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Contents Features By George! 16–17 A smart move 20 Fields of memories24 DD’s 65th Woodford Diary26–27 Time for flexitime 30 Plotting progress 36 Park life40–41 A real gem 44 Behind the wall 46–47 Writing history 50 Puzzles & competitions Sudoku 18 Crossword competition32 Woodford anagram48 Every issue Local news6–8 & 10–13 Community events55–58 & 60–61 Community groups 62 Useful numbers64 Index of advertisers66 Contact Us 020 8819 0595 Welcome... Such a fine sight, to watch a new shoot uncoil, Sprouting new life from under the soil. A little a day, reaching higher and higher, Looking for the sun, a thing of desire. Spreading wider, the roots set the pace, Both flourish in tandem and always with grace. A flower, or two, the bees ready to feed, And all this comes from one tiny seed. In South Woodford, there are seeds galore, Seeds of inspiration, that give so much more. We see them across our vibrant community, And as they bloom, they create opportunity. Opportunity to grow, in all senses of the word, Opportunity to progress, and for voices to be heard. These seeds of opportunity exist among us all, In the minds of those taking action, no matter how small. From small seeds of inspiration on show, Mighty good initiatives in the town do grow. From litter pickers to campaigners, young and old, A blossoming community is a sight to behold. For in the heart of every seed, Lies the potential for a worthy deed. Like the community gardeners improving the land, With seeds in mind and seeds in hand. Unloved patches of South Woodford are in their sights, These gardening heroes raise our spirits to new heights, With every seed, there comes a plan, On George Lane, that’s where it began. And so it grew and so it grows, They work so hard, and it clearly shows. The seeds we sow today, tomorrow will reap, A harvest of joy, for our community to keep. Lee Marquis, Editor Calling local residents... The South Woodford Village Gazette proudly supports local businesses and we encourage you to do the same. Help us help these businesses by mentioning the South Woodford Village Gazette when responding to adverts. A note to businesses... If you are a business based in South Woodford, 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 July/August <strong>2024</strong> edition is 14 <strong>Jun</strong>e <strong>2024</strong>. info@swvg.co.uk swvg.co.uk swvg.co.uk/socials South Woodford Village Gazette PO Box 2491, Ilford, IG1 8JT The South Woodford Village Gazette is published every other month with a circulation of 12,000 copies. Of these, 11,000 are delivered to homes and businesses across the local area. The remaining copies are available from local shops. Postal subscriptions are available from swvg.co.uk/subscribe ISSN 2632-8224 Published by Marquis IT Ltd. Founded in 1992 by Jack Lamport Mitchell. Edited from 2004 to 2015 by Ken and Sue Lees. Marquis IT Ltd cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions, or endorse companies or products 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. Printed by Premier Print Group, G02 Lock Studios, 7 Corsican Square, London, E3 3YD ©<strong>2024</strong> Marquis IT Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent.