a deeper, newer level of happiness, as we made our way. That’s how I began riding Southbank, London, in 1992.
Fastplant, 2010. Photo: Ben Mark
Southbank then was more like a no-man’s-land. Very few people went through there, especially at night, and those who did venture there were either ignorant of its underground culture, or part of it. Darkness was upon us as we arrived and I could see in sections of light what looked like BMX riders and skaters in the distance, spinning, rolling, jumping and tail-hopping, etc. There were a bunch of homeless folks hanging around, some huddled in cardboard boxes as we respectfully rode by towards the banks. I was told,
“This is Cardboard City – these guys are cool, if you respect this section. We go quietly through here at all times…”
This stuck hard with me.
I guess that’s what drove me to return there every Christmas and on my birthday with food, whiskey and companionship from that point until I left for Denmark in 1998. I knew nothing of homelessness until then. I remember thinking, this could never happen to me in Jamaica.
I wasn’t the only one to hang with these folks on Christmas day. There was a couple who’d always be there around the same time and I’d help them with the delivery and distribution, as they always brought a lot of stuff with them. The woman was always well hidden with scarves and headwear, until one day I accidentally bumped into them on arrival. They were late and I had headed out to find them around the corner, just away from Cardboard City. I instantly recognised her and they never returned after that Christmas. She was royalty.
Photo: Daniel Eayres
Years later, early 2008, the passing of my father had me away for a couple of months in Jamaica. I had not been back there since I left all those years ago. That necessary time away from work changed everything. Everything was in order when I left. Yet, I became homeless on my return to London. I found myself drawn to Southbank at all times, for peace-of-mind, general psychological healing and well-being through riding with my peers even if we weren’t good friends. That’s when it hit me… Cardboard City, the Southbank BMX and Skate scene came to be because of that basic need to be part a community of like-minded individuals, where it could otherwise never be found. It’s a natural, necessary movement.
One morning, after registering at the homeless shelter for food, I collected my BMX and headed out to Southbank, seriously down-in-the-dumps. Mortal self-destruction often crossed my mind. All I wanted was to not be in this situation, by all means at hand and return to Jamaica for good. To escape the system I was now fully trapped within. I had lost everything except my BMX and my closest friend, Tiziana, who spent days with me in the park and kept my BMX safe, so I could go collect it when needed. Her landlord didn’t allow visitors, but at least I could use their address in Finchley for registration at the shelter there.
“As I sat down on the steps of Southbank to gather my thoughts, I heard the voice of one I recognised to be Dave Mirra…”
As I sat down on the steps of Southbank to gather my thoughts, I heard the voice of one I recognised to be Dave Mirra. Naturally, I put it down to fatigue and hunger, since I had just ridden all the way from Finchley. I looked up and there he was, riding in all vocal and excited to finally be at Southbank. All despair and hunger went totally out the window instantly. We greeted each other and got to talking a while.This one humble location brought him and the Mirraco team to my position at the right time for a session that lasted at least a couple of hours. It felt as if we’ve known each other for years. That patched me up somehow. I then remembered, the world isn’t always a completely dark place after all.
Mirraco team at Southbank. Mike Laird, Darryl Munroe, Dave Mirra and Bart DeJong.
Not long after Mr. Mirra left Southbank, a person, possibly Banksy turned up to do a piece on the walls, but wasn’t feeling it, as more and more riders were turning up after hearing that Dave Mirra was around. Eventually, he offered to stencil a B52 on one of the riders’ BMX, claiming, he’d always wanted to do a BMX bike. Only time will tell with this one – However, I have photos of that session too, just in case it does turn out to be the mysterious Banksy.
– Darryl Munroe
JOHANN CHAN
Most people think of Southbank as a legendary skate spot, but its roots in BMX go right back to the beginning.
BMX superstars were flexing their Skyways in bright motocross style uniforms & helmets (sometimes with goggles on their lids) way before whizz plankers starting smashing their own boards from having their abilities outweighed by their tech-flippery ambitions. (Although admittedly skateboarding was there first in one of its earlier incarnations.*)
“I remember seeing photos of legends like Bob Haro, Craig Campbell and Dave Vanderspeak in BMX Action Bike magazine during the boom period of the early 80s…”
I remember seeing photos of legends like Bob Haro, Craig Campbell and Dave Vanderspeak in BMX Action Bike magazine during the boom period of the early 80s. The undercover space, smooth floors and flat banks were a great surface to ride, the Brutalist grey concrete backdrop was a great place to photograph, and the central London location was a great place to meet. Also, I’m guessing Southbank’s location near BMX Action Bike’s Tooley Street offices did no harm in cementing its status in print.
When BMX Action Bike turned into Rad magazine, skateboarding was back and heavily featured in the magazine. BMX was falling out of the limelight, uniforms were disappearing, but the riding continued to evolve. Hops were replaced with rolls and
spins, and kickturns replaced with wallrides and grinds. I’ll have to skim this era because, as much as I enjoyed seeing photos of maniacs like Angry Brown and Dave Slade, I also wanted to ride like underground flatland shredders like Aju Bubu and Phil Dolan.
I regrettably didn’t frequent there until much later, let alone have the credentials to earn myself the title of ‘local’. I was too busy being a teenage school freak with stickers on my shoes, a short stint of shit dreads, learning funky chickens on my drive in Birmingham.
Fast forward to the end of the 90s and I had a girlfriend who studied at Saint Martins (like Jarvis Cocker). I was crashing at hers so that was when I headed down to Southbank chasing the dreams from my halcyon youth!
It was a spacious spot at the time, the area where people ride and skate known as The Undercroft was open. You could walk straight down the centre as if the building was sitting on stilted columns. There was a choice of front or back, visible or hidden. You could session away from the public eye, it was nothing like what it is now surrounded by hundreds of photo snapping tourists, Wagamamas and coffee shops.
“The footfall was a fraction of what it is today. You could session away from the public eye.”
The Millennium Eye and Tate Modern were yet to exist, so consequently the surrounding restaurants and shops had not been built yet. The footfall was a fraction of what it is today, I don’t have the figures, but I’d guess under a quarter. The floor behind the Royal Festival Hall, the one which now holds one of the busiest outdoor markets in the area, was also one of our riding spots. It’s the area where Phil Dolan did some of the earliest brakeless nose manuals. Once nose manualling his noggin straight into Christof Dassier’s noggin, who was almost a performing a mirror move. Their heads knocked like conkers. A modern day joust but with bikes rather than horses, and heads rather than jousts.
On a good weekend, we’d have a dozen riders, with a great diverse mix of London characters: James White, Mark Walters, Alex Vickers, James Smith, Marie Merlet, Nick Street, Dan, Scott, James & Geoff Maher, Rasta Dave and Jason Forde. Times were good, Southbank was like a second home, with tricks being learnt, photos constantly snapped and camcorders always rolling. We even landed a multiple page Ride feature photographed by the legendary Lard.
“I think the enduring charm of Southbank lies in its many chapters, and its magnetic pull in creating new ones.”
When The Undercroft was walled off and the area was too busy, a lot of the original crowd binned it off, either moving on from riding, moving out of London, or slating it as an over-rated, out-dated over-crowded spot for attention seekers (probably slating it for exactly the same reasons as the previous generation). Thankfully, a future generation replaced us.
I don’t want to draw too much attention to the era I was local, as I think the enduring charm of Southbank lies in its many chapters, and its magnetic pull in creating new ones. Whether it’s Bob Haro doing a nose wheelie, Jerry Galley doing a nose bonk on a block, Phil Dolan doing the continual brakeless nozzer, or some new shredder doing a g-turn to bar out.
Southbank has the undercover space, smooth rideable surface, the photogenic Brutalist graffiti-covered backdrop, the well-linked central London location and the iconic Southbank heritage to attract the next generation.
– Johann Chan *Thanks to the perseverance and exceptional co-ordinated efforts of the the skateboard community & LLSB in ensuring Southbank’s long term future, and including BMX in the Long Live Southbank book.
ZACH SHAW
Southbank was always been an open and free space in the heart of London for riders who want to express the freedom that their chosen mode of transport gives them. BMX and Skateboarding are so much more than transport though, it’s part of our culture, it’s part of our lifestyle, it’s who we are and who we will aways be.
I can’t remember the first time I went to Southbank, but it was definitely an eye opener.
In the centre of London, right by the river, hanging out with like minded people on skateboards BMX and roller skates miles away from home. (Inlines didn’t exist the first time I went there.)
“It’s part of our culture, it’s part of our lifestyle, it’s who we are and who we will aways be.”
All the space was open and we shared it with the homeless who had built a shanty in the less accessible areas – occasionally there would be a drunken rant and a wildly inept attempt at attacking a skater who made too much noise but it was part of the place, that was ’normal.’ I did see the odd wrestling move happen and one poor drunk get taken clean out of his shoes with a well executed clothesline! I guess he shouldn’t have thrown the punches in the first place!
I went back there most weeks and rode, it was the flatland and street mecca in London and riding the streets getting there was part of the draw.
The usual crew were Andy Brown, John Dye, Adju BuBu, Lincoln Blacksley, Steve Bissaker, Jerry Galley, Shaun Scarfe and lots of riders who drifted in and out of there, I remember watching Andy Brown chainring rock walls and handrails that I didn’t think were possible, Phil Dolan glide around the whole place making people stop in their tracks as they walked, jaws on the floor at things that didn’t appear possible on any two wheeled contraption. I wonder of any of those people realised that they had been watching a future multiple World Flatland champion or X-Games Medalists?
“Southbank was about thinking of new ways to push the boundaries and take us in new directions, athletically and socially.”
Southbank is an integral part of our culture. Riders at the very top of our sports spent hours and days of their lives honing their skills and thinking about new ways to push the boundaries and take us in new directions, athletically and socially.
What we see right now in our sports and culture can be traced back to historic places like Southbank. That needs to be protected and preserved for future generations, for people to be inspired like the generations of Skaters and BMX riders before them, who had their minds opened by a magical spot hidden in plain sight in the heart of London.
So we’re rolling, and a step closer to restoring one of the most legendary spaces in skateboarding history! It has taken a tremendous amount of hard work from a lot of people to get us to where we are, so many thanks!
We have been trying our best to keep things under wraps, but we can now announce that planning permission has been granted and, together with the Southbank Centre, fundraising has commenced to restore sections of the Undercroft last skated in 2004. This is hugely important for skateboarders, BMXers and artists all around the world who look to Southbank for inspiration, for London’s cultural integrity, which needs somewhere like Southbank in the very heart of the city and for the local creatives who learn so much from such an inspiring free creative space with such a diverse and nurturing community.
There is an exciting future to be created, and plenty you can do to make it happen. Donations are really important. You can make them at www.llsbdonate.com, and view a great set of rewards, from skateboarding lessons to limited photographic prints, to encourage donors. Together with SBC, LLSB are responsible for raising the combined £890,000 required to restore the space and create a new schools and young people’s HQ adjacently. This is a huge task, and an incredibly exciting one too.
Long Live Southbank have a great deal planned for the summers fundraising, including art shows, high profile photography projects and involvement at some of the UK’s top festivals.
Sign up to stay updated and join our 150,000 members at www.llsb.com. We can embark on the next phase of this journey united!
And stay in touch! If you have an idea for a fundraising event, think that there is somebody we really ought to speak to or just want to learn more about the campaign, you can email us at hello@llsb.com.
Whether you skate or not, this campaign is hugely important for the cultural fabric that we all inhabit. There is a huge opportunity to make a real positive change in the city, enriching our cultural life, giving young people the space to develop creatively and providing a much needed sense of community for us all. So donate if you are able, tell your friends and tell your family. Spread the word and let’s make this happen!
– The Long Live Southbank Family
Check some very recent Southbank BMX coverage HERE.
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