April 2024

ISSN 2059-013X 

Est. 2006 

wnstd.com Issue No: 218 

April 2024 | FREE 

£10 £10 Dining Dining - Mondays - // // Everyday // Happy Happy Hour! Hour! 2 x 2 Pints x Pints for for a tenner a - 5 - 5 to to 6pm, £10 £10 off off a a bottle of of wine, Everyday! 

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79 Nightingale 79 Ln, Ln, E11 E11 2EY 

2EY 

020 8989 0014 

Events@thedukewanstead.com 

INSIDE: Bluebell inspiration • Wanstead Flats at war • Election hustings • Save our Skylarks 

Community groups • Local events • Useful numbers • Directory of local businesses 

Independent directory of businesses, news and events in Wanstead, Snaresbrook and Aldersbrook

2 

WOODTHORPE 

JOINERY 

your local supplier of wooden shutters and blinds 

Wanstead • London • T: 0203 589 4879 

E: info@wjoinery.co.uk • www.wjoinery.co.uk 

Light 

Wanstead Village 

| Shade 

Directory 

Privacy Light | Shade | Style 

Privacy | Style 

FITTED WARDROBES 

ALSO AVAILABLE 

Celebrating 12 Years 

as your local supplier of window shutters 

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0203 589 4879 

E: info@wjoinery.co.uk • www.wjoinery.co.uk 

To advertise, call 020 8819 6645 or visit wnstd.com

Contents 

Features 

Inspirational ...........................................20–21 

Fence defence .............................................24 

Medical emergency ................................ 28 

Out in the cold ............................................32 

Away from home ...................................... 36 

Wanstead’s style ........................................ 44 

The Lord Shamash ...................................48 

Listen and learn ..........................................52 

Wanstead Flats at war .....................56–57 

Loving mothers..........................................60 

Organising CHAOS...................................66 

Puzzles & competitions 

Sudoku ............................................................ 26 

Crossword competition ........................40 

Wanstead anagram ................................. 54 

Every month 

Local news ...............................6–10, 12 & 14 

Community events ...........71–72, 74 & 76 

Community groups ..................................78 

Useful numbers .........................................80 

Index of advertisers ................................. 82 

Contact Us 

020 8819 6645 

Welcome... 

Hailed a blithe spirit and a creature of plenty, 

The Percy Bysshe Shelley poem of 1820, 

Tells of a joyous, carefree bird, 

With music more sweet than ever heard. 

A spirit so beautiful, springing from the earth, 

Soaring high and singing for all its worth, 

Compared in verse to a rainbow cloud, 

Shelley enjoys the song, pure and loud. 

A Skylark, of course, such a fine sight, 

Even when unseen, ‘thy shrill will delight’, 

So says Shelley, and it’s hard to disagree, 

A force of nature that fills us with glee. 

Two centuries later, Skylark numbers are low, 

Shelley’s words hold true, and the loss is a blow, 

But on Wanstead Flats, the blithe spirits still breed, 

Upon the ground are built the nests they need. 

A fence surrounds them as they brood, 

It helps our spirits, it helps their mood, 

Protection from trampling feet and canine might, 

Shielding their haven, day and night. 

Yet vandals’ hands with callous grace, 

Have left the fence a broken embrace, 

Like birds, the human spirit abhors a cage, 

But this simple barrier is worthy of no rage. 

May the fence be repaired and its purpose restored, 

To protect these treasures, so adored, 

Do come and look, do come and listen, 

Just leave these spirits to their own partition. 

In the heart of the Flats, let harmony reign, 

Let Skylarks dance, untouched by pain, 

We all share the Flats each time we visit, 

And as Shelley said, ‘hail to thee, blithe spirit!’ Lee Marquis, Editor 

Calling local residents... 

The Wanstead Village Directory proudly supports local 

businesses and we encourage you to do the same. 

Help us help these businesses by mentioning the 

Wanstead Village Directory when responding to adverts. 

A note to businesses... 

If you are a business based in Wanstead, or if you have a 

presence in the local community, we can help you get your 

message across to our readers. The deadline for inclusion in 

the May 2024 edition is 19 April 2024. 

editor@wnstd.com 

wnstd.com 

wnstd.com/socials 

Wanstead Village Directory 

PO Box 2491, Ilford, IG1 8JT 

The Wanstead Village Directory is 

published monthly with a circulation of 

7,000 copies. Of these, 6,000 are delivered 

for free to homes and businesses across 

Wanstead, Snaresbrook and Aldersbrook. 

The remaining copies are available from 

local shops. Postal subscriptions are 

available from wnstd.com/subscribe 

ISSN 2059-013X 

Published by Marquis IT Ltd. 

Founded in 2006 – and edited until 2010 – by Charlotte 

Thompson and Dean McGlinchey. 

Marquis IT Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors 

or omissions, or endorse companies, products or services 

that appear in this magazine. The views expressed in 

feature articles are those of the credited authors and do 

not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. 

©2024 Marquis IT Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this 

publication may be reproduced without prior consent. 

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facebook.com/johnnys children’s fairs 

April 2024 

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Please mention the Wanstead Village Directory when responding to adverts

6 


Election hustings in Wanstead: 

submit your questions and join the debate 

A hustings will be held 

at Wanstead Library 

this month ahead 

of the GLA elections 

on 2 May. Jointly 

organised by Wanstead 

Climate Action and 

the East London 

Humanists group, the 

debate is set to have 

an environmental 

focus. “A candidate or 

representative from 

each of the main parties 

has been invited… 

There will be many topics on the election 

agenda, but few can be as important to the 

future of Londoners as how issues facing our 

environment are tackled… This is a rare and 

important opportunity for local people from 

across the political spectrum to gather to quiz 

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candidates and hear them discuss the issues,” 

said a spokesperson. The hustings will take 

place on 17 April from 7.30pm to 9pm. Written 

questions can be submitted in advance or on 

the night. For a full list of candidates and to 

submit a question, visit wnstd.com/vote24 

Remember 

photo ID to vote 

Residents are 

reminded that photo 

ID will be required 

to vote in next 

month’s elections. 

An original passport, 

driving licence, 

Blue Badge, older 

person’s bus pass 

or disabled person’s 

bus pass are among 

the accepted forms 

of identification. “If 

you don’t have an 

accepted photo ID, 

you can apply for a 

free Voter Authority 

Certificate. The 

deadline to apply for 

this is 24 April,” said 

a Redbridge Council 

spokesperson. Visit 

wnstd.com/voteid 

Free parking 

with RingGo app 

With pay and display 

parking machines no 

longer operational 

across Redbridge, 

drivers are reminded 

that free parking 

is still available via 

the RingGo app. 

Users should check 

their app settings 

to ensure SMS 

reminders are turned 

off, otherwise RingGo 

will charge 15p to 

confirm a booking 

by text message 

and another 15p for 

an expiry reminder 

message. A new 

PayPoint service has 

also been introduced 

as an alternative way 

to pay for parking. 



7 

TfL agrees to review impact of 

changes to local bus routes 

Find your way to Wanstead Park this 

month to experience orienteering 

© Geoff Wilkinson 

Redbridge Council’s External Scrutiny 

Committee met with TfL last month in light 

of planned changes to local bus routes. “We 

raised several concerns, including the impact 

of a reduced service to the Nightingale Estate 

and the new W14 not stopping inside Whipps 

Cross. TfL acknowledged the issues but 

reiterated points in the consultation response. 

We did manage to secure a commitment to 

review the impact after a year,” said Councillor 

Daniel Morgan-Thomas. The new routes take 

effect from September. Visit wnstd.com/bus 

Decision delayed: planning 

application for Evergreen Field 

How the development would 

look from the High Street 

An orienteering event for beginners will 

take place in Wanstead Park this month. 

“Orienteering is an exciting outdoor adventure 

which involves navigating a course using a 

detailed map. It’s a fun sport for all the family 

and will also appeal to runners looking for 

something different,” said a spokesperson for 

the Chigwell and Epping Forest Orienteering 

Club, which is hosting the free event on 

27 April between 10am and 12 noon (meet at 

the Temple). Maps for the 2km course will be 

provided. Email info@chig.org.uk 

Earn £400 

per week and 

create new 

friendships 

A decision on the planning application to 

build a block of flats on Evergreen Field has 

been delayed again. “The developer has been 

considering [council] feedback and making 

amendments to their scheme. They have now 

submitted those amendments… The scheme 

will be referred to the planning committee 

for a final decision,” said a Redbridge Council 

spokesperson. The application – which was 

first submitted in July 2023 – now has a target 

date of 30 April. Comments can be submitted 

until 2 April. Visit wnstd.com/efapp 

The Hilse is a tour operator 

for teens, organising cultural 

exchange programmes in 

Wanstead & Woodford. 

We are looking for host 

families who would like to take 

part in this fun experience. We 

pay £200 p/w per student. 

12 th –25 th June / 3 rd –16 th July 

Call Anna on WhatsApp 0039 3756 920 821 or 

email info@thehilse.co.uk 


8 


Redbridge in Bloom returns with 

hopes for a greener tomorrow 

Snaresbrook station car park closed 

for housing development 

Snaresbrook station 

car park was in use 

until 24 March 

Redbridge in Bloom – the borough’s annual 

amateur gardening competition – returns this 

summer with a sustainable theme. “Making 

small changes such as saving water, using 

peat-free soil, increasing wildlife-friendly 

habitats in our outdoor spaces and reducing 

surfaces that give rise to flooding can 

make a significant difference in achieving a 

sustainable, planet-friendly garden,” said a 

spokesperson for Vision RCL, which organises 

the competition. The closing date for entries is 

31 May. Visit wnstd.com/bloom 

Snaresbrook station car park closed last 

month ahead of the construction of two 

blocks of flats on part of the site. “This will 

allow work to deliver 74 new affordable homes 

to commence. Due to the complexities of the 

construction work, there will be limited access 

to Blue Badge spaces, but we will work to keep 

these spaces available as much as possible 

during construction,” said a spokesperson for 

Places for London, TfL’s commercial property 

company. A smaller car park with 22 spaces is 

expected to reopen in spring 2026. 

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WE WILL HAVE DONATION & DROP OFF POINTS FOR VARIOUS LOCAL CHARITIES AND COMMUNITY INCENTIVES 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR CHARITY TO HAVE A SPACE, PLEASE GET IN CONTACT. 

Concerns over end-of-life care at 

new Whipps Cross Hospital 

Ready for the bluebells: what 

Wanstead Park visitors should know 

Barts Health Trust has caused concern over 

the continuation of bed-based end-of-life care 

facilities in the new Whipps Cross Hospital. 

“At this time, the analysis of data does not 

support re-providing the current bed-based 

services of the Margaret Centre in the new 

facility.” The statement also highlights that it 

is “too soon to make firm recommendations” 

and a decision on the Margaret Centre’s future 

is pending. The first phase of construction 

for the new hospital is expected to begin this 

summer. Visit wnstd.com/mcfuture 

A statement from the Wren Wildlife Group 

about the bluebells in Wanstead Park: “We 

have worked hard lining the paths with logs, 

which make it clear where people should walk 

to enjoy the bluebell vista. People often don’t 

realise they are damaging the plants when 

they tread on the leaves – next year’s growth 

will be impacted. Peak flowering time is at the 

end of April, and Chalet Wood will get very 

crowded, so visitors should be aware there 

are other areas in the park which have lots of 

bluebells, so be adventurous and find them!” 


10 


Poetry, cartoons and folktales at 

World Book Day celebrations 

New parking payment service across 

Redbridge accepts cash 

The Co-op is one 

of several PayPoint 

locations in Wanstead 

Pupils at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School 

in Wanstead enjoyed a week of workshops as 

part of World Book Day celebrations in March. 

“Pupils had a lesson with cartoonist James 

Parsons, were entertained with Caribbean 

folktales by storyteller Wendy Shearer and 

completed a poetry workshop with World 

Poetry Slam champion Harry Baker. The 

week ended with a whole-school storytelling 

bonanza, including a parent session with tales 

from around the world led by storyteller Pat 

Ryan,” said headteacher Ruth Boon. 

Drivers can now use PayPoint locations to 

pay for parking in Redbridge. “The PayPoint 

scheme gives people the opportunity to 

pay for a range of goods and services at 

local retailers signed up as a PayPoint site. 

More than 100 sites already exist across the 

borough, and since the start of March, they 

have been activated to accept payment for 

parking, including by cash,” said a council 

spokesperson. The PayPoint scheme is offered 

in addition to the existing RingGo parking 

payment service. Visit wnstd.com/paypoint 

Historic High Stone repaired and 

reinstated after damage 

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The historic High Stone at the junction of 

Hollybush Hill and New Wanstead has been 

repaired and reinstated following damage 

sustained in a car crash last August. Originally 

a mile marker showing distances to Epping, 

Ongar, Whitechapel and Hyde Park Corner, 

an obelisk has stood in roughly the same 

location since the 18th century, although the 

current High Stone dates from the 1930s after 

the original was also damaged by a vehicle. 

The base of the monument is likely to be a 

remnant of the original 18th-century stone. 


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12 


Take part in creative workshops and 

monthly food growing programme 

Restoring the Roding: improvement 

work to continue after the summer 

Ray Park community garden 

Wanstead residents are invited to take part 

in a series of free workshops in Ray Park, 

Woodford Green. “We have been awarded a 

grant from Groundwork. The money will be 

used to expand the community garden we are 

building in Ray Park and redevelop more of 

the walled garden that has been overgrown 

for many years. The grant will also fund a 

series of free creative workshops throughout 

the summer plus a monthly food growing 

programme,” said a Woodford Greeners 

spokesperson. Visit wnstd.com/wgreeners 

Work to improve a section of the River 

Roding adjacent to Wanstead Park has been 

postponed. “We had to cancel the majority of 

the scheduled action days last month because 

it seemed to rain before every event, raising 

the water level and making it unsafe to work. 

We will be resuming the project after the 

summer when the fish spawning and bird 

nesting seasons finish,” said Tyler Randall from 

Thames21. Volunteers have been assisting with 

the installation of deflectors in the river, which 

create new flow patterns. Visit wnstd.com/t21 



13 

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14 


Worth a watch: presentation on the 

management of Epping Forest 

Mayor’s community award for 

Redbridge Cycling Campaign 

A presentation about new developments in 

the management of Epping Forest – including 

Wanstead Park and Wanstead Flats – is 

available to watch online. “At our recent AGM, 

Ben Murphy, chair of the City of London 

Corporation’s Epping Forest and Commons 

Committee, gave a fascinating window into 

the scale of challenges and opportunities 

facing Epping Forest. If you have an interest 

in these open spaces, it is well worth a watch,” 

said a spokesperson for the Wren Wildlife 

Group. Visit wrengroup.org.uk 

The Redbridge Cycling Campaign and local 

cyclist Haydn Powell have been honoured in 

the Mayor of Redbridge’s annual community 

awards. “This well-deserved award is 

testimony to the fantastic work volunteers 

put into organising local bike rides,” said 

Councillor Jo Blackman. Redbridge Cycling 

Campaign promotes safe cycling and active 

travel across the borough. The next organised 

ride will explore the Queen Elizabeth Olympic 

Park, departing from Wanstead Park at 11.30am 

on 14 April. Visit wnstd.com/rcc 

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020 8526 7020 

INFO@KANDD.ORG 

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Search kandd for 

our reviews & 

latest projects 


20 

I 

am inspired by all things beautiful, 

namely the elegant and yet goofy 

greyhound, my friend’s cat and 

practically anything with four legs. And 

more recently, Wanstead’s bluebells. My 

art was a way to relax from my stressful 

accountant’s day job. You could say I was a 

‘creative accountant’, though the creativity 

was strictly reserved for my art! 

Since being made redundant in April 2021, 

I have been fortunate to live my dream of 

becoming a full-time artist, which is wonderful 

and exciting. I opened an Etsy shop which 

started out featuring original, limited edition 

linocuts of greyhounds. Over the past 

few years, I have been revisiting different 

mediums, including screenprinting, which 

enabled me to produce ’functional art’ such 

as my Wanstead bluebell tote bags and a few 

prototype tea towels, which were on display at 

Wanstead Library last November. 

I have been a member of Art Group Wanstead 

for a few years now and took part in last year’s 

bluebell art fair, for which I created my first 

bluebell piece, an ambitious watercolour 

wash with a multi-screenprint printed onto 

gorgeous A3 handmade paper. Unfortunately 

– after my strict quality control – only a few of 

the planned edition of 30 escaped my studio 

recycling bin! All was not lost as I took photos 

of the survivors and created a new series of 

bluebell digital art. 


The iconic Wanstead bluebells are also 

the subject of my first series of artwork for 

2024. Having booked the Wanstead Library 

showcase for the end of February, I set myself 

a challenge to create new art using different 

mediums: oils, watercolours, acrylics, linocut 

prints and digital art. 

I wanted to create art that represents what 

the bluebells mean to me and the impact they 

have on the emotion and mood for so many 

locals who visit them. The bluebell wood 

is such a magical place and I, like so many 

others, have such wonderful memories of 

visiting them with loved ones. 

I worked throughout the sometimes wet 

and dreary months of January and February, 

looking forward 

to spring and new 

beginnings as the 

bluebells reappear and 

delight as they do year 

after year. I love the similarities 

between these delicate and yet resilient 

flowers and my other passion, the rescue 

greyhound. This may seem a very random mix, 

but to me, both are such things of beauty – 

they just need a little care and our protection 

to enable them to bring joy and wonder 

into our lives. 



21 

inspirational 

Art Group Wanstead member Sonia Cudd 

reflects on the inspiration that Wanstead Park’s 

annual bluebell display brings 

Sonia will have a stall at the Local Makers 

Market at Christ Church hall on 18 May. 

To view more of Sonia’s art work, visit 

gracecuddleart.com 


Spring! 

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23 


24 


Fence defence 

Skylarks successfully bred on Wanstead Flats last year, helped by 

temporary fencing to prevent disturbance to these ground-nesting 

birds. Please respect the fence again this year, says Mary Holden 

Wanstead Flats has always been 

known for its iconic groundnesting 

Skylarks, but in recent 

years, numbers have fallen. During the 

2012 Olympics, a temporary police base 

was installed on the fairground site, east 

of Centre Road, and in the following years, 

no Skylarks nested in that area, although 

several pairs continued to breed among the 

anthills on the other side of the road. These 

birds represent the closest population 

of breeding Skylarks to the centre 

of London. 

Numbers have been in decline nationally for 

decades due to various factors, including 

loss of habitat. The future for the Wanstead 

Flats birds looked bleak. In 2020, no Skylarks 

bred successfully on the Flats and our other 

ground-nesting bird, the Meadow Pipit, also 

stopped breeding. Drastic action was needed 

to prevent the Skylarks from disappearing. 

The Wren Wildlife and Conservation Group, 

in conjunction with the City of London 

Corporation, which owns and manages the 

land, were determined to try and protect 

numbers locally. 

So, in 2021 and each year since, temporary 

fencing has been erected around two areas 

of the Flats between March and the end of 

August. This has meant that the birds – whose 

eggs and chicks are particularly vulnerable 

to disturbance – have been protected from 

heavy human and canine footfall during 

the nesting season. This protection paid off 

handsomely last year with at least four young 

birds fledging – the best breeding success for 

quite a few years. 

We hope the Skylarks repeat that success 

this year and that we will begin to see the 

recolonisation of more areas of the Flats. 

In order to reduce the use of single-use plastic 

fencing, the City of London Corporation has 

this year been experimenting with blue rope 

to demarcate the two areas, and people are 

politely being asked to keep out and also to 

keep their dogs on a lead between Centre 

Road and the football pitches. 

The reaction of walkers to the new ropes 

has generally been very positive and the 

vast majority of people are willing to keep 

out to protect the nesting birds. But like me, 

many people are annoyed and perplexed 

by those that wish to keep traversing the 

area. A person or persons so far unknown 

have been vandalising the ropes, meaning 

they had to be totally replaced several times 

last month. 

Please respect the temporary fencing: the 

future of our Skylarks, which bring local 

people and visitors alike so much joy every 

spring and summer, may depend on it. If you 

see the rope being vandalised, please report it 

to the police by phoning 101. 

For more information about the Wren 

Wildlife Group, visit wrengroup.org.uk 



25 


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27 

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28 


Medical Emergency 

In the second of a series of articles charting the challenges facing 

Aldersbrook Medical Centre, Paul Wildish from the patient participation 

group explains the fight to maintain the same level of GP provision 

Ever since a letter from Sarah See – 

the NHS manager responsible for 

commissioning GP Primary Health Care 

in the Redbridge area – dropped through 

our letterboxes in February, the residents 

of the Aldersbrook and Lakehouse estates 

have felt let down. The letter announced 

that our current, well-respected doctors at 

Aldersbrook Medical Centre (AMC) were 

leaving, to be replaced by others, not yet 

known, providing a level of service not yet 

determined. And all this to happen by the 

end of March (later extended to June). 

