Carole Powell describes herself as “a single parent and ex performance artist”. She did her art foundation at Camberwell – and one early film she made was called ‘Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner’, where she sang the song of the same name, “while eating Jamaican and Norwegian food – and vomiting”. There was a reason: Carole has one Norwegian parent and one Jamaican, and has lived in the same one-mile, SW8 radius most of her life. “My parents travelled a long way to live here,” she says, “but I seem to have decided to stay put.”
Carole now works as an equalities officer at Morley College, in Lambeth North. As part of the job she runs a Portas Pilot project selling student work in Lower Marsh, SE1.
When were you happiest?
I try not to think in that way; I hope to continue to be as happy as I can manage.
Where would you like to live?
Despite living in a very small overcrowded council flat, I like living where I am. I’ve lived in the area – a bit of an in-between place between Brixton, Stockwell and Clapham and off the Wandsworth Road – since I was three. It’s great for getting into town and is where most of my friends and family live. But there are some rather large houses on Larkhall Lane that would suit me just fine…
What is your favourite south London sound or smell?
General noise, I find it difficult to sleep with out it.
What is your greatest life achievement?
Completing a fine art degree when both my children were under five – I was 18 when I had Mannray, and my daughter, Danasa, came soon afterwards.
What is your earliest south London memory?
The paddling pool on Clapham Common, or playing in the dump on my estate. Corrugated iron was big in the 70s.
What makes you unhappy?
Too much work, a leak in my roof, not having enough money, friends and family being sad, rude bus drivers.
What simple thing would improve your quality of life?
A bigger place to live and a garden, but that’s not very simple. And if my kitchen was self-cleaning.
What is your most unappealing habit?
Spending too much money, snoring.
What is your guilty south London pleasure?
I’ve signed onto the Marriott hotel gym at County Hall (right), the old GLC building, which I love. It’s got a sauna and towels, but feels wrong as I was opposed to the abolition of the GLC, which used to be housed at County Hall.
Best view in south London?
I love my daily no. 77 bus ride to work. The view of Parliament from the Albert Embankment is the best in London.
What’s your best south London experience?
So many. But from my youth, the all the all-day music events in Battersea Park, proper 80s soul things.
What’s the worst thing anyone’s said to you?
That I looked like Myra Hindley.
Where do you hang out?
Lambeth North, after work, at the Crown and Cushion (left), a proper old man pub.
What has your career taught you?
It’s only recently that I’ve had what you might call a career. When I left uni I had ambitions of being the next Tracy Emin. So working at Morley now I feel lucky to have a job I believe in.
What is your favourite dish?
Chicken dumpling soup, Caribbean style or Norwegian fish pudding, with mayo and bread. But I do love a good steak.
Describe yourself as an animal…
Someone once said I reminded them of a cat.
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