May/Jun 2025

ISSN 2632-8224 Est. 1992

McCarty & Smith

May/June 2025 Issue No: 197

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INSIDE: WWII in Woodford • Graffiti problem • Neighbourhood policing • Woodford Arts Group

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

Independent directory of businesses, news and events in and around South Woodford

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

South Woodford

|

Village

Shade

Gazette

Privacy Light | Shade | Style

Privacy | Style

FITTED WARDROBES

ALSO AVAILABLE

Celebrating 14 Years

as your local supplier of window shutters

WOODTHORPE

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To advertise, call 020 8819 0595 or visit swvg.co.uk

Contents

Features

Woodford’s war 16–17

Tackle the tags 20

Estate of confusion24

Framing the forest 28–29

Walking in history 36

Pressures and pride40

Creative connections 44

DD’s 71st Woodford Diary48–49

Age-old myths52

Puzzles & competitions

Sudoku22

Crossword competition32

Every issue

Local news6–12

Community events 55–58 & 60

Community groups 62

Useful numbers64

Index of advertisers66

Contact Us

020 8819 0595

Welcome...

to a victory worth remembering

“My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not victory of a party

or of any class. It’s a victory of the great British nation as a whole.

We were the first, in this ancient island, to draw the sword

against tyranny.” Sir Winston Churchill

“I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking

down Whitehall, and all of us were swept along by tides of

happiness and relief.” Queen Elizabeth II

“Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives

acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and the sacrifices of

his friends.” Dwight D Eisenhower

“Every soldier must know, before he goes into battle, how the

little battle he is to fight fits into the larger picture, and how

the success of his fighting will influence the battle as a whole.”

Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery

“We have known the bitterness of defeat and the exultation of

triumph, and from both we have learned there can be no turning

back. We must go forward to preserve in peace what we won

in war.” General Douglas MacArthur

“We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have

flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not

lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in

good will.” King George VI

“Many people laid down their lives in that terrible conflict.

They fought so we could live in peace, at home and abroad. They

died so we could live as free people in a world of free nations.

They risked all so our families and neighbourhoods could be

safe. We should and will remember them.” Queen Elizabeth II

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 2025 edition is 13 June 2025.

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, 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.

Printed by Premier Print Group, G02 Lock Studios,

7 Corsican Square, London, E3 3YD

©2025 Marquis IT Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this

publication may be reproduced without prior consent.

4



May/June 2025 5

Multiple locations Including:

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Churchfields, South Woodford E18 2RB

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Visit the centre to take advantage of this offer!

Scan the QR code or view the timetable here:

vrcl.uk/groupexerciseclasses

Please mention the South Woodford Village Gazette when responding to adverts

6


Green thumbs up: gardeners praised for

brightening up South Woodford

Local community

gardeners have been

praised by the South

Woodford Society for

the colourful display

of flowers across the

area. “Thanks so much

to the South Woodford

Gardeners, who look

after all the flower

beds in the centre of

George Lane, in front

of Regency Court and

over the A406. Thanks

also to the gardeners

who are steadily working down Footpath 60

– between the High Road and Abbotsford

Gardens – and to all those who maintain

dazzling displays in tree pits and planters. And

thanks to the volunteers who work hard on

our regreening projects at Eastwood Green

VICTORY

As the sirens go off,

We all run for safety.

The gas masks go on,

Many lives could be gone.

As we sit in our Anderson Shelter,

My heart trembles in fear.

A few hours later, the bombs are clear.

Oh, Hitler, you are such a cruel man,

Many people hated your plan.

Fighting here and fighting there,

You really gave people a scare.

Thousands of men risked their lives,

Their families were back home,

And they missed their wives.

Hitler guided Germany into a war,

Which changed the course of history.

Then came along Winston Churchill,

Who led us all to victory!

by

Holly Marquis, aged 11

and our Community Orchard, by the viaduct.

So many businesses are also doing a great job

with colourful baskets and greenery,” said a

spokesperson for the community group, who

are keen for more volunteers to participate in

local projects. Visit sowosoc.org

Health inequality

in Redbridge

Redbridge Council is

urgently calling on

men in Redbridge to

prioritise their health.

It follows a report

by the council’s

Public Health Team,

which highlighted

that more men

die prematurely

than women in

the borough. The

top cause of death

was cardiovascular

disease (including

heart disease and

stroke), followed

by cancer and liver

disease. Redbridge

also has the thirdhighest

prevalence of

diabetes in London.

Visit swvg.co.uk/hlth

Council calls for

gambling reform

Redbridge Council

has joined over

30 other local

authorities across

the country in calling

for urgent reform

of gambling laws,

citing concerns over

the number of slot

machine and betting

shops opening on

high streets. “This

follows the council

agreeing a crossparty

motion at the

end of March calling

for councils to be

given the power to

reject premise license

applications that

threaten community

welfare and safety,”

said a spokesperson.

© Elaine Atkins


May/June 2025 7

Join the South Woodford Jumble Trail

and turn unwanted items into cash

Residents invited to join community

action days in Elmhurst Gardens

A driveway filled with

pre-loved items for sale

during last year’s event

The annual South Woodford Jumble Trail

will return on 8 June, raising funds for Haven

House Children’s Hospice. “This community

event is a great opportunity to turn pre-loved

items into cash whilst supporting a wonderful

local charity. We had 98 stalls participate last

year and raised £1,014 for the hospice through

registration fees. We are hoping many more

local residents will participate this summer

and help make it a firm fixture in the local

calendar,” said organiser Aninder Shipgood.

Register a stall by 1 June. Visit swvg.co.uk/swjt

South Woodford Ladies celebrate

10 years of support and community

Families at work in

Elmhurst Gardens

Residents are invited to take part in a series of

community action days in Elmhurst Gardens.

Organised by the Friends of Elmhurst Gardens

and Vision RCL, the sessions will run from

11am to 12 noon on 10 May, 21 June, 2 August,

13 September and 25 October. Activities

may include planting flowers, pruning, litter

picking, updating noticeboards and sweeping

the tennis courts. “Tools will be provided and

families are especially welcome. So, come

along and help look after your local park,” said

a spokesperson. Visit swvg.co.uk/foeg

Bespoke 1:1 Reformer

Pilates

The South Woodford Ladies – a group of

over 50 women of South Asian heritage –

celebrated their 10th anniversary in April.

“We started to meet randomly in the

neighbourhood and would often chat about

shared experiences, so we formalised the

group in 2015 and have been meeting in local

venues ever since. We support each other

and organise collections for various charities,”

said group founders Sonia Suri, Pritika Bhatia

and Marina Phull. The ladies celebrated with a

meal and birthday cake at Namak restaurant.

Using the reformer and other Pilates

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8


Mayor’s Community Awards 2025:

Dr Mary-Lou Hanley

Community blooms: step into

summer with a visit to a local garden

©Ilford Recorder/Sandra Rowse

South Woodford GP Dr Mary-Lou Hanley

was honoured at the Redbridge Mayor’s

Community Awards in March. “Dr Hanley has

been a GP for around 30 years. In that time

she has always gone above and beyond for

her patients, is always supportive and helpful

to staff within the surgery, whilst also raising

a family and caring for her husband. This

recognition is for her outstanding contribution

to South Woodford and for all the care and

support she has given her patients, staff and

friends,” said an event spokesperson.

A number of local residents will be opening

their gardens to the public this summer as

part of the National Garden Scheme. “The nine

gardens that were open locally last year raised

over £5,000 for charity. Not bad going for

opening one day each! This year, locally, there

are 18 gardens taking part, including four in

the Woodford area. So, please visit at least one

of the local NGS gardens, or if you’re planning

a UK holiday, why not look up a garden near

your destination?” said NGS area organiser

Teresa Farnham. Visit swvg.co.uk/ngs25

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May/June 2025 9

Imagine more

for your business

Looking for a greater level of support?

Book your free consultation today to find

out how we can do more for you.

Call 020 4553 8030

taxassist.co.uk/south-woodford

Ideas House, Station Estate,

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Quote TAX123 to save 20%* as a new client

*Enquire for details

TfL publishes review of W12, W13 and

W14 bus route restructuring

Save Our Local Bus Services campaign

is ‘here for the duration’

© Geoff Wilkinson

Campaigners

outside City Hall

TfL has published a review of the W12, W13

and W14 bus routes, which were restructured

last September. The review concludes that

bus use has increased following the changes

but acknowledges the services have not been

good enough, with the arrival of new electric

buses in the summer expected to improve

performance. The report also states the

afternoon school journey on the W13 will be

re-timed to better meet school travel and that

monitoring of the bus network will continue.

Visit swvg.co.uk/wreview

Residents are continuing their fight against

the changes made to local bus routes last

September. “We will stand up for residents

until we see the improvements needed,

starting with the W14, now running hourly and

not even stopping at Whipps Cross Hospital

etc… We believe TfL’s decision was based on

profitability rather than residents’ needs…

The struggle continues but we are here for the

duration! Please help by signing the petition,”

said Liz Martins from the Save Our Local Bus

Services campaign. Visit swvg.co.uk/savebus


10


Save the date:

open-air theatre in Wanstead Park

Local nature-based memory café

helping those living with dementia

Open-air theatre will return to Wanstead

Park this summer. The new season will begin

on 14 June with a performance of The Wind

in the Willows by outdoor theatre company

Illyria. This will be followed by the East

London Shakespeare Festival’s production of

As You Like It on 5 and 6 July. Illyria will then

return with Pride and Prejudice on 22 July and

HMS Pinafore on 8 August. All shows take

place in the park’s Temple enclosure and

attendees are encouraged to bring their own

seating and a picnic. Visit swvg.co.uk/wp25

Local residents living with dementia and

their carers are invited to join a nature-based

memory café at St Mary’s in South Woodford.

“As a forest school practitioner, I am well aware

of the benefits of nature to mental health and

wellbeing. So, we use seasonal, nature-based

activities to spark conversations and enjoy

sharing tea, coffee and cake. It provides a

comfortable space for participants to connect,”

said organiser Rachel Summers. The free

sessions take place on the first Sunday of the

month from 2pm to 3.30pm.

Book now and get

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May/June 2025 11

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Exceptional

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in

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your

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own

own

home

home Speak with your local care manager

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Wellbeing. Live in care.

Wellbeing. Live in care.

Personal care. Outings activities.

Personal care. Outings & activities. 0208 154 1768

Dementia care. Medication support.

Dementia care. Medication support.

Speak with your local care manager

chingford@radfieldhomecare.co.uk

Companionship. Assistive technology. chingford@radfieldhomecare.co.uk

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0208 www.radfieldhomecare.co.uk 154 1768

ptional care in your own home

llbeing. Companionship. Live in care.

rsonal care. Outings & activities.

mentia care. Medication support.

mpanionship. Help care for Assistive the 114 new technology.

trees

planted across South Woodford

Redbridge Council to draw up road

safety www.radfieldhomecare.co.uk

plans for Hermon Hill

chingford@radfieldhomecare.co.uk

© Geoff Wilkinson

©Andy Nutter

A new tree on

Cranbourne Avenue

A total of 114 new trees have been planted

across South Woodford and Churchfields

between November 2024 and March 2025.

“The Local Authority Treescapes Fund made

this initiative possible. This fund, dedicated

to enhancing our local environment, has also

ensured the trees will be irrigated for the

next three years,” said a Redbridge Council

spokesperson. While the council’s tree

adoption window has closed, residents are

encouraged to help care for the new trees by

watering them during spring and summer.

Redbridge Council is looking at ways to

improve road safety on Hermon Hill. It follows

multiple collisions in recent years and calls

from residents to address problems with

speeding. “We are pleased to hear the council

will be working on designs to improve road

safety on Hermon Hill and we share residents’

concerns. We have been advocating for road

safety measures for a number of years and

look forward to seeing the draft plans, which

will be subject to consultation with residents,”

said Councillor Jo Blackman.


12


Historic drama group founded by

local students prepares for next show

Members of the

Highams Players

A drama group founded by former pupils

of Woodford County High School will stage

its next production at Wanstead House

community centre. “In 1939, two students of

the all-girls school formed a drama society

and had to find men for the male roles! Back

then, the school was known as Highams

School, hence our name,” said a spokesperson

for Highams Players, who welcome new

members on stage and behind the scenes. The

group will perform Something to Hide by Leslie

Sands from 29 to 31 May. Visit swvg.co.uk/hp

WEDNESDAYS £5 PER

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MP launches petition calling for stepfree

access to Snaresbrook station

Calvin Bailey MP has launched a petition

calling for step-free access to Snaresbrook

station. “Step-free access is so important for

our disabled and elderly residents and families

with young children. Currently, people with

mobility challenges struggle to make quick,

everyday journeys from here,” said the Leyton

and Wanstead MP. Snaresbrook station was

used for over 1.8m journeys in 2024, whereas

South Woodford station – which was made

step-free in 2019 – facilitated over 4m journeys.

Visit swvg.co.uk/stepfree

Ride Redbridge: join a family-friendly

bike ride from Woodford to Fairlop

Ray Park in Woodford will be one of nine

starting points for Ride Redbridge on

11 May, a borough-wide event forming

part of the London Cycling Festival. “Join

a fully marshalled, gently paced ride to

Fairlop Waters, where riders from all over

Redbridge will come together for a picnic,”

said a spokesperson for the Redbridge Cycling

Campaign. Cyclists will meet at the James Leal

Café and depart the park at 11.15am, returning

mid-afternoon. The rides are suitable for all

abilities and all ages. Visit swvg.co.uk/rr25

©Geoff Wilkinson ©Geoff Wilkinson


May/June 2025 13

l

HIGHAMS

P L A Y E R S

A M A T E U R D R A M A T I C A S S O C I A T I O N

S I N C E

19 3 9

Three Jewish widows who are close friends meet once a month for tea

before going to visit their husbands' graves. However, Ida feels ready

to move on and Lucille wants to play the field while Doris will never get

over losing the man she loves. One day they meet Sam who is visiting

his wife's grave. Will romance blossom and with whom, or will Sam be

dominated by their friend Mildred?

“Join us for this touching, humorous and poignant play set in New York”

DIRECTED BY DENNIS JOYCE

WANSTEAD HOUSE

21 THE GREEN

WANSTEAD

E11 2NT

Wanstead House

21 The Green

Wanstead

E11 2NT

DOORS OPEN 30 MINS

BEFORE CURTAIN UP

8PM THURSDAY 29 MAY

PLEASE NOTE NEW SATURDAY CURTAIN UP TIMES

8pm Thursday & Friday

2.30pm 8PM FRIDAY Saturday 30 matinee MAY

7.30pm Saturday evening

Evenings

Matinee

£10 Adults £8 Adults

£5 Children £4 Children

2PM SATURDAY 31 MAY

7PM SATURDAY DOORS 31 OPEN: MAY30 minutes before Curtain Up

£10 ADULTS

£5 CHILDREN

INC PROGRAMME &

REFRESHMENTS

@highams_players

BOX OFFICE: 020 8924 6987

RESERVE YOUR TICKETS WITH THE BOX OFFICE

020 8924 6987 / boxoffice@highamsplayers.co.uk

Email: boxoffice@highamsplayers.co.uk

or on the door before performances


14


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16


Eighty

years

ago,

South

Woodford

residents

joined the

nation in

celebrating VE

Day and the end

of six painful years

of war.

By the time war had been declared

in September 1939, South Woodford, like

many other towns across the nation, had

been preparing in case of conflict. The local

borough had founded a community Civil

Defence Service in March 1936 and when war

was announced, 43 wardens’ posts, spread

across six districts, were quickly confirmed.

It was post 21 – located at The Shrubberies,

George Lane – who were tasked to deal with

one of South Woodford’s most demanding

incidents in the early hours of 14 October

1940. Two high-explosive bombs fell onto

the train crossing, causing serious damage

to the tracks and adjoining subway that was

then under construction. On that occasion,

no casualties were recorded. However, the

residents of South Woodford would not

always be so lucky.

Less than two months later, a mine exploded

in Wordsworth Avenue, killing 12 people and

injuring 41. Sixteen of those injured required

hospital treatment and were likely

collected by volunteers based

at the nearby Cowslip Road

School (since renamed

Oakdale Infant School),

who would transport

victims to the nearest

hospital. Later in the

war, the school was

used as an emergency

feeding store and

suffered severe damage

in January 1945 when a

long-range rocket fell in

Woodville Road. Sadly, that

5 incident alone injured 90 people

and claimed the lives of a further 18,

1

including a small

girl found crushed

beneath a fallen

chimney stack.

Another young

South Woodford

resident to lose their

life during the war was

seven-year-old Arthur

Bartaby of 8 Stanley Road.

Arthur was one of four children

of Ada and George Bartaby that

were evacuated to Barnstaple in July 1939.

One morning in September 1940, while in the

kitchen of the Hawkins family with whom he

stayed, Arthur fell and damaged the base of

his brain, passing away a day later.

Another local site utilised during the war

was Holy Trinity Church, whose hall served

as a rest centre to provide accommodation

for bombed-out families. The church itself

received damage when its splendid east

windows – donated in the 1890s by the Nutter

sisters, well-known local philanthropists –

were blown out. A replacement was designed

by Hugh Easton and dedicated by Reverend

Hugh Gough, the Bishop of Barking,

on 22 April 1950. Two months earlier,

a new electrical installation in the

church had been dedicated to

“the memory of the men and

women who lost their lives

during the Second World War,”

as a plaque still visible on the

interior west wall records. One

of those men was David Scott

Shearman Wilkerson, an RAF

pilot who passed away in a crash

at Tedsmore Hill, Shropshire, in

September 1944. Prior to the war,

Wilkerson had run the 17th Epping

Forest scout troop based at Holy Trinity

and when the church erected a scout hut

to the south-west of their site around 1950,

they named it the David Wilkerson Memorial

Hall in his honour; it still stands today.

For more information on local VE Day

anniversary events, visit swvg.co.uk/ve80


May/June 2025 17

2

4

3

Woodford’s War

6

As the nation marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day,

local historian Davis Watson reflects on the impact

World War Two had on Woodford

1. George Lane

following a bombing

on 14 October 1941.

2. Wreckage in Cowslip

Road after a bombing

on 10 January 1945.

3. South Woodford

Station bombed on

14 October 1941.

4. South Woodford

Station.

5. A postman attempts

to deliver letters to

a bombed South

Woodford home.

6. Snaresbrook Road.

7. The Hermitage,

Snaresbrook

Road, bombed

in October 1940.

8. George Lane,

October 1941.

7

8


18


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20


Tackle the Tags

The rising blight of graffiti tags in South Woodford can be seen on our

streets, subways and shopfronts, but with your help, we can report it,

remove it and restore pride in our neighbourhood, says Rena Pathak

Have you noticed the surge in graffiti

across South Woodford? It’s hard to

miss. From the sides of shops and

bridges to subways and signposts, the

spray paint is spreading fast – and nowhere

is it more visible than Rookery Path along

the North Circular.

As a local resident who cares deeply about

this area, I find it genuinely disheartening.

This isn’t just about untidy walls; graffiti chips

away at our sense of pride and safety. It sends

the message that no one’s looking after our

community. And when one piece of graffiti

stays up, more often follow. It’s called the

‘broken windows’ effect – visible neglect that

invites more antisocial behaviour.

What message are we sending to our children

when they see vandalism all around them?

That this is just normal? That this is okay?

Many of us in South Woodford are worried

– and rightly so. This isn’t an occasional act

of mischief anymore. It’s a growing problem

that’s changing the look and feel of where

we live.

In Redbridge, the Environmental Enforcement

Team works to remove graffiti within three

working days, prioritising anything offensive

within 24 hours. That’s good news – but only

if the graffiti gets reported. They’ve also

trialled rapid-response cleaning and increased

CCTV in hotspots. Offenders face fines of up

to £5,000 and even prison time under the

Criminal Damage Act 1971.

But here’s the rub: graffiti often reappears

faster than it’s cleaned, and the burden falls on

us – residents – to report it. And it’s not always

clear who to report it to. Is it council-owned?

TfL? BT? It’s frustrating, I know.

Still, if we want change, we can’t walk past

this anymore. We need to act, together and

consistently.

Here’s what you can do: download the Love

Clean Streets app from Redbridge Council’s

website (for free). It takes seconds to upload

a photo, add a location and report any graffiti

you see. Whether it’s on a shopfront or a

subway wall, report it. Every time. Your report

will be automatically sent to the relevant team

at Redbridge Council to deal with. You will

even be able to track the progress and will be

notified as soon as the issue is resolve. (You

can also use the app to report fly-tipping,

potholes, abandoned cars, dog mess and

other issues.)

If we all take that extra minute to report

what we see, we can turn this around. It’s

what being a community is all about. South

Woodford deserves better. Let’s fight back

with action, not apathy.

To download the Love Clean Streets app,

visit swvg.co.uk/cleanstreets


May/June 2025 21

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Fill in the grid so that each

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contains the digits 1 through

to 9 with no repetition.

9 7

1 7 5

1 3 2

1 2 7 8 6

6 1

7 3 6 4 5

1 5 8

3 1 9

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Solution on page 32

GEOFF WILKINSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Quick

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Call 020 8530 1244 or visit

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May/June 2025 23

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24


Estate of Confusion

Kavita Rana from local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash explores the

complexities of disputes relating to the right to inheritance after death

and challenges to the validity of wills

Disputes concerning wills and

inheritance can be tricky and

sensitive. When a person dies, their

estate is administered in accordance with

their wishes in the will. If the deceased

does not have a will and dies intestate, the

intestacy rules govern the distribution of

the estate.

There are a number of grounds to contest a

will. One ground considered by the courts

is whether the deceased had the relevant

mental capacity to understand their decisions

at the time the will was signed. A person

making the will must be of ‘sound mind,

memory and understanding’. Dementia and

old age is often a common complaint in

deciding whether the deceased had capacity,

but it is not the only factor. A failure to satisfy

the test could result in the will being invalid.

It is important that any lawyer advising on

the will checks whether the person making

it understands the consequences of their

actions and is of sound mind. If this did not

happen, you may have a claim of negligence

against the professional.

A will can also be overturned for undue

influence. If you feel the deceased was

pressured, forced or coerced into making the

will or the content of it, this may give rise to an

action to declare the will invalid.

If an individual feels they have been

inadequately provided for in a will, this

might result in a claim under the Inheritance

(Provision for Family and Dependants)

Act 1975. The law allows close family members

and dependents to apply to the courts for

reasonable financial provision from the estate

where there is inadequate provision in the

will. Here, the will remains in place but the law

protects individuals in certain circumstances.

The court’s award will depend very much on

the individual facts.

If an individual relied on the deceased’s

assurance of property and acted to his

detriment as a result, the courts have

jurisdiction to enforce the promise and order

the property be transferred from the estate

to the individual, even if the will does not

provide for this.

In the case of Gee vs Gee (2018), the court

found in favour of a son who was cut out of

a promised inheritance of farmland worth in

the region of £8m. John worked on his father’s

farm since the 1970s for low pay and gave

up his own career in reliance on his father’s

promise that he would receive “the lion’s

share” of the farm. Before he died, the father

transferred the asset to his other son, Robert,

in 2014. Despite this, the court awarded John a

52% controlling interest in the farm and a 48%

interest in the land.

Edwards Duthie Shamash is located at

149 High Street, Wanstead, E11 2RL. For

more information, call 020 8514 9000 or

visit edwardsduthieshamash.co.uk


May/June 2025 25

Edwards Duthie Shamash

Solicitors

We are

experts in

contentious

probate

We recognise and appreciate that handling disputes in

relation to wills and the right to inheritance can be highly

sensitive and must be handled with care.

Call: 020 8514 9000

Email: kavita.rana@edslaw.co.uk

Scan the QR code to visit our website

Call us on: 0208 514 9000

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

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28


Framing the Forest

Amanda Whittle introduces Woodford Arts Group’s

summer exhibition All Nature Has Feeling, inspired by

and on show in Epping Forest

© Alison Stenhouse

Following the success of our last two

exhibitions held at the Sir James

Hawkey Hall in 2023 and 2024, we

are delighted to be exhibiting at the

Epping Forest Visitor Centre (The View) in

Chingford this year.

The View not only offers a gallery space on

the first floor (there is a lift), but also has

an interesting and historical collection of

artefacts relating to the forest. Located beside

the historic Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge

and sitting on the edge of Epping Forest,

this venue and surrounding forest have

encouraged the members of Woodford Arts

Group to study the wonderful resource on our

doorstep. The group has drawn inspiration

from the environment, from the historical

landscape and from past artists, including the

poet John Clare (1793–1864) who spent time in

an asylum at High Beech.

We have responded in our own individual

working practices to produce new work for

the exhibition. Our responses will resonate

with our audience, reflecting the need we

all have to connect with nature and allow

ourselves time to absorb the healing benefit

the natural environment can provide.

Our ability and opportunity to express

ourselves, whether on a personal level for our

own peace of mind or to comment on the

current environmental or social issues, is as

relevant today as it’s always been and the arts

play a vital role in this expression.

The Woodford Arts Group, established in

2019, is an eclectic group reflecting a diverse

range of working practices, including

three-dimensional methods as well as

two-dimensional representations. All of the

members, both original and new, have a

common aim to promote the visual arts to our

community. The group meet regularly in an

informal setting.

As a group, we have worked with local schools

and other art groups to present workshops

and exhibitions. We are continually looking for

community groups and like-minded artists to

work with us to develop our experiences with

the visual arts and to share our responses with

the local community. We also continue to look

for suitable venues to meet these aims. Should

you feel able to contribute in any way, please

do get in touch.