The NHS Primary Care team implied our 

doctors had made a voluntary decision 

to hand in their notice, but AMC’s patient 

participation group knew different. After 

months of negotiations with local NHS 

managers, our current providers found 

the continuation budget they were being 

offered amounted to a 10% cut, making the 

service they currently provide economically 

unsupportable. The patients of AMC came 

together and decided we would resist this 

new settlement being imposed upon us. 

Of course, when you are just an ordinary 

patient it’s one thing to want to have 

your voice heard and quite another to do 

something about getting NHS managers to 

listen. Well, AMC patients are working hard 

and learning fast, because we know that 

patients expressing their distress at decisions 

made ‘up there’ at NHS North East London’s 

Integrated Care Board HQ in Unex Tower, 

Stratford, don’t count unless you gain the 

support of those who carry the gravitas and 

influence that NHS managers take notice of. 

Fortunately, the justice of our case to keep the 

same level of GP provision and no cuts at AMC 

has won the support of our local Wanstead 

Patient participation group members 

picketed outside NHS North East London’s 

Integrated Care Board HQ last month 

Park councillors, our MP John Cryer and 

Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, chair of the NHS 

Confederation. They have added their voices 

to ours and continue to negotiate with local 

NHS managers on our behalf because the 

decisions the ICB is making, based on a 10% 

reduction in the budget, can only bring about 

a worse service. 

We know the NHS is struggling. We know 

there is not enough money to go round. 

And we understand equity is a fundamental 

principle of NHS provision. However, we also 

know telling us we are getting more than 

we deserve and that we should be grateful 

with a reduced service does not wash. What 

they are really telling us is you can’t have 

excellence. It seems innovation and good 

practice must be limited by the cuts the 

government insists the NHS managers make, 

regardless of the specific needs a GP surgery 

must address. 

Is this the story we want to hear or should 

patients in every surgery start demanding 

more? 

For more information about the 

Aldersbrook Medical Centre patient 

participation group, visit wnstd.com/amc 



29 

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32 


Out in the Cold 

Kathy Taylor from Wanstead Climate Action urges local politicians to 

support the United for Warm Homes campaign, which highlights the 

mental and physical health impacts of cold homes 

A 

new report by the Institute of Health 

Equity highlights the shocking 

fact that in Britain today, 9.6m 

households are living in heat-leaky homes 

and have incomes below the poverty 

line. Cold homes double the risk of adults 

developing new mental health conditions 

and put one in four children at risk of 

multiple mental health symptoms. 

Some of the quilt-making team 

pose with the quilts in Ilford 

The lack of meaningful action to tackle 

Britain’s cold homes over the last decade 

has intensified inequalities and the level of 

harm being felt across the country with many 

millions of households now at crisis point. 

The UK has the oldest and least efficient 

housing stock in Europe, with housing 

directly responsible for 14% of the UK’s total 

greenhouse gas emissions, driven in part 

by the proportion of uninsulated or poorly 

insulated homes. Since 2013, installation rates 

of energy-saving measures and insulation 

have plummeted by 90%. Rather than the 

intermittent and piecemeal approach to home 

insulation of successive governments so far, 

if there were a nationwide, government-led 

programme to upgrade the UK’s inefficient 

housing stock, not only would this bring 

millions out of fuel poverty, but it would go 

some way towards tackling the climate crisis. 

In addition, with the reduced costs of fuel 

subsidies, the improved health impacts and 

the stimulus to a UK green economy, the costs 

of a street-by-street insulation programme 

would more than pay for itself. This would be 

win-win, as we cannot get to net zero carbon 

emissions without tackling our leaky homes. 

The total cost of insulating low-income UK 

homes to a suitable standard (EPC grade C) is 

likely to be around £74.5 billion, or £6 billion 

a year over 12 years, which was the original 

commitment proposed by Labour as part of 

its warm homes plan before it backtracked 

on this recently. Wanstead Climate Action 

has been taking part in a Friends of the Earth 

campaign called United for Warm Homes to 

raise awareness of this situation. 

Locally, a shocking 69% of homes in Ilford 

are heat-inefficient. In Leyton and Wanstead, 

(John Cryer’s constituency) the figure is only 

slightly better at 66%, and in Chingford and 

Woodford Green it is 65%. Due to the high 

percentage of leaky homes and high fuel 

poverty in Ilford, we met with the shadow 

health minister Wes Streeting MP (Ilford 

North), who supports the campaign. However, 

we are asking all local MPs to pledge support 

and do all they can to ensure the introduction 

of policies to tackle this crisis so none of their 

constituents suffer from fuel poverty or a cold 

home. John Cryer, are you listening? 

Last year, over 40 Redbridge people came 

together to make two beautiful quilts that 

highlight this situation. If you have a suitable 

public place to display the quilts for a few 

weeks, do get in touch. 

For more information, visit wnstd.com/ch. 

To contact Wanstead Climate Action, email 

info@wansteadclimateaction.com 



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34 


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36 


Away from home 

In the second of a series of articles charting the experiences of 

a Wanstead-based travel writer, Carole Edrich recalls a particularly 

inaccessible train press trip from Brussels to Vienna 

From the first time I read an Agatha 

Christie novel, sleeper trains have 

epitomised romance. Great scenery, 

fine dining, an ever-changing view and 

interesting strangers in manageable doses 

are part of that, as is the train itself. I 

thought an accessible ÖBB NightJet sleeper 

cabin from Brussels to Vienna would make 

a great story, be environmentally friendly 

and get me where I needed to go. 

On a train, this little lady, journalistic trammels 

three. With the treatment a bit afraid is, 

wondering what the worst would be! 

There’s still magic in it. Entranced by the vistas 

of places we passed, I ignored my work on 

the window-side table. But… had I known I 

was going to spend the night worried about 

whether I’d be turfed from my accessiblecabin 

bed and dumped on a random seat 

elsewhere, I’d have worried more about 

that and less about setting the phone up to 

timelapse the trip. 

I write on travel accessibility partly because 

the way my friends’ disabilities are ignored 

pisses me off, partly because I need to 

write what I see, and mostly because after 

becoming an Unlimited Trustee (the world’s 

largest funder of disabled arts), I realised my 

authentic self has no choice. So, before you 

read further, imagine you are a wheelchair 

user travelling with a friend with hidden 

disabilities. List the worst, most predictable 

and clichéd disability-based and train-travel 

problems you’d have, for fun. 

If you’ve drawn from experience, you might 

have more than the 30 accessibility failures 

that beset that trip. Sticky plugs, switches 

that didn’t work, a door so heavy it was hard 

to budge, guards who promised to recharge 

my laptop and phone and didn’t, who refused 

my disabled status and asked for a nonexistent 

certificate of disability, lights that 

turned themselves on in the small hours, an 

announcement of a delay so early it woke me 

up, and a breakfast that was so much later 

than agreed that – in mucking up my blood 

sugar levels – made everything worse. 

I’d prefer to forget what happened, but the 

tediously sentient part of me won’t let it 

go. And boy, I let go for that feature! I went 

on and on and on. I got to the hotel so late 

that after recharging my phone and resting 

(the night’s stress played havoc with my 

normally-manageable ME) there was no 

time to research my arts commission or my 

other idea. Should I take a leaf from the Post 

Office scandal and blame others for a failure 

to deliver? Take moral responsibility like the 

MP in the Chrichel Down Affair? Offer the 

editor something else entirely? The first is 

unthinkable, the rest would make me seem 

unreliable. Luckily, my brief only mentioned 

Austria, so I used my Salzburg notes instead. 

I filed the article, the editor left and the 

commission wasn’t honoured. So it goes. 

To read more of Carole’s work or to listen 

to her podcast, visit caroleinnit.com 



37 

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38 


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18 

CELEBRATING 

YEARS 

Email: ads@wnstd.com 

Promote your business in the next issue… visit wnstd.com/bookad 

PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH SINCE MARCH 2006 



39 

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40 


Crossword competition 

Win a pair of Wanstead Park bluebell mugs 


Across 

1. Painting surface (6) 

5. Skimpy knickers (6) 

8. Earth, compost (4) 

9. Floret veggie (8) 

10. Bendy fruit (6) 

12. Valentine flower (4) 

14. Frozen water (3) 

16. Saying (6) 

18. Hooded jacket (6) 

20. Card game (5) 

22. Icy precipitation (4) 

23. Clandestine (6) 

24. Brine (6) 

For the chance to win two ceramic mugs 

featuring a Wanstead Park bluebell scene by 

local artist Sonia Cudd, send your crossword 

solution, name and address to: 


PO BOX 2491, Ilford, IG1 8JT 

Alternatively, email your entry (subject line: 

April 2024) to: crossword@wnstd.com 

Closing date: 18 April 2024 

One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received before 5pm on 18 April 2024. 

The winner will receive their prize within 28 days of the closing date. Full T&Cs at wnstd.com/tc 

Congratulations to Beryl Chapman of Primrose Road, 

South Woodford, who won two tickets to The Rocket 

Man in last issue’s crossword competition. 

March Crossword Solution 

E D G I N G D E C A N T 

U D L I L A 

E N D I V E S H A F T S 

G O E R A R K 

B A L M Y G I T 

R P A R A F F I N 

E R T E Y M 

V E G E T A T E E 

S P S L A P S 

A T G A S E I 

R E V I V E H E A T E R 

M L N I R C 

S T R E E T P E N N E D 

Down 

2. Odour, scent (5) 

3. Small town (7) 

4. Underwater (9) 

5. A couple (3) 

6. Film award (5) 

7. Chivalrous (7) 

11. Synonym book (9) 

13. Eight, in Spain (4) 

15. Soup base (5) 

17. Cider fruit (5) 

19. Extraterrestrial (5) 

21. First-aid ___ (3) 

April Sudoku Solution 

3 1 9 6 5 4 8 7 2 

6 7 4 8 2 9 5 1 3 

2 8 5 3 7 1 4 6 9 

5 9 1 2 4 8 6 3 7 

4 6 7 1 3 5 9 2 8 

8 2 3 9 6 7 1 5 4 

7 4 2 5 8 6 3 9 1 

9 5 8 7 1 3 2 4 6 

1 3 6 4 9 2 7 8 5 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

8 9 

10 11 

12 13 14 15 

16 17 18 19 

20 21 22 

23 24 

Wanstead Bluebells 

by Sonia @gracecuddleart 

Originally a screen print transferred to 

digital art to make a series of prints for 

a local art show, this design has been 

so popular I have used it to create these 

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41 

Affected by 

aircraft noise? 

