Soapbox: Voices of Walworth & the late Joe Bent

Soapbox -An exhibition of artwork and archive photographs shine a light on Walworth's Speakers' Corner.

Artwork by the late Joe Bent will form part of an exhibition at ASC Gallery about political campaigning in Southwark more than 50 years ago.

Joe was the son of John Spencer Bent who was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in Ypres during the First World War. Born Spencer John Bent after his father, Joe played a big role in Southwark's political life during the 1950s and 1960s, campaigning tirelessly and standing in both general and GLC elections for the Communist Party. A great public speaker, he could often be seen on Sundays at his pitch on the corner of Dawes Street and East Street, Walworth's very own Speakers' Corner.

The exhibition brings together a previously unseen collection of etchings that contrast with a life that was spent campaigning in public. Photographs from former union official, Graham Stevenson's collection, Southwark Local History Library and Marx Memorial Archive make up the many layers of this exhibition. They will be displayed together with items from the fascinating personal archive of Tony Farsky, a contemporary of Joe's, and oral histories recorded for the project.

Heritage Project Coordinator Julia Honess said, 'I had often heard people in Walworth talk about Joe Bent's campaigning and public speaking, and was visiting his partner, Maureen Tyson one day to see if she had any memorabilia relating to Joe's work. Instead she showed me a portfolio of his artwork. That's how the idea for an exhibition started. ASC Gallery seemed like a natural home for the work because of its location so close to where Joe used to stand and campaign in East Street”

In addition to the exhibition, thanks to funding from Faraday Ward Neighbourhood Community Council, the Soapbox project also includes workshops with InSpire Youth Arts and local young people in which they can learn how to present their views and listen to the ideas of others.