The exhibition is free to attend and runs

from 4 to 29 June at The View, 6 Rangers

Road, Chingford, E4 7QH. For more

information, email art@swvg.co.uk


May/June 2025 29

© Ged Rumak

© John Rowlands

© Elizabeth Mansi © Peta Crisp © Amanda Whittle

© Sue Mayne


30


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May/June 2025 31

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32


Crossword competition

Win two tickets to The Wind in the Willows in Wanstead Park

May/June 2025

Across

Down

1. Write together (2-6) 1. Rooster (4)

5. Running wild (4) 2. More ventilated (6)

8. Royal dog (5) 3. Trials and ____ (12)

9. More slender (7) 4. Canada’s capital (6)

11. Type of snake (3) 6. Fixed (6)

12. Foolish, stupid (7) 7. Paraffin oil (8)

13. Great ape (7) 10. Question, probe (11)

15. Spread through (7) 13. Index of terms (8)

17. Young pilchard (7) 14. Moon cavity (6)

18. Floor covering (3) 15. Allow, authorise (6)

20. Opposite word (7) 16. Assert, verify (6)

21. Zodiac ram (5) 19. Russian ruler (4)

22. Three feet (4)

23. Banner, ribbon (8)

The prize on offer: two tickets to The Wind

in the Willows in Wanstead Park on 14 June,

courtesy of outdoor theatre company Illyria.

Enter by 21 May 2025:

• Post your solution, name and address to:

South Woodford Village Gazette,

c/o Wanstead House, 21 The Green, E11 2NT

• Email your entry (subject line: May/Jun 2025)

to: crossword@swvg.co.uk

One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received before 5pm on 21 May 2025.

The winner will receive their prize within 7 days of the closing date. Full T&Cs at swvg.co.uk/tc

Congratulations to Beverly Marcovitch from South

Woodford, who won four Odeon cinema tickets in last

issue’s crossword competition.

Mar/Apr Crossword Solution

G O L D R E G I C I D E

R A E U I

O R G A N I S E R A S H

U G D S V T

N E G A T E E L E V E N

D I R I N

P A N T S B E A R D

U I A L P

F R E S C O S K A T E R

P A C T R A

B O D Y H A I L M A R Y

S S R O E

E O D E O N A M I D

May/Jun Sudoku Solution

3 2 6 9 5 4 1 8 7

8 1 9 6 2 7 3 5 4

4 7 5 8 1 3 2 6 9

1 5 2 4 7 8 9 3 6

6 4 3 2 9 5 8 7 1

7 9 8 3 6 1 4 2 5

2 6 1 5 8 9 7 4 3

5 3 7 1 4 2 6 9 8

9 8 4 7 3 6 5 1 2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10

13

17

11

12

14 15 16

20 21

22 23

18 19

The Wind

in the Willows

Saturday 14 June

The Temple - Wanstead Park

illyria.co.uk


May/June 2025 33


4 BEDROOM SEMI-DETACHED • SOUTH WOODFORD

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odation This FOUR DOUBLE Bedroom Semi-Detached Chalet style Bungalow has been beautifully and

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d double bedrooms, with the primary offering the convenience of contemporary en-suite shower room.

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ly bathroom, just like all the bedrooms, is also generous in its proportions.

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36


Walking in history

Ahead of this year’s Epping Forest Centenary Walk, West Essex

Ramblers’ David Evans explains the background to the event and invites

local residents to join them on all or part of the 14-mile trek

Next time you’re walking in Epping

Forest – the largest open space

in London – tip your hat to the

shades of Thomas Willingale and a host

of like-minded philanthropists, whose

perseverance in the face of rapacious

landowners resulted in this wonderful

walking area remaining accessible to the

common people – that’s you and me. Their

efforts over more than a decade led to

the passage of the Epping Forest Act in

1878, ending unlawful encroachment and

enclosures on Forest land. Today, it has

more than four million visitors each year.

Stimulated by the opening of a railway line

to Chingford, the Forest rapidly became a

magnet for East Londoners keen to alleviate

the hardships of inner-city industrial life with

the Forest’s pastoral tranquillity. Indeed,

throughout the first half of the 20th century,

it became almost a holiday destination,

supplying (relatively) clean air, access to a

natural environment and peace and quiet.

In 1978, two members of West Essex Ramblers

– Harry Bitten and Fred Matthews – devised

a Centenary Walk to acknowledge the debt

owed to the architects of the Epping Forest

Act. Since then, West Essex Ramblers have

each year (excluding Covid times) organised

the Centenary Walk, following the same route.

It runs from Manor Park in the south, finishing

at Epping in the north. The Centenary Walk

follows well-established footpaths (they’re

even named on the OS map) and is easily

accessible by public transport. The total length

is 14.5 miles, which will be within the capability

of many walkers. “Our intention is to make

the walk as inclusive as possible, so we’ve also

built in a series of joining and dropping-off

points that make the walk suitable for families

and you can tailor your participation to your

David Keane kicks off last

year’s Centenary Walk

own walking range,” said David Keane, project

leader for this year’s walk.

West Essex is a very active group within the

Ramblers’ Association with over 600 members,

including many living locally. We enjoy

walking in a variety of locations. Epping

Forest is on our doorstep, but our programme

includes walks in the Essex countryside, the

Lea Valley, London, along the Thames and

further afield, including national trails. We are

very keen to welcome new walkers of all ages.

This year is the 49th iteration of the Centenary

Walk. From little beginnings, it has grown in

stature and we now attract walkers from many

parts of London, Essex and Hertfordshire.

The passing of the Epping Forest Act was, for

many Londoners, a moment as significant as

the Peak District’s Kinder Scout trespass in the

1930s. Willingale and his colleagues would no

doubt be delighted to see just how successful

their efforts have been in opening up Epping

Forest. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.

This year’s Epping Forest Centenary Walk

will take place on 6 July. For full details and

for more information on the West Essex

Ramblers, visit swvg.co.uk/wer


May/June 2025 37

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40


Pressures and Pride

After years of responding to emergencies across East London,

Inspector Nick Sutton is now proud to be part of neighbourhood policing

in South Woodford and all other Redbridge wards north of the A12

After over two decades on the

frontline in East London, I’ve now

stepped into the role of inspector for

Redbridge North. For the past 18 months,

I’ve served as the Acting Chief Inspector for

Redbridge’s emergency response teams,

so I know this borough well; its challenges,

its complexity and most importantly, its

people, both in the community and in the

teams who serve it every day. Taking on

this new neighbourhood role is a genuine

privilege. But I don’t want to use this space

to talk about me – I want to tell you about

the team I’ve joined.

Neighbourhood policing has faced relentless

pressure. Like many other areas, we’ve

been impacted by financial constraints and

frequent abstractions – with officers regularly

redeployed to support emergency response

teams or central London operations. Despite

this, the Redbridge Neighbourhood Police

Teams have stayed focused on what truly

matters: their communities.

They continue to show up, stay visible,

and engage with those they serve. They

solve problems quietly but effectively. They

work with council and housing partners,

tackle antisocial behaviour, engage with

schools and youth groups and remove

dangerous offenders from our streets. They

do all this with limited resources and without

ever seeking the spotlight. That level of

commitment deserves recognition.

My role now is to support and champion their

work. I want to protect their ability to focus

on the issues that matter locally – to give

them the time, tools and encouragement

to continue building trust and delivering

real results. That means enabling their

ideas, reinforcing the impact they make and

Local Neighbourhood

Police Team

ensuring neighbourhood priorities are not

overshadowed by competing demands.

Neighbourhood policing might not always

make headlines, but it’s the foundation

of public confidence. It’s what reassures

residents, prevents harm and creates safer,

more resilient communities. I’ve spent

my whole policing career on the frontline

and seen time and again how strong local

relationships can make the difference in

preventing crime and building lasting trust.

In my first few weeks, I’ve spent time listening

to officers, to partners and to the people we

serve. The message is clear: there’s more to do,

but there’s a strong base to build from. The

challenges are real. But so is the dedication of

this team. They’ve stayed committed, focused

and deeply connected to their communities.

That’s something I’m proud to be part of.

To contact South Woodford SNT, call

07887 626 647 or visit swvg.co.uk/snt

To contact Churchfields SNT, call

07407 492 729 or visit swvg.co.uk/snt

To join the Met’s WhatsApp channel for

Redbridge, visit swvg.co.uk/rwa

© Geoff Wilkinson


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May/June 2025 43

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44


Creative Connections

Local resident Nina Stafford explains the background to ArtHouse Social,

a new charity dedicated to providing therapeutic art sessions for

young adults with additional needs

When my daughter Renee was

born in 2004 with Hirschsprung’s

disease, a genetic bowel

condition, our world changed forever. After

developing E. coli and sepsis, she spent her

first year at the Royal London Hospital.