Affected by aircraft noise? 

IT’S TIME TO 

SPEAK UP! 

London City Airport’s low-flying aircraft already affect thousands 

of people across South East London. Yet, the airport is planning to 

expand, meaning even more flights, noise, and air pollution for all of us. 

London City Airport claims their flights only affect a few areas very 

near the airport. They use the low number of resident complaints 

they receive as proof for this claim. 

If you are affected by aircraft traffic, please send an official complaint 

to London City Airport. Scan the QR code or google “LCY complaints” 

to access the complaint form. 

Will my complaint make a difference? 

Yes! Airports are legally obliged to disclose the number 

of complaints they receive, and it is taken into account in 

expansion applications. 

Giving a voice to residents under 

London City’s flight paths 

hacaneast.org.uk 


ROBINS 

PIE & MASH 

EST. 1929 

14 HIGH STREET, WANSTEAD, E11 2AJ 

Open Mon to Sat: 10am – 5pm & Sun: 10.30am – 4.30pm 

A five generation, family-run business loved by all! 

All six branches, across East London and Essex are open to eat in 

and takeaway! And our Wanstead branch is on Just Eat for those 

who need delivery. Our pies are handmade fresh every day, with the 

best ingredients and absolutely no junk! All at an affordable price. 

Over the years, we have established a loyal following for our greattasting, 

great-value Pie & Mash, and we thank you all for your daily 

custom. It’s been five years since we lost our beloved June Robins, 

the true Queen of Pie & Mash, who we know was loved by so many 

of our customers. We love hearing all your stories and memories; 

it’s clear, Mrs Robins is missed very much. 

June Robins 

We are very proud suppliers to Asda, Nisa and Budgens across the 

UK. We also supply local pubs, pop-up events, cafes and sporting 

venues with our delicious Pie & Mash. And we keep the ex-pat 

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44 


WANSTEAD'S STYLE 

As we emerge from our woolly jumpers into the warmer days of spring, 

we need look no further than our High Street to grab everything we 

need for a seasonal wardrobe refresh, says local stylist Catherine Grout 

I’m a personal stylist living locally and I 

regularly find some wonderful clothing 

and accessories for myself and my 

clients right here on our doorstep. My 

job is not about helping fabulous people 

to look even more fabulous in highend 

fashion. It’s actually about helping 

everyday Wansteadians to look, and more 

importantly, to feel their best, and that 

can definitely mean starting with our local 

fashion gems. 

So, where in Wanstead can we find stylish 

options that won’t break the bank? Well, of 

course, there are our three charity shops. I 

find some great things – and donate – there 

regularly. However, there is an art to finding 

a bargain you will love, so don’t be tempted 

to buy something just because it’s cheap if 

it doesn’t fit or flatter you. Keep an eye out 

for outerwear, footwear, bags and belts, as 

these items tend to show fewer signs of wear, 

so are often better bargains than trousers 

or knitwear, for example. And try to opt for 

neutral colours (like navy, camel or ivory) and 

simple patterns (like polka dots and stripes), 

which will give your wardrobe longevity. 

If you are looking to refresh your wardrobe, 

you need look no further than Azzurra 

(119B High Street) with its rainbow of stylish 

clothing and accessories. I rarely leave Azzurra 

empty-handed! And The Art Shop (117C High 

Street) has some great jewellery, scarves and 

bags. I must also give a shout-out to Wright 

Jewellery. Sometimes featuring as a pop-up 

on the High Street or at our monthly market, 

Carin Wright has some wonderful pieces. 

Whether you shop online, on the High Street 

or second-hand, there is an awful lot of choice 

out there. So, it’s not surprising if you feel 

overwhelmed and end up buying something 

very similar to what you already own. Or if 

you do strike out in a new direction, you may 

end up with those items that just sit in your 

wardrobe while you question whether they 

suit you or decide what to wear them with. 

Perhaps that’s why most people wear less 

than 20% of their wardrobes. It can also be 

very challenging to break out of your comfort 

zone, particularly as life presents us with new 

challenges. 

Many of my clients are stuck in a style rut or 

are going through a life transition that means 

their current wardrobe is not right for them 

anymore. All of this changes not just how we 

feel on the inside but how we want to look on 

the outside. 

There is also an important ethical element to 

our fashion choices, and if you are thinking 

about a wardrobe refresh this spring, then 

definitely consider going local first. You will be 

helping our community thrive. And shopping 

in the charity sector enables us all to donate 

direct to good causes whilst supporting the 

move to more sustainable clothing choices. 

Catherine Grout is a personal stylist, colour 

analyst and fashion blogger. For more 

information, visit whatiamwearing.com 



45 

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46 


Let us climb 

the ladder! 

Gutter 

Cleaning 

Service 

Clogged gutters can lead to 

leaky roofs and water damage 

and attract pests. 

FINCH Contracts 

A Wanstead based building company, 

established since 2007. 

A small but friendly team with over 

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knowledge of the houses in this area. 

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47 

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48 


The Lord Shamash 

Local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash is delighted to announce that 

Gerald Shamash, a partner in the firm, has become a member of the 

House of Lords, having been made a life peer 

The King has conferred a peerage 

on Gerald Shamash, who is now a 

member of the House of Lords, and 

henceforth known as The Lord Shamash. 

This distinction reflects a lifetime’s work on 

the part of Gerald in the fields of politics 

and the law. 

“Gerald Shamash is highly regarded for 

his work for the Labour Party, advising on 

legislative proposals, parliamentary rules 

and the reformation of election law, and is 

described as ‘peerless’, ‘a legend’, ‘one in a 

million’, and ‘the god of election law’,” said The 

Legal 500, the world’s leading legal directory. 

If you keep updated with the news, you 

may have seen, read or heard about Gerald 

Shamash many times: with his involvement in 

cash for honours; MPs’ expenses; leading the 

likes of Alastair Campbell and Paul Gascoigne 

through a media scrum; talking live on the 

BBC about Prince Harry’s hacking trial in 

2023; or you may have read about the legal 

aid lawyer who helped a senior politician in 

1983 with his late-night dash to the Royal Mail 

sorting office, armed with a judge’s order 

to prevent delivery of politically damaging, 

inaccurate leaflets. 

Gerald founded his firm, Steel & Shamash 

in 1981, which merged with Edwards Duthie 

in 2019. Since 1990, Gerald has advised the 

Labour Party on electoral and legal issues. 

Politics was around in Gerald’s early life. His 

family moved from Manchester to London in 

1964 for the election of his brother-in-law to 

Parliament. For Gerald, however, law was not 

always his ambition. He had a place at King’s 

College London Dental School that he did not 

take up; he decided he didn’t want to become 

a dentist. He then subsequently started his 

degree course and embarked on his law 

exams and articles to become a solicitor. 

Fast-forward to the present, almost 50 

years since qualifying as a solicitor in 1976, 

Gerald heads up Edwards Duthie Shamash’s 

parliamentary, electoral and media law 

practice, and is widely regarded as one of the 

pre-eminent specialists on electoral law in 

the UK as well as being a veteran practitioner 

in media disputes in the High Court. “He’s 

extremely experienced, knowledgeable 

and able to navigate the often blurred lines 

between the legal and political fields. He has 

excellent political judgement and a strategic 

legal mind,” said a spokesperson for Chambers 

and Partners. 

The King making Gerald a life peer reflects a 

lifetime’s work and relentless dedication on 

the part of Gerald in the fields of politics, the 

law and the people’s access to justice. 

Edwards Duthie Shamash is located at 

149 High Street, Wanstead, E11 2RL. For 

more information, call 020 8514 9000 or 

visit edwardsduthieshamash.co.uk 



49 

Edwards Duthie Shamash 

Solicitors 

Gerald 

Shamash 

has been made 

a Life Peer 

Edwards Duthie Shamash are delighted to announce that 

Gerald Shamash, a partner in the firm, has been made a Life Peer. 

The King has conferred a peerage on Gerald, who will become 

a member of the House of Lords, and henceforth known as 

The Lord Shamash. 

Visit our website for our 

latest news and updates 

Call us on: 0208 514 9000 

allinfo@edslaw.co.uk | www.edslaw.co.uk | 

Wanstead | Waterloo | Stratford | Ilford 


50 


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51 


52 


Listen and learn 

In the 38th of a series of articles, David Bird from the Redbridge Music 

Society introduces local pianist Yuki Negishi, who will be performing at 

Wanstead Library this month 

Two of Redbridge Music Society’s 

main aims are to bring high-quality, 

live chamber recitals to the borough 

and to celebrate local musicians. Both 

aims will be realised on 16 April when 

local and international pianist Yuki 

Negishi will perform music by Beethoven, 

Debussy, Chopin and others. She will also 

give the world premiere performance of 

Christopher Norton’s Bulgarian Sketches for 

Piano. 

Tokyo-born Yuki started piano at the age of 

five and at age 10 was accepted to the Julliard 

School of Music Pre-College Division for 

exceptionally talented young musicians as an 

honorary scholarship student. She has won 

many prizes – at the age of 16, she was the 

youngest prizewinner at the Takahiro Sonoda 

Piano Competition, also receiving second 

prize at the 2000 International Jeunesses 

Musicales Competition (Bucharest). Since 

entering the UK in 2001, she has won many 

coveted prizes at the Royal College of Music 

and elsewhere. 

Yuki has worked with many eminent pianists 

(including Takahiro Sonoda, Peter Katin and 

Murray Perahia) at prestigious institutions 

such as the Toho Gakuen School, the 

Amsterdam Conservatory and the Royal 

College of Music, where she obtained an 

MMus degree (distinction) and Artist Diploma 

in 2006. 

Yuki has given many concerts (over 600 in 

the UK alone) and regularly performs about 

30 concerts per year. She has played at many 

major venues across the UK, Europe, Asia 

and the USA, and as a chamber musician has 

collaborated with members of distinguished 

orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, 

Philharmonia and the Royal Concertgebouw. 

