February 2022

February 2022
21
A portrait of our
High Street
Photographer Russell Boyce has used a vintage film camera to create
a historic visual record of Wanstead High Street’s shopkeepers,
accompanied by their thoughts on the future. In the first of a series of
reproductions, Wanstead Domestic Appliances step into the frame
I
live in Wanstead and I’m a documentary
photographer. Throughout most of 2021,
I was working on a picture story about
the small business owners in Wanstead. My
inspiration for this project are the formal
pictures taken from the Victorian and
Edwardian period of proud shopkeepers
standing outside their stores.
Over the year, I photographed more than
30 local business owners and their staff. The
project is quite simple; I used a 1966 vintage
Rolleiflex film camera to shoot black and white
pictures. I photographed all the staff outside
the shop as well as the owner or manager
inside. I then asked the owner about their
business and, crucially, what they think about
the future of our High Street. The owners are
a diverse group with a wide range of answers
– mostly very positive, which is quite uplifting
during these tough times.
Jamil and Nayyer Sheikh from Euronics
Wanstead Domestic Appliances said:
“We opened in February 2005. The major
challenges to us are from online stores, but
we get business because of our services and
presence. There are still customers out there
who want to deal with real people. We are
getting business from the recommendations
we have. If someone is happy, they send other
people to us. I think the future of the High
Street is bright.”
Owner of Euronics Wanstead Domestic
Appliances Jamil Sheikh poses for a picture with
his son Nayyer Sheikh and repairman Malick
Basheer Ahmed outside his store at 19 Wanstead
High Street. Photo taken on 18 August 2021.
To view more images in the series, visit
wnstd.com/highstreetportrait
For more information and to contact
Russell, visit wnstd.com/boyce
Please mention the Wanstead Village Directory when responding to adverts