As parents, we watched anxiously as Renee

grew stronger, but at a pace different from

that of her peers. The developmental gaps

widened with time, and short-term memory

challenges became evident as she progressed.

Mainstream education proved increasingly

difficult for Renee. So, at 13, we made the

life-changing decision to move her to West

Lea, a special needs school in Edmonton. This

environment transformed our daughter and

our family. She thrived, formed meaningful

friendships and discovered a place where

she could simply be her brilliant self, without

pressure to conform.

The transition from this nurturing school

environment into adulthood was devastating.

Renee’s confidence crumbled as the

structure and support system she relied

upon disappeared. Severe anxiety overtook

her, making even leaving the house an

overwhelming challenge.

Today, after much perseverance, Renee works

part-time at Millgrove Pre-School, a position

she adores. The dedicated staff have allowed

her to flourish professionally. However,

socially, a significant void remains.

Throughout this journey, I’ve observed a

critical gap for young adults with additional

needs in our community. The lack of

structured social opportunities, where

individuals can build meaningful connections,

is profound. Witnessing the impact on Renee

has inspired me to create something new.

Renee Stafford

So, this spring, we are launching therapeutic

art sessions in a small group setting – a space

where 18- to 25-year-olds can create together,

while forming friendships in a supportive

environment. Ella Deeks is an integral part of

this journey. With a degree in performing arts

and music, and experience as a teacher before

completing a diploma in child and adolescent

psychotherapeutic counselling, Ella brings

invaluable expertise to our programme. We

are so excited that she will be leading our

sessions. Our vision is to foster creativity

alongside community building, offering

participants greater independence and the

confidence to engage with the wider world.

This project goes beyond creating

opportunities for my daughter; it’s about

building a community. So, we are seeking

young adults with additional needs who wish

to connect with like-minded peers. Our new

South Woodford group begins in early May,

featuring bi-weekly sessions and monthly

outings designed to foster friendships and

independence in a supportive setting. If

building social connections while exploring

new experiences interests you, we’d be

delighted to welcome you.

For more information on ArtHouse Social,

visit swvg.co.uk/arthouse


May/June 2025 45

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48


DD’s 71 st Woodford Diary

Some South Woodford scribbles from DD,

our resident diarist and observer of all things

local. Illustrated by Evelyn Rowland

I

thought I might write about feet. I asked

David what he thought. “I think the idea’s

got legs.” Helpful and encouraging as

always. So, best foot forward!

Feet are ‘on trend’ really. By the time you are

50, you are likely to have travelled 75,000 miles

on them. Recently, my daughter arrived for

a weekend visit. In came her laptop and

overnight bag and a big hug. Then she was

straight out again: “I need another 2,000

steps to reach today’s target.” On your marks.

Get set. Go!

I flagged down Vitaliy from Ukraine as he

was belting up Bressey Grove. Oh dear.

Had I interrupted a time trial? But no, he

was happy to chat. “I began running at 16.

Running is a state of mind. It’s meditative.

All of us are in such a hurry, rushing about

everywhere. I have a young family to support,

lots of responsibilities and concerns. I find

refreshment and a stream of positive thoughts

when I’m out on my feet. It’s not just that:

I’m in a sitting job so I need to get moving

anyway and watch my weight.” A run begins

the moment you forget you’re running.

Bhavesh qualified as a podiatrist 31 years

ago. “By accident, really,” he explained. “By

default. I call myself a failed medic.” (All

this with a beaming smile!) He’s living and

working locally. You can find him at the

Woodbury Practice. “Everyone seems to know

me here. I’m part of the area. You see, caring

for people’s feet means you get to know

complete families, from all backgrounds and

faiths. It’s so good belonging to a community.

Some of my most eye-opening experiences

have been when helping out at the Redbridge

Night Shelter. My son has also qualified. They

are proud moments when we are working

together.” A pedicure

is a little love affair for

your feet.

Betty didn’t hesitate:

“Oh God,” she said, “Don’t

talk to me about feet!”

(I took this to mean

the opposite). “My

feet are absolutely

killing me at this moment! I’m on magnetic

shoe insoles. Look (she produced one from

her left shoe; stunning in blue and green

and purple), they’ve got ball bearings

in them. They’re supposed to relieve

pain and correct alignment.” Max, short

for Maxine, was listening close by

and joined in: “I once fell off my lovely

wedge clogs. I was terrified of them

and decided never to wear them again.

But foolishly, I did and fell over again

in a beautiful park in Spain. That was

enough; I threw them away.” There’s one

good thing about tight shoes; they make

you forget your other troubles.

I encountered John after spotting an

advert for East London Reflexology. I

tracked him down in his bijou studio

in Station Passage, behind the Railway

Bell. People seem either to love or to

hate having feet treatment. I love it.

John told me something of his past

career. “I trained as a reflexologist after

spending over 30 years in the media

industry with its long hours and highpressure

environments. I needed to


May/June 2025 49

change direction: I discovered reflexology,

and almost immediately knew I had found

my future path. Reflexology involves applying

gentle pressure to specific points on the feet

or hands that correspond to various organs

and systems within the body. This promotes

relaxation, relieves stress and supports the

body’s natural healing process.” The human

foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work

of art (Leonardo da Vinci).

Daniel, in his workshop, just below the station,

gave me an impressive welcome: “You came

in here about eight years ago about a key.”

“Wow! Well, the topic this time is feet. Tell

me, is shoe repairing much in demand these

days?” “Not as much as it used to be. We live

in a throwaway society now. But if customers

love a particular pair, they’ll pay to have

them repaired.” “What about people

with problematic feet? Can you help

them?” “Oh yes, I do some orthopaedic

stuff. Often, it’s to insert build-ups. All I need

is the customer’s measurements. Then I can

quickly sort them out.” When the shoe fits, the

foot is forgotten.

The staff at Creative Biscuit are into baby

footprints. Sophia sat down with me to

describe the technique. “It’s really simple. First,

we brush the paint onto the baby’s feet.” “Can

it be that simple? Do they mind?” “Some

are quite chilled and there’s no reaction.

Some are chaotic and there’s kicking

and screaming. A

spot of ‘sensory

overload’. But

we soon

restore

calm.

The paint

washes off

easily and the

mums and dads

are thrilled with

the precious

footprints we

transfer to a pretty

plate or perhaps a

mug or a flower pot.”

There is no foot too

small that it cannot leave

its imprint on the world.

I was lucky to catch Sara, the principal of

Variations Dance Studio. In 1987, she was

involved at the start of Redbridge Dance Link

promoting dance throughout the borough.

She described the ideal foot for ballet-based

dancing: a big instep and a high arch. Even

showed me a picture. Her enthusiasm was

infectious: “There’s a childish side to me, I

suppose. Years spent with children of all ages

definitely keeps you young! We had a gala

recently, with street dances and ballet-based

characterisations. In May, there will be free

workshops for kids to experiment with in lots

of different dance styles.” Dancing is the poetry

of the foot (John Dryden).

Katie was in Sainsbury’s with two-yearold

Ollie and four-year-old Alice. “Do you

remember their very first steps?” I asked.” “Oh

yes! For a while, Alice was on her feet but

holding on. Then, suddenly, at 14 months she

seemed to say, ‘Right, I’m just going to go!’ and

she walked the whole length of the sitting

room. Ollie started earlier, at 11 months. He

had a role model, of course, but anyway, he

was more of a kamikaze kid!” Every adventure

requires a first step.

To contact DD with your thoughts or

feedback, email dd@swvg.co.uk


50


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52


Age-old myths

David Varney is the manager of South Woodford’s Manor Court Lodge for

the over-60s and is hosting an open day in May to dispel the common

misconceptions about what a ‘later living’ development actually is

There is a commonly held

misconception that developments

specifically designed for the over-60s

are somehow ‘care homes’ or provide some

sort of ‘assisted living’. I imagine that with

many of these developments being given

the title of ‘retirement homes’, they conjure

up images of people in the last stages of

life or, as described by others, being in

God’s waiting room!

Well, with both my mother and mother-inlaw

living in these types of developments for

several years now, I know first-hand nothing

could be farther from the truth, with the

majority of residents having a far busier social

schedule than most! Now, as the manager

of one of these developments myself, I not

only want to set the record straight but also

promote the idea of ‘later living’ to others.

The reality is most people come to a

development like this having had a change

in circumstances that prompts them to

look at their future options. For example, if

their current property is too big to manage,

moving can not only reduce that burden but

also release equity in their current home,

providing some financial security for both the

residents and their families. If a partner dies,

the thought of being at home alone is quite

daunting for many, particularly if they don’t

have any family close by or any other type of

support around them.