She has also broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Scala 

Radio, ITV, Channel 4 and on continental 

television and radio stations. 

She released her debut CD Enigma in 2022, 

which was highly acclaimed in leading 

international music magazines. A second CD, 

with violinist Yukiko Ishibashi, of hitherto 

unrecorded works by Japanese composer 

Koichi Kishi has also been issued, as has a DVD 

from Sound Techniques in conversation with 

BBC presenter Andrew Green. 

Yuki is also an established adjudicator and 

has frequently served as a jury member for 

the Sussex International Piano Competition 

alongside distinguished pianists such as Artur 

Pizarro and Idil Biret. 

Please come along to hear Yuki and to support 

this particularly significant event in Redbridge 

Music Society’s 75th anniversary Year. 

Yuki will perform at Wanstead Library 

on 16 April from 8pm (tickets on the 

door; visitors: £12; members: £8). Call 

07380 606 767. Redbridge Music Society is 

affiliated to Making Music. 



53 

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54 


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55 

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56 


WANSTEAD FLATS 

AT WAR 

To mark Local and Community History Month in May, the Friends of 

St Gabriel’s are organising an event to explore the wartime history 

of Aldersbrook. Georgina Brewis reports. Image shows Wanstead Flats 

during a German air raid, painted in 1916 by JH Bull 

As part of ongoing fundraising aimed 

at fully restoring St Gabriel’s Church 

hall in time for the centenary of 

its 1927 opening, we’ve turned to history 

to help local residents understand 

the significance of the church hall as a 

community and social space that is worth 

preserving for another 100 years. 

We were thrilled when over 200 people 

attended our Who Do We Think We Are? 

event in November 2023. Local PhD student 

Jane Skelding used census data to explore 

the social history of the Aldersbrook and 

Lake House estates. The event sparked the 

idea of creating an Aldersbrook and Lake 

House heritage scheme, which we will tell you 

more about in a future issue. At that event, 

the Friends of St Gabriel’s also received an 

offer from trainee archivist Becky Darnill to 

catalogue and arrange the church archive, 

which had been sadly neglected, a project 

that has now been completed. Becky explains: 

“The most interesting things I’ve found are 

letters from the 1910s discussing the funding 

and building of the new church and records 

of early social clubs and societies. In the 

1970s, there was even a competition for an 

Aldersbrook summer queen. The documents 

show how the church has been at the heart 

of the Aldersbrook community since the 

Edwardian era.” 

For our next event, local historians Mark 

Gorman and Peter Williams of Leyton and 

Leytonstone Historical Society will give an 

illustrated talk about Wanstead Flats and 

Aldersbrook at war. I asked Mark and Peter 



57 

© RAF Museum 

what we can expect from the talk: “Wanstead 

Flats has been used for military purposes for 

well over 200 years. In the 19th century, local 

volunteer regiments put on large-scale mock 

battles, sometimes in front of the King! In the 

20th century, the two world wars saw largescale 

installations on the Flats, and our talk will 

guide you through this militarisation.” 

Mark and Peter will also discuss the prisoner 

of war camps that housed several hundred 

Italians and Germans in huts and tents during 

the 1940s. They will bring along small artefacts 

associated with the wartime Flats. 

If you know where to look, you can still see 

various traces of the military activity on the 

Flats, from anti-aircraft rocket systems and a 

gas decontamination building to a later Cold 

War bunker. Unfortunately, as a consequence 

of this military presence, the residential areas 

of Aldersbrook and Lake House suffered 

considerable bomb damage in WWII. 

After the war, East Ham and West Ham 

councils were allowed to erect some 

prefabricated houses on parts of the Flats 

as temporary accommodation, but further 

development was strongly resisted by local 

people. This activism helped preserve the Flats 

as an important public open space. 

The Wanstead Flats at War event will take 

place at St Gabriel’s Church on 11 May from 

4pm (tickets: £5; talk starts at 5pm). Visit 

wnstd.com/flatsatwar 


58 


GEOFF WILKINSON PHOTOGRAPHY 

Quick 

Before it 

Goes! 

A collection of photos by local 

photographer Geoff Wilkinson 

depicting London’s East End 

Call 020 8530 1244 or visit 

geoffwilkinsonphotography.co.uk 

Eightyfour Gallery, 84 Nightingale Lane, Wanstead, E11 2EZ 

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59 

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60 


Loving mothers 

An emotional wellbeing antenatal course will launch in Wanstead this 

month. Here, Milli Richards and Gemma Capocci from We are Motherly Love 

offer some tips for pregnancy and beyond 

One in four women and birthing 

people experience mental health 

problems during pregnancy and 

the first year post birth. According to the 

Maternal Mental Health Alliance, 70% of 

women and birthing people will underplay 

maternal mental health difficulties, so the 

likelihood is that the numbers are in fact 

far greater. 

Soon-to-be parents are presented with 

imagery of happy parents, basking in the 

joy of new parenthood, so the reality can 

come as a huge shock when the baby arrives. 

Few people actually feel prepared for the 

emotional impact that having a baby can 

bring. So, we’ve put together our top five 

tips to support your emotional wellbeing in 

pregnancy and beyond: 

1. Support network 

This could be your partner, family and friends, 

but for many of us living in London, they are 

often spread across the city, if not wider, so 

think about what help you might need in 

the early days after birth. Who can help you 

with the cooking, cleaning, taking care of any 

other children and even catching up on sleep? 

Consider what happens when your partner 

returns to work; who you can lean on during 

this time? Sign up to antenatal classes like 

yoga, hypnobirthing and postnatal groups to 

make friends with babies of the same age. 

2. Your first few months of parenthood 

Making time to communicate with your 

partner about how you will share the 

responsibilities when the baby arrives is really 

important. Mothers or birthing partners 

often struggle with the mental load during 

maternity leave and beyond, so working out 

who does what during the pregnancy will 

avoid any shocks in the future. 

3. Information overload 

There are hundreds of parenting books, 

experts and influencers all providing different 

views on how to do things and this can feel 

very overwhelming. Talk to your partner about 

the type of parents you want to be and how to 

listen to your own intuition. 

4. Be open and honest 

It might feel scary to talk to your partner, 

friends or healthcare professionals about how 

you are feeling but there are services in place 

to support you, and the sooner you tell people 

about any changes to your mood or feelings, 

the quicker you will get the help you need. 

Being open with ‘new’ parent friends will also 

deepen and strengthen relationships through 

authentic conversations. 

5. Take time for you 

Make time for yourself to do the things you 

love that might become harder once you are a 

parent; visit your favourite restaurants, see live 

music or shows, spend time with your friends, 

read a book or have a bath. 

We Are Motherly Love’s 10-week emotional 

wellbeing antenatal course starts on 

30 April at Wanstead Works (£150). Visit 

wearemotherlylove.co.uk 



61 

Motherly Love Emotional Wellbeing 

Antenatal Course 

Focusing on your emotional 

wellbeing, empowering you to 

prioritise your needs alongside 

those of your baby’s. 

Facilitated by a qualified 

BACP counsellor and 

psychotherapist and former 

NHS peer support specialist. 

Covering expectations vs 

reality, loss of identity, 

maternal load, communication 

with your partner, your own 

childhood, birth, feeding and 

the importance of permission 

and compassion in 

parenthood. 

“The antenatal courses I did gave me the 

practical tools of being a parent but they 

didn't cover the emotional impact that 

having a baby would have on me, I wish 

something like this had been available when I 

was pregnant as it would have prepared me 

better for how to take care of my own 

emotional wellbeing in parenthood.” 

10 week course, from 30th April 

7.30pm - 9pm, at Wanstead 

Works, E11 2RJ 

www.wearemotherlylove.co.uk 

@motherlylove_uk 


62 


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10 Gants Hill Crescent, off Cranbrook Road, Ilford 



63 

1-2 Johnston Road, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 0XA 


64 


Established in 1980, we are a completely 

family run business. 

Whether you have a single broken slate 

or require a whole new roof we can 

provide the service you need. 

020 8518 8388 

07958 287 343 

coxandsons@outlook.com 

www.coxandsonsroofing.com 

- Slating 

- Tiling 

- Guttering 

- Roof light installation 

- Complete new roofs 

- Flat roofing 

- Leadwork 

- Roof reports for 

home buyers 

John Cryer MP 

working hard for Leyton & Wanstead 

6 Gainsborough Road, Leytonstone, E11 1HT | Tel: 020 8989 5249 

john.cryer.mp@parliament.uk | johncryermp.co.uk | @JohnCryerMP 

John 

How to 

Advice surgeries: 

I am now holding face-to-face surgeries 

again as well as also still holding them 

by telephone, coffee mornings and street 

surgeries. It is important that I am accessible 

to residents. You can also still call, email and 

write to me at the above contact addresses. 

Newsletter: If you want to receive an email 

update from me about what has been going 

on locally and in Parliament, email me with 

your name and address and the subject: 

OPT IN NEWSLETTER 

Much of the casework 

I receive is time 

sensitive, and often 

my team find they can deal with it without 

the need for you or them to wait for an 

in person appointment. So please get in 

contact by email, letter or phone with any 

issue you have and we can work out the 

best way we can help you.Please have any 

relevant information about your case including 

reference numbers to hand. 

My team and I will do our very best to help. 

Email: jo 

www.joh 

Coronavirus continues to be a chall 

us at work, our businesses, schools, 

Information and my service to you 

ment of Health and Public Health E 

ance), travel advice and statistics on 

many such as over 70s and vulnerab 

To make an appointment to speak to me please call 020 8989 5249 or email me 

at john.cryer.mp@parliament.uk. My team and I will do our very best to help. 

This information can be found here: 

Because of the Covid-19 pandemic I 

To advertise, call 020 8819 6645 or visit wnstd.com 

I am accessible to residents. You can


65 

Wanstead 

HOLLYBUSH HILL, 

WANSTEAD 

FOR SALE 

GORDON ROAD, 

WANSTEAD 

FOR SALE 

Martin & Co Wanstead 

74 High Street • Wanstead • E11 2RJ 

wanstead.martinco.com 

020 8518 8099 

wanstead@martinco.com 


66 


Organising CHAOS 

Ahead of a fundraiser for Wanstead-based children’s charity CHAOS, 

co-founder Norman Haynes reflects on the organisation’s beginnings and 

explains how the money raised will be put to good use 

CHAOS (Children’s Holidays and Other 

Specialities) was founded by myself 

and two friends – Stuart Ludlow and 

Mick Bacon – in 1976. We were all aged 

22 and, having recognised our own good 

fortune in life, wanted to do something 

to help those less fortunate. We visited 

schools across East London and met with 

social workers to spread the word that 

we were offering free camping holidays 

for eight- to 11-year-olds who would not 

otherwise be receiving a holiday that year 

– an escape from the pressures of inner-city 

life for poverty-stricken children. 