Because of the unique nature of these

developments, their market value tends to

be greatly reduced compared to other similar

sized properties in a given area, so again,

the affordability factor can play a huge part

in someone’s decision to move into such

a development. With the properties being

looked after by a management company,

Manor Court Lodge,

South Woodford

residents can sit back and relax, knowing

that if the roof (literally) blows off, there is

someone who will sort that out. Contracted

gardeners keep the gardens immaculate,

window cleaners keep the windows sparkling

and cleaners keep the communal areas

tidy. These are, of course, all paid for by the

residents as part of their service charge,

but they are all continually scrutinised

by a managing company to ensure high

standards. The other added benefits of these

developments that you might not see in other

blocks of flats include access to a 24-hour

careline and people like me, a manager on site

who looks after the building but also looks out

for the residents.

With games nights, cocktail evenings and

other organised events, a sense of community

and companionship are but two reasons

why people over 60 choose to move to a

development like this. Of course, it’s all about

independent living, so you can get involved as

much as you wish. The key point is there’ll be

people around you when you need them.

Manor Court Lodge is located at

169–175 High Road, South Woodford. An

open day will take place on 17 May from

10.30am to 12.30pm. Call 020 8505 8352


BEST MOVE YOU MAKE!

Close to local amenities care of everything

Independant

Regular events

Living

Contractors take

so you have total

Close to local amenities care of everything

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Is your home getting too much

Is your Close home community getting too much

Regular to events manage?

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COME AND FIND OUT IF LIVING IN AN

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May/June 2025 53

so you have total

peace of mind!

MANOR COURT LODGE



MANOR COURT LODGE

169-175 High Road,

169-175 High Road,

South Woodford,

South Woodford,

Contractors take

care of everything

so you have total

peace of mind!

London. E18 2PD


London. E18 2PD

MANOR COURT LODGE

around you?

169-175 High Road,

South Woodford,

around you?

London. E18 2PD


Saturday 17th May, 2025 - Arrive at 10.30am


COME AND FIND OUT IF LIVING IN AN

APARTMENT

COME AND Talk FOR &

FIND Tour OVER

OUT from 60'S

IF LIVING 11.00am MIGHT BE THE

BEST MOVE YOU MAKE!

IN AN

APARTMENT FOR OVER 60'S MIGHT BE THE

Independant

BEST

Living

MOVE YOU MAKE!


Talk & Tour from 11.00am

Contractors take


54


26 - 30 MAY 2025

May Half Term

Activities

Join us for exciting events

this half term!

From fun activities to educational

workshops and theatre shows,

there’s always something new for

children of all ages.

See all summer activities at

visionrcl.org.uk/kidsevents


May/June 2025 55

Community events

VE DAY ANNIVERSARY:

SEE ROCK CITY

An adaptation of a moving wartime play.

Date: Monday 5 to Sunday 11 May Time: 8pm

Venue: Our Lady of Lourdes, E11 2PR

Cost: £25 Enquiries: wansteadtheatreco.com

MAY

5

THE HISTORY OF

SOUTH WOODFORD

A presentation by Gerard Greene for the

Wanstead & Woodford U3A.

Date: Tuesday 6 May Time: 10.30am

Venue: Woodford Memorial Hall, E18 2PA

Cost: first visit free Enquiries: u3a-ww.uk

MAY

6

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT,

GOT THE SYMPTOMS

Using comedy theatre to break down barriers

about Parkinson’s disease.

Date: Wednesday 7 May Time: 6.30–7.30pm

Venue: Wanstead Library, Spratt Hall Road

Cost: pay what you can Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/lgh5

MAY

7

OVER-55s

BRIDGE CLUB

A weekly club. New members welcome.

Date: Thursday 8 May Time: 1.30–3pm

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

Cost: free Enquiries: 020 8989 6338

MAY

8

What’s happening,

what’s on and where...

Are you organising an event?

Let us know... events@swvg.co.uk

Please note: all events are

subject to change. Please

check with the relevant

organisers to confirm details.

Booking may be required.

ON THE BEAT IN

HATTON GARDEN

Light-hearted memories from a Bobby on the

beat 50 years ago. A talk by Chris Foster for the

Woodford Historical Society. Visitors welcome.

Date: Thursday 8 May Time: 2.30pm

Venue: All Saints Church Hall, Woodford Green

Cost: £5 Enquiries: woodfordhistoricalsociety.org

MAY

8

AGATHA CRUSTY AND THE

VILLAGE HALL MURDERS

Murder mystery meets comedy in this WOADS

production suitable for all ages.

Date: Friday 9 to Sunday 11 May

Time: 7.30–9.30pm; Sunday matinée at 3pm

Venue: Redbridge Drama Centre, E18 2RB

Cost: £16.50 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/vision

MAY

9

ELMHURST GARDENS

ACTION DAY

Help maintain this Green Flag Award park.

Organised by Vision RCL and the Friends of

Elmhurst Gardens. Repeated on 21 June.

Date: Saturday 10 May Time: 11am–12pm

Venue: Elmhurst Gardens, South Woodford

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/elmhurstgdns

MAY

10

OPEN WEEKEND AT THE

TEMPLE IN WANSTEAD PARK

Wanstead Park’s visitor centre explores the

history of the park.

Date: Saturday 10 to Sunday 11 May Time: 12–5pm

Venue: the Temple, Wanstead Park, E11 2LT

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/temple

MAY

10

MANOR COURT LODGE

OPEN DAY

Find out more about living in an apartment for

the over-60s.

Date: Sunday 11 May Time: 10.30am

Venue: 169–175 High Road, South Woodford


MAY

11


56


WANSTEAD PARK

LITTER PICK

Hosted by the Friends of Wanstead Parklands.

Date: Sunday 11 May Time: 11am

Venue: the Temple, Wanstead Park, E11 2LT

Cost: free Enquiries: wansteadpark.org.uk

MAY

11

RIDE REDBRIDGE: RAY PARK

TO FAIRLOP WATERS

Join a bike ride to Fairlop Waters for a

picnic. Organised by the Redbridge Cycling

Campaign.

Date: Sunday 11 May Time: 11.15am

Venue: James Leal Centre, Ray Park, IG8 7JF

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/rcc

MAY

11

THE HISTORY OF

UNDERTAKING

A presentation by John Harris for the

Wanstead Historical Society.

Date: Monday 12 May Time: 8pm


Cost: £4 Enquiries: 07949 026 212

MAY

12

CONSERVATION ON

WALLASEA ISLAND

A talk for the North East London Local Group

of the RSPB by Rachel Fancy.

Date: Tuesday 13 May Time: 8pm

Venue: St Mary’s Church, South Woodford

Cost: £4.50 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/rspb

MAY

13

REDBRIDGE MUSIC

SOCIETY RECITAL

The final performance in this season’s

programme features pianist John Paul Ekins.

Date: Tuesday 13 May Time: 8pm


Cost: £12: members £9 Enquiries: 07380 606 767

MAY

13

NEWPORT: AN ESSEX

VILLAGE BROUGHT TO LIFE

A talk by Dr Ben Cowell for the Woodford and

District Centre of the National Trust.

Date: Wednesday 14 May Time: 2.30pm

Venue: All Saints Church Hall, Woodford Green

Cost: £3 Enquiries: 07774 164 407

MAY

14

EVE WRIGHT SCHOOL OF DANCING

Come dance with us

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Call: 07711 718 789

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ALL HELD AT WANSTEAD HOUSE, E11 2NT


May/June 2025 57

ELECTRONIC

KEYBOARD CONCERT

An East London and Essex Electronic Keyboard

Club event featuring Tony Stace.

Date: Wednesday 14 May Time: 7–10pm


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

MAY

14

IODS PRESENTS:

COMPANY

A production of Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking

modern musical.

Date: Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 May


Cost: £21.50 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/company

MAY

15

FOOD, FUN AND CRAFT

MARKET DAY

Stalls in the church grounds from 11am. Climb

the church tower from 12 noon to 2pm.

Date: Saturday 17 May Time: 10am–3pm


Cost: free entry Enquiries: 020 8505 3000

MAY

17

SOUTH WOODFORD

COMMUNITY MARKET

Date: Sunday 18 May Time: 11am–5pm

Venue: George Lane, South Woodford

Enquiries: aceeventsltd.co.uk

MAY

18

A WINDOW THROUGH

THE UNIVERSE

A talk by Peter Bull MBE FRAS for the North

East London Astronomical Society about the

basic principles of relativity and quantum

mechanics. Free entry for new visitors.

Date: Sunday 18 May Time: 1.30pm

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

Cost: £3 Enquiries: stevek1951@hotmail.com

MAY

18

FLOWER ARRANGING

DEMONSTRATION

A Woodford and District Floral Arrangement

Group event. Visitors welcome.

Date: Monday 19 May Time: 7.30–9.45pm


Cost: £9 Enquiries: 020 8508 9765

MAY

19

OPEN DAY

11 MAY 2025 12PM – 4PM

TRY BOWLS

FOR FUN

FLAT SHOES REQUIRED

FREE PARKING • CREAM TEAS • CASH CLUB BAR

NEW MEMBERS & VISITORS WELCOME

CLUB HOUSE AVAILABLE FOR HIRE

Overton Drive (within golf club), Wanstead, E11 2LW

(5 min walk from Wanstead Station) For further details, visit www.wansteadbowlingclub.wordpress.com


58


LAUGH-ABLE COMEDY NIGHT

WITH ROBYN PERKINS

Date: Wednesday 21 May Time: 7.30–9.30pm


Cost: pay what you can Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/lgh5

MAY

21

WE WILL ROCK YOU

(YOUNG@PART)

Redbridge Creates presents a 70-minute

adaptation of the West End show.

Date: Friday 23 to Sunday 25 May Time: 7–8pm


Cost: £15 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/vision

MAY

23

MIGRANT SUPPORT

BAKE-OFF FUNDRAISER

A day of baking and fundraising in aid of

Wanstead & Woodford Migrant Support group.

Date: Saturday 24 May Time: 1–4pm

Venue: Broadmead Baptist Church, IG8 8PE

Cost: £3.96 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/24may

MAY

24

MAY MUSIC FESTIVAL:

VEGETABLE ORCHESTRA

Suitable for children and families.

Date: Saturday 24 May Time: 3pm

Venue: St Mary’s Church, Wanstead, E11 2LN

Cost: £15 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/may25

MAY

24

SOUTH WOODFORD

LITTER PICK

Repeated on 29 June.

Date: Sunday 25 May Time: 11am–1pm

Venue: Community Orchard, South Woodford

MAY

25

TOASTMASTERS WOODFORD

GREEN: PUBLIC SPEAKING

Date: Tuesday 27 May Time: 7.15pm

Venue: Woodford Methodist Church, E18 2PU

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/27may

MAY

27

EAST END LIFE

THROUGH THE LENS

East of London Family History Society talk.

Date: Wednesday 28 May Time: 7.30pm


Cost: £3 Enquiries: 07762 514 238

MAY

28

HIGHAMS PLAYERS:

SOMETHING TO HIDE

The Highams Players perform the

psychological thriller by Leslie Sands.

Saturday performances at 2pm and 7pm.

Date: Thursday 29 to Saturday 31 May Time: 8pm

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

Cost: £10; kids: £5 Enquiries: highamsplayers.co.uk

MAY

29

MUSIC ON

THE HILL

Featuring pianist Felicia Toni, who will play

music by Chopin, Beethoven, Rachmaninov,

and Schubert.

Date: Friday 30 May Time: 6.30pm

Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Hermon Hill, E18 1QQ

Cost: £10; under-18s: £5 Enquiries: htsw.org.uk

MAY

30

WANSTEAD

VINTAGE FAIR

Including fashion, jewellery and books.

Date: Saturday 31 May Time: 10.30am–4.30pm

Venue: Wanstead United Reformed Church

Cost: £3 Enquiries: wansteadvintage.com

MAY

1 JUN 3 JUN 3 JUN

31

NATURE-BASED

MEMORY CAFÉ

Providing hands-on access to nature items,

story gathering and singing for those living

with dementia and their carers.

Date: Sunday 1 June Time: 2–3.30pm


Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/naturecafe

NANCY WAKE:

A TRULY REMARKABLE SPY

A presentation by Paul Barwick for the

Wanstead & Woodford U3A. Visitors welcome.

Date: Tuesday 3 June Time: 10am


Cost: first visit free Enquiries: u3a-ww.uk

BEREAVEMENT CAFÉ

AFTERNOON SESSION

Date: Tuesday 3 June Time: 2–3pm




May/June 2025 59

A warm welcome from

Frank Lampard Snr...

NIGHTINGALE

on the green

Function Room

For Hire

With No Hire Charge

Host your next event for up to 150 at Nightingale On

The Green. Perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, wakes,

family gatherings or corporate events, our space

offers a warm, inviting atmosphere. With delicious

catering options and attentive service, we’ll ensure

your special occasion is memorable.

51 Nightingale Lane, Wanstead, E11 2EY

Call us: 020 8530 4683

nightingaleonthegreen.co.uk

@NIGHTINGALEONTHEGREEN


60


WOODFORD ARTS GROUP’S

SUMMER EXHIBITION

This exhibition by local artists is inspired by

Epping Forest. Closed on Mondays.

Date: Wednesday 4 to Sunday 29 June

Time: 10am–4pm

Venue: The View, Chingford, E4 7QH

Cost: free Enquiries: art@swvg.co.uk

JUN

4

HAVEN HOUSE SPARKLE

WALK 2025

Date: Friday 6 June Time: 5–11.30pm

Venue: Woodford Rugby Club, IG8 9LB

Cost: £10 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/sparkle25

JUN

6

CHURCHFIELDS SCHOOL

SUMMER FAYRE

Date: Saturday 7 June Time: 12–4pm

Venue: Churchfields, South Woodford, E18 2RB

Cost: £2; kids: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/cpta

JUN

7

WALK FROM BUCKHURST

HILL TO SNARESBROOK

Hosted by the West Essex Ramblers.

Date: Sunday 8 June Time: 10.30am–1.30pm

Venue: meet at Buckhurst Hill station

Cost: first walk free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/wer

JUN

8

SOUTH WOODFORD

JUMBLE TRAIL

Stallholders must register by 1 June (£5).

Date: Sunday 8 June Time: 12–4pm

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/swjt

JUN

8

OPEN GARDEN IN

SOUTH WOODFORD


Venue: 68 Derby Road, South Woodford, E18 2PS

Cost: £4 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/sw25

JUN

8

SECRETS OF A WILDLIFE

PHOTOGRAPHER

A talk for the North East London Local Group

of the RSPB by Nick Martin.

Date: Tuesday 10 June Time: 8pm


Cost: £4.50 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/rspb

JUN

10

REDBRIDGE CREATES

PRESENTS: FINDING NEMO JR

A 60-minute musical adaptation of the movie.

Date: Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 June

Time: 6–7pm



JUN

11

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS

IN WANSTEAD PARK

An open-air performance by Illyria.

Date: Saturday 14 June Time: 3pm

Venue: the Temple enclosure, Wanstead Park

Cost: £18 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/14june

JUN

14

CONCERT: THE

ROMANTIC IMPULSE

A selection of vocal and instrumental music.

Date: Saturday 14 June Time: 7.30pm


Cost: £10 Enquiries: 020 8505 3000

JUN

14

WILDLIFE WEEKEND IN

WANSTEAD PARK

A weekend of free activities organised by the

Wren Wildlife Group.

Date: Saturday 21 to Sunday 22 June

Venue: Wanstead Park, E11 2LT

Cost: free Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/wren

JUN

21

GLOBAL THEATRE COMPANY

PRESENTS: BOUNCERS

A fast-paced comedy about nightclub culture.

Date: Friday 27 to Saturday 28 June



JUN

27

OAKDALE INFANT AND

JUNIOR SUMMER FETE

Date: Saturday 28 June Time: 12–3.30pm

Venue: Oakdale School, South Woodford, E18 1JX

JUN

28

OPEN GARDEN IN

WOODFORD GREEN


Venue: 19 Rokeby Gardens, Woodford Green

Cost: £4 Enquiries: swvg.co.uk/sw25

JUN

29


May/June 2025 61

Have fun, get active, make a difference

SPARKLE WALK

Friday 6 June, 6.30pm

10k and 15k walks

Starts and finishes at Woodford Rugby Club

Sign up now

havenhouse.org.uk/sparklewalk

Charity number 1044296


62


Local community groups

ALLAN BURGESS CENTRE

Age UK activity centre offering a range

of activities for the over-55s. Located at

2 Grove Park, Wanstead. Call 020 8989 6338

FRIENDS OF WANSTEAD PARKLANDS

Researching and promoting Wanstead Park.

Visit wansteadpark.org.uk

NCT REDBRIDGE & DISTRICT

Offering support and information to parents

and parents-to-be. Call 0300 330 0700

ROTARY CLUB OF LEYTONSTONE

AND WOODFORD

Meeting every Thursday at 6.30pm at The

Royal Oak, Chingford. Call 020 3597 2921

SCOTTISH DANCING FOR FUN

Mondays from 8pm at St Barnabas Church.

No partners needed. Call 020 8504 3376

Creative

Giftware

A family business based in Wanstead, specialising in

embroidered homeware and gifts for all occasions

Call: 0208 530 1244

84 Nightingale Lane, Wanstead, E11 2EZ

SOUTH WOODFORD BUSINESS NETWORK

Providing a voice for South Woodford’s

businesses and networking opportunities.