We spent the first year recruiting friends, 

raising funds through sponsored walks, 

jumble sales and suchlike, booking a campsite 

and coaches, borrowing camping equipment, 

selecting the children and organising the 

programme for a week away at Stubbers 

Adventure Centre in Upminster. In addition 

to the sports onsite, we had trips planned to 

the seaside, Chessington Zoo and a farm in 

Sawbridgeworth. Our first camp took place in 

1977 with 37 children and 10 adults. It rained six 

days out of seven! But the germ of an idea had 

sprouted and we grew from there, becoming 

registered as a charity in 1981. 

Our camps provide a safe, nurturing, 

learning, loving and most importantly, fun 

environment where kids can just be kids. On 

a CHAOS camp, children learn a great deal 

about teamwork and how to look after each 

other through games, nature walks, camping 

and beach activities. For some of the more 

deprived children, waking to the sound of 

farm animals, meeting the farmer or climbing 

into the cab of a tractor will be a memorable 

and positive experience of country life. 

And nothing beats having hot chocolate 

and biscuits whilst singing songs around a 

Camping with CHAOS 

campfire! The joy this charity brings to kids’ 

lives is absolutely invaluable. It provides an 

opportunity to build their confidence, gives 

them a break from the daily hardships they 

endure and also affords a brief respite for their 

families during the long summer holidays. 

The number of children who have benefitted 

from our camps has been lost in the mist of 

time, but it is well above 2,500. An interesting 

side effect of the charity’s work is its lasting 

impact, which is evidenced by the number of 

children who choose to return to the charity 

as adults and volunteer as members of staff. 

When we set up this charity to help alleviate 

poverty, never in our wildest dreams did we 

expect the situation to become worse! Each 

year we are oversubscribed for places on 

our camps and it is very sad to be turning 

deserving children away due to a lack of 

funds. The fundraising events we hold – such 

as the one at Wanstead Golf Club this month – 

are invaluable to supporting our work. 

A dinner and dance in aid of CHAOS will 

take place at Wanstead Golf Club on 

26 April (tickets: £60; book by 12 April). For 

more information, to book tickets or to 

donate, visit wnstd.com/chaos 



67 


68 


LOUD. 

Architecture & Interiors 

Our Google Reviews 

Oliver “The project remained on time & 

more importantly on budget” 

Sophie “The designs [loud] returned far 

exceeded my ‘vision’ for what could be done 

Our team have successfully delivered projects from 

design to completion in Wanstead, 

South Woodford and surrounding areas. 

We are offering 

20 minute drop in consultations 

Every Tuesday 

at City Place Cafe 

Wanstead Hight Street 

(5 Clock House Parade), E11 2AG 

*Pre-booking essential 

Tel.: 02034884199 / 07973195993 @loudarchitects www.loudarchitects.com 

Local Property 

Maintenance Specialist 

•Painting & Decorating 

•Bath & Shower Re-siliconing 

•Gutters Cleared & Repaired 

•Laminate Flooring 

•Carpentry 

•Call Out Maintenance 

•Odd Jobs 

•Insurance Work 

Free Estimates 

Competitively priced 

No hidden charges 

Public Liability Insurance 

References available 

Call Stuart on 

07917 870879 

stuartgreenpropertysolutions@gmail.com 



69 

HEATING “PLUS” 

We are an approved local company with over 35 years of experience 

Free estimates 

All work guaranteed 

All types of gas central 

heating systems installed 

All boilers installed, 

serviced and repaired 

Registered installer 

of mega-flo hot water 

systems 

Existing systems 

updated and 

powerflushed 

Landlord’s gas saftey 

certificates 

Gas fires, water heaters 

and cookers installed 

Under floor heating 

systems Installed 

Windsor Road, London E11 3QU 

T: 020 8989 4357 | M: 07802 498 126 

E: vinceheatingplus5@gmail.com 


70 


Celebrating 18 years 

PUBLISHED SINCE MARCH 2006 

wnstd.com/advertise 



71 

Community events 

CHILDREN’S COLOURING 

CRAFT SESSION 

Activity session for children of all ages. 

No booking required. 

Date: Tuesday 2 April Time: 2.30–3.30pm 

Venue: Wanstead Library, Spratt Hall Road 

Cost: free Enquiries: 020 8708 7400 

APR 

2 

What’s happening, 

what’s on and where... 

Are you organising an event? 

Let us know... events@wnstd.com 

Please note: all events are 

subject to change. Please 

check with the relevant 

organisers to confirm details. 

Booking may be required. 

RAY PARK COMMUNITY 

GARDEN VOLUNTEER DAY 

Repeated on 21 April. 

Date: Saturday 6 April Time: 10am–3pm 

Venue: Ray Park Community Garden, IG8 7JF 

Cost: free Enquiries: wnstd.com/rpcg 

APR 

6 

WALKING FOR HEALTH: 

CHRIST CHURCH GREEN 

A walk with gentle slopes and uneven terrain. 

Date: Saturday 6 April Time: 10.30–11.30am 

Venue: meet on Wanstead Place 

Cost: free Enquiries: wnstd.com/walking 

APR 

6 

WANSTEAD 

COMMUNITY MARKET 

Date: Sunday 7 April Time: 10am–4pm 

Venue: Wanstead High Street 

Enquiries: aceeventsltd.co.uk 

APR 

7 

WANSTEAD CLIMATE 

ACTION MEETING 

Open to all. 

Date: Tuesday 2 April Time: 7.30–9pm 

Venue: The Bull, 129 High Street, E11 2RL 

Cost: free Enquiries: wnstd.com/climate 

APR 

2 

HAVEN HOUSE 

EASTER EGG HUNT 

Including crafts activities, a goody bag and 

Easter Egg. 

Date: Thursday 4 April Time: 10am–1pm 

Venue: Haven House, High Road, IG8 9LB 

Cost: £10 Enquiries: wnstd.com/hhegg 

APR 

4 

LEGO WORKSHOP AT 

WANSTEAD LIBRARY 

Drop-in session; first come, first served. 

Date: Thursday 4 April Time: 2.30–3.30pm 



APR 

4 

JUNIOR 

TENNIS CAMP 

Date: Monday 8 to Friday 12 April 

Venue: Drummond Lawn Tennis Club, E11 2HZ 

Enquiries: drummondltc.co.uk 

APR 

8 

NHS RETIREMENT 

FELLOWSHIP 

For retired NHS and social care staff, including 

a talk on Alfred Hitchcock. 

Date: Monday 8 April Time: 2pm 

Venue: Our Lady of Lourdes, E11 2PR 

Cost: £3 Enquiries: 020 8514 8286 

APR 

8 

EAST LONDON 

BOOK CLUB 

Monthly book club. This month’s meeting will 

be discussing Golden Hill by Francis Spufford. 

Date: Monday 8 April Time: 6.30–8.30pm 

Venue: The George, 155-159 High Street, E11 

Cost: £1.50 Enquiries: wnstd.com/elbc 

APR 

8 


72 


LIFE IN AN INDUSTRIAL 

TOWN IN THE 1940s 

A Wanstead Historical Society presentation. 

Date: Monday 8 April Time: 8pm 



APR 

8 

POP-UP PETER RABBIT 

CRAFT SESSION 

Date: Tuesday 9 April Time: 2.30–3.30pm 



APR 

9 

BEREAVEMENT CAFÉ 

EVENING SESSION 

Date: Tuesday 9 April Time: 7–8pm 

Venue: Christ Church, Wanstead Place, E11 2SW 


APR 

9 

ALDERSBROOK 

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 

A talk about composting. Visitors welcome. 

Date: Tuesday 9 April Time: 7.30pm 

Venue: Aldersbrook Bowls Club, E12 5DY 

Cost: £5 Enquiries: wnstd.com/ahs 

APR 

9 

ON THE TRAIL 

OF THE CRANE 

A talk for the North East London Local Group 

of the RSPB by Ralph and Brenda Todd. 

Date: Tuesday 9 April Time: 8pm 

Venue: St Mary’s Church, South Woodford 

Cost: £4.50 Enquiries: wnstd.com/rspb 

APR 

9 

GO SLIME AT 

WANSTEAD LIBRARY 

Date: Wednesday 10 April Time: 2–3pm 


Cost: £3 Enquiries: wnstd.com/megamix 

APR 

10 

ELECTRONIC 

KEYBOARD CONCERT 

An East London and Essex Electronic Keyboard 

Club event featuring Murray’s Trio. 



Cost: £12; under-16s: £2 Enquiries: 020 8530 3717 

APR 

10 

FREE HATHA 

YOGA CLASS 

Designed to balance your body by 

harmonising the mind and the spirit. This 

session is free; £10 per subsequent class. 


Venue: Sylvestrian Leisure Centre, E17 3PY 

Cost: free Enquiries: sylvestrian-leisure.co.uk 

APR 

10 

REBUILDING LONDON 

AFTER 1066 

A Woodford Historical Society presentation. 

Date: Thursday 11 April Time: 2.30pm 

Venue: All Saints Church Hall, Woodford Green 

Cost: £3 Enquiries: woodfordhistoricalsociety.org 

APR 

11 

WANSTEAD 

WORDSMITHS 

A monthly group for writing and sharing 

poetry and prose. No experience required. 

Date: Thursday 11 April Time: 6.30–7.45pm 



APR 

11 

WINE TASTING 

AND DATING EVENT 

Sample five wines, meeting someone new 

after each tasting. For 40- to 55-year-olds. 

Date: Thursday 11 April Time: 7pm 

Venue: Must Wine, 125 High Street, Wanstead 

Cost: £35 Enquiries: wnstd.com/winedate 

APR 

11 

SOUTH WOODFORD 

FIVE-MILE WALK 

A walk from the station, along tracks beside 

the River Roding on to Snaresbrook, up to 

Waterworks Corner, and back. Hosted by the 

West Essex Ramblers. 

Date: Friday 12 April Time: 10.30am–1pm 

Venue: meet at South Woodford Station 

Enquiries: west-essexramblers.org.uk 

APR 

12 

GONG AND CRYSTAL BOWL 

SOUND BATH 

Date: Friday 12 April Time: 7.30–9pm 

Venue: Wanstead Quaker Meeting House 

Cost: £25 Enquiries: wnstd.com/sound12apr 

APR 

12 



73 

Valentines Mansion & Gardens 

The Perfect Venue 

Weddings • Receptions • Ceremonies • Parties 

Business Meetings • Community Groups & More! 

Call us on 020 8708 8800 to find out more. 

www.valentinesmansion.com 

Emerson Road, Ilford, IG1 4XA 

@ValMansion @ValMansion @valentines.mansion 


74 


FOOD GROWING 

WORKSHOP 

Hosted by the Woodford Greeners. 


Venue: Ray Park Community Garden, IG8 7JF 

Cost: free Enquiries: wnstd.com/food13apr 

APR 

13 

THE RECYCLED, UPCYCLED & 

VINTAGE FLAMINGO FAIR 

A greener Flamingo Fair. Includes a variety of 

stalls, refreshments and face painting. 



Cost: free entry Enquiries: 020 8989 9881 

APR 

13 

CHAOS CHILDREN’S CHARITY 

FUNDRAISING EVENT 

The Replacement Hipsters will be playing 

live to raise money for local charity CHAOS 

(Children’s Holidays and Other Specialities). 

Date: Saturday 13 April Time: 7.30pm 

Venue: Aldersbrook Bowls Club, E12 5DY 


APR 

13 

WANSTEAD PARK 

LITTER PICK 

Hosted by the Friends of Wanstead Parklands. 

Date: Sunday 14 April Time: 11am 

Venue: the Temple, Wanstead Park, E11 2LT 

Cost: free Enquiries: wansteadpark.org.uk 

APR 

14 

WANSTEAD PARK TO 

OLYMPIC PARK BIKE RIDE 

A gently paced, family-friendly ride organised 

by Redbridge Cycling Campaign. 

Date: Sunday 14 April Time: 11.30am–2.30pm 

Venue: meet at Wanstead Park Tea Hut, E12 5HA 

Cost: free Enquiries: wnstd.com/rcc 

APR 

14 

FLOWER ARRANGING 

DEMONSTRATION 

Morag Bennett presents to the Woodford and 

District Floral Arrangement Group. Visitors 

welcome. 

Date: Monday 15 April Time: 7.30–9.45pm 



APR 

15 

BEREAVEMENT CAFÉ 

MORNING SESSION 

For people struggling with feelings of loss. 

Date: Tuesday 16 April Time: 10.30–11.30am 

Venue: Christ Church, Wanstead Place, E11 2SW 


APR 

16 

AN EVENING 

WITH SKINTAP 

Learn about skin health and how to age well. 

Skintap is an aesthetic and skin treatment 

clinic based in South Woodford. 

Date: Tuesday 16 April Time: 6–8pm 

Venue: Wanstead Works, 34-40 High Street 

Cost: free Enquiries: wnstd.com/st16apr 

APR 

16 

REDBRIDGE MUSIC 

SOCIETY RECITAL 

Featuring local pianist Yuki Negishi. 

Date: Tuesday 16 April Time: 8pm 


Cost: £12; members: £8 Enquiries: 07380 606 767 

APR 

16 

CHIGWELL 

RIDING TRUST 

A talk by Deborah Hall for the Woodford and 

District Centre of the National Trust. 

Date: Wednesday 17 April Time: 2.30pm 

Venue: All Saints Church Hall, Woodford Green 


APR 

17 

GLA ELECTION 

HUSTINGS 

Featuring a candidate or representative 

from each of the main parties contesting the 

Havering and Redbridge constituency in the 

GLA elections. 

Date: Wednesday 17 April Time: 7.30–9pm 


Cost: free Enquiries: wnstd.com/vote24 

APR 

17 

PRE-LOVED 

MARKET 

Including fashion, toys, art and homewares. 


Venue: Christ Church Hall, Wanstead, E11 2SW 

Cost: free entry Enquiries: 07912 282 088 

APR 

20 



75 

Independent Co-educational Day School For 3 - 11 Years 

OPEN AFTERNOON 

Friday 10th May 2024 

1.30pm - 3.00pm 

Register interest at 

www.wgprep.co.uk 

Assisted places available from 7+ 

EXCELLENT 

IN ALL AREAS 

(Inspection June 2023) 

Tel: 0208 504 5045 

Email: admissions@wgprep.co.uk www.wgprep.co.uk 


76 


WANSTEAD PARK WARD 

COUNCILLOR SURGERY 

Date: Saturday 20 April Time: 10–11am 

Venue: Allan Burgess Centre, High Street, E11 2AE 

Cost: free Enquiries: wnstd.com/councillors 

APR 

20 

WANSTEAD COMMUNITY 

LITTER PICK 

Date: Saturday 20 April Time: 10am 

Venue: meet at the Woodbine Place bus stop 

Enquiries: jo.blackman@redbridge.gov.uk 

APR 

20 

SOUTH WOODFORD 

COMMUNITY MARKET 

Date: Sunday 21 April Time: 11am–4pm 

Venue: George Lane, South Woodford 

Enquiries: aceeventsltd.co.uk 

APR 

21 

LIGHT FROM 

THE STARS 

A North East London Astronomical Society 

event. Free entry for new visitors. 

Date: Sunday 21 April Time: 1.30pm 

Venue: Wanstead House, 21 The Green, E11 2NT 

Cost: £3 Enquiries: stevek1951@hotmail.com 

APR 

21 

WOODFORD AND WANSTEAD 

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY 

A Zoom talk about creative photography. 

Date: Monday 22 April Time: 7.30pm 

Venue: online Enquiries: wnstd.com/wwps 

APR 

22 

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION 

FOR GENEALOGY 

A presentation by Richard Holt for the East of 

London Family History Society. 

Date: Wednesday 24 April Time: 7.30pm 



APR 

24 

IODS PRESENTS: 

CURTAINS 

Musical-theatre parody of whodunnit classics. 

Date: Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 April 

Time: 7.30–9.30pm 

Venue: Redbridge Drama Centre, E18 2RB 

Cost: £17.50 Enquiries: wnstd.com/curtains 

APR 

25 

CHAOS CHILDREN’S CHARITY 

DINNER AND DANCE 

Featuring rock ‘n’ roll cover band The 

Muggabees. 

Date: Friday 26 April Time: 6.30–11pm 

Venue: Wanstead Golf Club, Overton Drive 


APR 

26 

TRY ORIENTEERING IN 

WANSTEAD PARK 

An informal event aimed at those new to 

orienteering. Hosted by Chigwell and Epping 

Forest Orienteering Club. Maps will be 

provided and club members will be on hand 

to give instructions. 


Venue: meet at the Temple, Wanstead Park 

Cost: free Enquiries: info@chig.org.uk 

APR 

APR 

27 

27 

WANSTEAD VILLAGE WARD 

COUNCILLOR SURGERY 

Date: Saturday 27 April Time: 10.30–11.30am 

Venue: Allan Burgess Centre, High Street, E11 2AE 

Cost: free Enquiries: wnstd.com/councillors 

RUMBLE WRESTLING AT 

KENNETH MORE THEATRE 

Date: Saturday 27 April Time: 7–9.20pm 

Venue: Kenneth More Theatre, Ilford, IG1 1BT 

Cost: £17 Enquiries: wnstd.com/rumble 

APR 

27 

ESSEX ART CLUB SUNDAY 

DEMONSTRATION 

Featuring artist Marie Antoniou. 

Date: Sunday 28 April Time: 2.30–4.30pm 

Venue: Wanstead House, 21 The Green, E11 2NT 

Cost: £5 Enquiries: essexartclub.co.uk 

APR 

28 

EMOTIONAL WELLBEING 

ANTENATAL COURSE 

A course for pregnant and birthing people, 

focusing on the emotional wellbeing of the 

parent. Hosted by We Are Motherly Love CIC. 

Date: Tuesday 30 April to Tuesday 9 July 

Time: 7.30–9pm 

Venue: Wanstead Works, 34-40 High Street 

Cost: £150 Enquiries: wearemotherlylove.co.uk 

APR 

30 



77 

Are you considering a move 

but not sure where to start? 

Petty Son & Prestwich can help! 

Are you planning to downsize or move out of the area? 

Our relocation team can help you find your next home. 

Watch our video guide to moving at pettyson.co.uk 

11 Woodbine Place, Wanstead, London E11 2RH 

T: 020 8989 2091 E: enquiries@pettyson.co.uk W: pettyson.co.uk 


78 


Local community groups 

ART GROUP WANSTEAD 

For local artists. Visit wnstd.com/art 

FRIDAY SOCIAL CLUB 

Games, quizzes and socialising every Friday 

from 8pm to 10pm at Wanstead House (£3 per 

meeting). Call 020 8556 1585 

FRIENDS OF WANSTEAD PARKLANDS 

Campaigning for the enhancement of 

Wanstead Park. Visit wansteadpark.org.uk 

GRAPES WINE SOCIETY 

Meeting on alternate Tuesdays from 7.30pm at 

St Gabriel’s Church hall in Aldersbrook. Email 

grapeswinesoc@gmail.com 

ROTARY CLUB OF LEYTONSTONE 

AND WOODFORD 

Meeting every Thursday at 6.30pm at The 

Royal Oak, Chingford. Call 020 3597 2921 

STRIDES BADMINTON CLUB 

Every Sunday from 3.30pm at Wanstead 

Leisure Centre (over-18s). Call 020 8598 8435 

WANSTEAD AND WOODFORD BLIND CLUB 

Meeting Thursday afternoons (2pm to 4pm) in 

South Woodford. Call 07840 850 838 

WANSTEAD BOWLS CLUB 

Located on Overton Drive, E11 2LW (within 

Wanstead Golf Club). Visit wnstd.com/bowls 

WANSTEAD CENTRAL BOWLS CLUB 

Located on Nutter Lane, E11 2JA. Open from 

end of April to September. Call 020 8505 7806 

WANSTEAD CLIMATE ACTION 

A local group sharing concerns about the 

climate emergency. Visit wnstd.com/climate 

WANSTEAD COMMUNITY GARDENERS 

Tending to the flower beds across Wanstead. 

Visit wnstd.com/wcg 

WANSTEAD COMMUNITY HUB 

A Facebook group for all who live in Wanstead. 

Visit wnstd.com/wch 

WANSTEAD COMMUNITY FORUM 

A Facebook group discussing local issues. 

Visit wnstd.com/wcf 

WANSTEAD SOCIETY 

Making Wanstead a better place to live and 

work. Visit wansteadsociety.org.uk 

WILD WANSTEAD 

A project to create a multi-garden nature 

reserve across Wanstead. Visit wnstd.com/ww 

WOODFORD AND WANSTEAD 

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY 

Meeting virtually or at Wanstead House every 

Monday. Visit wnstd.com/wwps 

WREN WILDLIFE GROUP 

Promoting learning and conservation of local 

wildlife. Visit wrengroup.org.uk 



79 


80 


Useful numbers in and around Wanstead 

ADVICE & SUPPORT 

Citizens Advice Redbridge 0300 330 9063 

National Debtline 0808 808 4000 

Samaritans116 123 

HEALTH 

Aldersbrook Medical Centre 020 8518 8080 

Out of hours GP 020 3770 1888 

Whipps Cross Hospital 020 8539 5522 

Wanstead Pharmacy 020 8989 0597 

Wanstead Place Clinic 020 8926 1450 

Wanstead Place Surgery 020 8989 1968 

The Evergreen Surgery 020 8518 8746 

Wanstead Village 

Dental & Health Centre 020 8530 2126 

LEISURE & LIBRARIES 

Aldersbrook Library 020 8496 0006 

Sylvestrian Leisure Centre 020 8509 6526 

Wanstead Leisure Centre 020 8989 1172 

Wanstead Library 020 8708 7400 

IN THE BUILDING TRADE FOR 30 YEARS 

LOCAL COUNCILLORS Wanstead Village ward 

Jo Blackman (Lab) 07435 258 060 

jo.blackman@redbridge.gov.uk 

Paul Donovan (Lab) 07741 197 406 

paul.donovan@redbridge.gov.uk 

Daniel Morgan-Thomas (Lab) 07741 194 993 

daniel.morgan-thomas@redbridge.gov.uk 

LOCAL COUNCILLORS Wanstead Park ward 

Bayo Alaba (Lab) 07918 273 096 

bayo.alaba@redbridge.gov.uk 

Sheila Bain (Lab) 07741 904 843 

sheila.bain@redbridge.gov.uk 

LOCAL MP Leyton and Wanstead 

John Cryer MP (Lab) 020 8989 5249 

johncryermp.co.uk 

LOCAL MP Chingford and Woodford Green 

Iain Duncan Smith MP (Con) 020 7219 3000 

iainduncansmith.org.uk 

POLICE 

Emergency 999 

Non-emergency 101 

Action Fraud 0300 123 2040 

Anti-terrorist Hotline0800 789 321 

Crimestoppers0800 555 111 

SNTsntji-wanstead-village@met.police.uk 

SNTsntji-wanstead-park@met.police.uk 

REDBRIDGE COUNCIL 

Adult Social Service 020 8708 7333 

Benefits 020 8708 5690 

Children’s Services 020 8708 3885 

Council Tax enquiries 020 8708 5670 

Customer contact centre 020 8554 5000 

Housing 020 8708 4002 

Report antisocial behaviour 020 8478 4679 

UTILITIES 

Electricity (power cut) 105 

Electricity emergency 0800 40 40 90 

Gas emergency0800 111 999 

Thames Water (report a leak)0800 714 614 



81 

Aesthetic doctor 

specialising in 

natural-looking 

results 

ANTI-WRINKLE 

TREATMENTS 

FULL FACIAL 

REJUVENATION 

DERMAL FILLERS 

PROFHILO 

SKINPEN 

MICRONEEDLING 

PLATELET RICH 

PLASMA 

PEELS 

UNDER-EYE 

REJUVENATION 

SKIN SCANNER 

AND SKIN CARE 

BASED IN BAAN SPA, SOUTH WOODFORD 

107 George Lane, E18 1AN 

Dr Sabba: 020 3633 4908 

@drsabba 

DR SABBA 


82 

ACCOUNTANTS 

THP Chartered Accountants33 

AERIALS 

Aerials Direct62 

ANTENATAL COURSE 

We Are Motherly Love CIC61 

ARCHITECT 

LOUD Architects68 

ART 

Geoff Wilkinson Photography 58 

Grace Cuddle Art40 

The Art Shop 38 

BALLET 

Redbridge Classical Dance 11 

BATHROOMS 

Bathworks 55 

BEAUTY 

Dr Sabba81 

Skintap 6 

BUILDERS 

Finch Contracts46 

Glenward 35 

North London Loft Rooms 79 

Trim Loft Conversions 63 

CARPENTRY & JOINERY 

K&D Joinery18–19 

Woodthorpe Joinery2 

CHARITIES 

CHAOS 67 

Tin in a Bin Network 38 

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES 


Rumble Wrestling 78 

School Holiday Family Fair5 

COMMUNITY & GROUPS 

HACAN East41 

Wren Wildlife Group 25 

COMPUTER MAINTENANCE 

Computer Solutions16 & 50 

CULTURAL EXCHANGE 

The Hilse7 

DANCE 


DECORATORS 

Jason’s Decorating10 

MG Décor54 

DENTIST 

Smile in London37 

Woodford House15 

DOORS 


ELDERLY CARE 

Home Instead29 

Homesdale 39 


– Index of advertisers – 

ELECTRICIAN 

SW Radley Electrical Contractors 34 

ESTATE AGENTS 

Churchill Estates22–23 

Martin & Co 65 

Petty Son & Prestwich77 

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES 

CHAOS Dinner & Dance 67 

Pre-Loved Market 9 



FITNESS 

Sylvestrian Leisure Centre84 

FLORIST 

Lillies of Wanstead16 

FRAMING 


FUNERAL DIRECTORS 

Compassionate Funerals 58 

FUNFAIR 


GARAGE SERVICES 

Belgrave Motor Services62 

DC Dodd Motor Repairs26 

GARDENS & LANDSCAPING 

Growing Gardens50 

Lancasters Gardencare17 

Weald Hall Landscapes 34 

GIFTS 

Creative Giftware50 


Grace Cuddle Art40 

Heartwood18–19 

Keating Jewellers 4 

Pre-Loved Market 9 


GUTTER CLEANING 

Gutter Cleaning Service46 

HANDYMAN 

E18 Handyman80 

Stuart Green Property Solutions68 

HEALTH 

Practice Plus Group 53 

HOLIDAY PROPERTIES 

Dovehouse Developments12 

JEWELLERS 

Keating Jewellers 4 

LOCKSMITH 

Barry & Sons26 

LOFT CONVERSIONS 

North London Loft Rooms 79 

Trim Loft Conversions 63 

MORTGAGES 

About Mortgages16 

OPTICIANS 

Bayfields Opticians & Audiologists 47 

OSTEOPATH 

Wanstead Osteopaths51 

PHOTOGRAPHY 


PLASTERING 

Heritage Plaster Services 59 

PLUMBING & HEATING 

Heating Plus69 

Rightio Plumbing & Heating 30 

Smart Heat Solutions 8 

POLITICS 

John Cryer MP64 

PRINTERS 

City Copy Centre14 

PUBLIC HOUSE 

The Duke 1 

RECRUITMENT 

Public Sector Recruitment 4 

RESTAURANT & CAFÉS 

Robins Pie & Mash42–43 

The Duke 1 

ROOFING 

Cox and Sons Roofing64 

SCHOOLS & NURSERIES 

Avon House Prep School 83 

Woodford Green Prep School75 

SOLICITORS 

Barretts Law31 

Edwards Duthie Shamash49 

STAIRS 


STYLIST 

What I Am Wearing45 

TREE SERVICES 

Scott Whitehead Trees 30 

WARDROBES 


WASTE DISPOSAL 

Arbis Waste Disposal54 

WEDDING VENUE 

Valentines Mansion73 

WINDOW RESTORATION 

McCarty & Smith27 

WINDOW SHUTTERS 


WRESTLING 


YOGA 

NAFAS Yoga13 

Sylvestrian Leisure Centre84 



83 

AVON HOUSE 

PREPARATORY SCHOOL 

Independent Prep School For Children Aged 3-11 Years 

NURSERY 

(3 + YEARS) 

RECEPTION 

(4 + YEARS) 

PREP 

(7 + YEARS) 

PLACES AVAILABLE 

• Small Class Sizes 

• Specialist Subject Teachers 

• Extensive Sports Facilities 

• Co-Curricular Clubs 

• Qualified School Nurse 

• SENCO Support 

• School Counsellor 

• Wraparound Care 

• Holiday Clubs 

September 2023 fees from £3,800 per term / £11,400 annual 

admissions@ahsprep.co.uk / 020 8504 1749 

490-492 High Road, Woodford Green, IG8 0PN 

www.avonhouseschool.co.uk 


HATHA 

YOGA 

CLASS 

Take time off and take care of 

yourself. Join our new Hatha 

Yoga class for FREE on the 10th 

April, designed to balance your 

body by harmonizing the mind 

and the spirit. 

Wednesdays 7-8pm 

Wednesdays 7-8pm 

Wednesdays Wednesdays 7-8pm 7-8pm 

S t a r t s 1 0 t h A p r i l 7 - 8 p m . £ 1 0 

Sp tea r r tv Ss itsa1 i 0r t t ts h h 1e A0 rpe t rh ai fl At e7 pr - , 8i pl o m r 7 .- f8r £ pe 1m e0 

. £ 1 0 

pw ei r t h vpi oes ni r e t vot i hf s ei ot rue tr ah fs ete rel er a, cfto te er dr f, r oe r e f r e e 

w 

m 

i 

o 

t h 

n tw o 

h in l ty e h o 

m f ne e m 

o u 

bo r 

ef r 

s 

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hu l 

ir e 

p 

c 

s t 

. 

eld 

c t e d 

m oi nt t mh loy on tn hm e ley mo bmf e er mo s hb ui ep r rs s. 

sh ei pl s e. 

c t e d 

S t a r t s 1 0 t h A p r i l 7 - 8 p m . £ 

p e r v i s i t t h e r e a f t e r , o r f r 

m o n t h lwww.sylvestrian-leisure.co.uk 

y m e m b e r s h i p s . 

www.sylvestrian-leisure.co.uk 

www.sylvestrian-leisure.co. 

Independent directory of businesses, news and events in Wanstead, Snaresbrook and Aldersbrook

April 2024

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