Visit swvg.co.uk/swbn

SOUTH WOODFORD GARDENERS

Tending to and improving the flower beds

across the local area. Visit swvg.co.uk/swg

SOUTH WOODFORD SOCIETY

Making South Woodford a better place to live.

Visit sowosoc.org

ST BARNABAS CHURCH LUNCHEON CLUB

Every Friday, 12 noon to 2pm at St Barnabas

Church Hall, 127 Snakes Lane East. All over-55s

welcome. Cost: £4. Call 020 8491 1134

ULTRASOUND CHOIR

Female choir singing a wide repertoire every

Tuesday at Derby Road Methodist Church

from 7.30pm. Call 07799 196 241

WANSTEAD AND WOODFORD

CENTENARY FILM CLUB

Meets on the first Monday of each month

(except August), 12.30pm at the Odeon, South

Woodford (the cinema’s usual charges apply).

Email weafilmclub18@gmail.com

WANSTEAD AND WOODFORD U3A

Meeting on the first Tuesday of the month

with a range of groups and social activities.

For anyone over 55 and not in full-time

employment. First visit is free. Visit u3a-ww.uk

WOODFORD AND WANSTEAD

PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY

Meeting virtually or at Wanstead House every

Monday. Visit swvg.co.uk/wwps

WOODFORD ARTS GROUP

All Woodford-based artists are welcome to

apply to join. Visit swvg.co.uk/wag

WOODFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Stimulating interest in the history of the local

area. Visit woodfordhistoricalsociety.org


May/June 2025 63

Holiday Activities

Next Course:

17th Feb 2025 to 21st Feb 2025,

09:00 to 18:00 each day,

At Sylvestrian Leisure Centre

tact us

6526

.co.uk

.co.uk

sylvestrian-leisure.co.uk

enquires@sylvestrian-leisure.co.uk

www.sylvestrian-leisure.co.uk

020 8509 6526

enquires@sylvestrian-leisure.co.uk

Sylvestrian Leisure Centre, Forest School,

College Place, London, E17 3PY

0208 509 6526

HALF TERM

CAMP DATES:

Summer 2022 Camp

Dates:

Tuesday Monday 2711th May July until until

Friday 26th 30 May August

Book Now!

Book Now!


64


Useful numbers

ADVICE & SUPPORT

Age UK 020 8220 6000

Citizens Advice Redbridge 0808 278 7872

Samaritans116 123

HEALTH

NHS 111 111

Elmhurst Practice 020 8491 3310

Glebelands Practice 020 8989 6272

Out of hours GP 020 3770 1888

Shrubberies Medical Centre 020 8530 4108

South Woodford Health Centre 020 8491 3333

Southdene Surgery 020 8530 3731

The Broadway Surgery 020 8505 3204

Whipps Cross Hospital 020 8539 5522

LEISURE & LIBRARIES

Redbridge Drama Centre 020 8708 8800

Wanstead Leisure Centre 020 8989 1172

Wanstead Library 020 8708 7400

Woodford Green Library 020 8708 7444

5 bcope holiday London. short & in long-term London

luxury let servicizd service holiday rizntal in Wanstead

properfa?5 in Won.steod

=DbV

Developments

4 Bed House 2 Bed Apartment 1 Bed Apartment

@dovehousedevelopments WhatsApp: 07813656479

ma:;:ii: h ia o {?;;t::;r;, e ;·uJ 1f!\ r :;our

property managed, please get in contact.

·-;,,..::...-

Escape London, in London

@dovehousedevelopments

WhatsApp: 07813 656 479

in South Woodford

LOCAL COUNCILLORS South Woodford ward

Beverley Brewer (Lab) 020 8554 5000

beverley.brewer@redbridge.gov.uk

Joe Hehir (Lab) 07741 904 709

joe.hehir@redbridge.gov.uk

Saiqa Qayum Hussain (Lab) 07918 277 502

saiqa.qayum@redbridge.gov.uk

LOCAL COUNCILLORS Churchfields ward

Lloyd Duddridge (Lab) 07799 579 763

lloyd.duddridge@redbridge.gov.uk

Rosa Gomez (Ind) 07799 057 030

rosa.gomez@redbridge.gov.uk

Guy Williams (Lab) 07918 278 865

guy.williams@redbridge.gov.uk

LOCAL MP Chingford and Woodford Green

Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP (Con) 020 7219 2667

iainduncansmith.org.uk

LOCAL MP Leyton and Wanstead

Calvin Bailey MP (Lab) 020 7219 7417

calvin.bailey.mp@parliament.uk

POLICE & NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Emergency 999

Non-emergency 101

Crimestoppers0800 555 111

South Woodford SNT 07887 626 647

SNTJI-South-Woodford@met.police.uk

Churchfields SNT 07407 492 729

SNTJI-Churchfields@met.police.uk

REDBRIDGE COUNCIL

Adult Social Service 020 8708 7333

Children’s Services 020 8708 3885

Council Tax enquiries 020 8708 5670

Customer contact centre 020 8554 5000

UTILITIES

Electricity (power cut) 105

Electricity emergency 0800 40 40 90

Gas emergency0800 111 999

Thames Water (report a leak)0800 714 614

• / /


May/June 2025 65

9

48

local feature

articles

17

local news

stories

local events

listed

56

local businesses

promoted

11,000

copies delivered to homes

1,000

copies in

the stands

1 community magazine

Be part of the community.

Be part of the South Woodford Village Gazette.

swvg.co.uk/advertise


66

ACCOUNTANTS

Tax Assist Accountants 9

ARCHITECTS

Loud Architects 18

BATHROOMS

Bathworks 47

BOILER SERVICING

Prime Property Repairs 22

Rightio Plumbing & Heating 42

BUILDERS

Finch Contracts 38

North London Loft Rooms33

CARE HOMES

Chestnut Manor Care Home 38

CARPENTRY & JOINERY

K&D Joinery 39

Woodthorpe Joinery2

CARPET CLEANING

Safeclean Chigwell50

CHARITIES

Haven House Children's Hospice61

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

May Half-Term Activities54

Sylvestrian Leisure Centre 63

The Wind in the Willows 32

CONSERVATORIES

Best Double Glazing26

CONSULTING ROOMS

Lily House 67

DANCE

Eve Wright School of Dancing 56

DECORATORS

E18 Handyman26

Stuart Green Property Solutions18

DENTIST

Smile in London27

Woodford House Dental Practice68

DOORS

K&D Joinery 39

DRIVEWAYS

Lancasters Gardencare45

ELDERLY CARE

Chestnut Manor Care Home 38

Radfield Home Care 11

EMBROIDERY

Creative Giftware62

ESTATE AGENTS

Churchill Estates34–35

Yellands42


– Index of advertisers –

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Epping Forest Centenary Walk 37

In Ilford51

May Half-Term Activities54

See Rock City 19

Something To Hide13

South Woodford Jumble Trail 4

Sparkle Walk61

The Wind in the Willows 32

Wanstead Bowling Club57

FENCING


FITNESS

Fit For All37

Group Exercise Classes5

Pilates by Charles7


FUNERAL DIRECTORS

Compassionate Funerals46

GARAGE SERVICES

Belgrave Motor Services46

Dipstick’s Tyres & Exhausts 8

Woodbridge Autos41

GARDENS & LANDSCAPING


GIFTS

Creative Giftware62

GRIEF CAFE

Wanstead Library Grief Cafe 43

GUTTERING

GB Pro Maintenance 21

HANDYMAN

E18 Handyman26


HOLIDAY PROPERTIES

Dovehouse Developments 64

INTERIOR DESIGN

Loud Architects 18

JOB VACANCIES

Public Sector Recruitment 30

LOFTS


OSTEOPATHS

The Osteopathy Centre 30

OVER-60s APARTMENT

Manor Court Lodge 53

PHOTOGRAPHY

Geoff Wilkinson 22

PILATES

Pilates by Charles7

PLUMBING & HEATING

Prime Property Repairs 22

Rightio Plumbing & Heating42

POLITICS

Calvin Bailey MP 26

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

E18 Handyman26

Finch Contracts 38



PROPERTY SERVICES

Churchill Estates34–35

Yellands42

PUBS

Nightingale on the Green 59

RECRUITMENT & CAREERS

Public Sector Recruitment 30

ROOFING

GB Pro Maintenance 21

SCHOOLS & NURSERIES

Avon House Preparatory School31

Woodford Green Prep School 23

SOLICITORS

Crown Law Solicitors14–15

Edwards Duthie Shamash 25

SPORT & LEISURE


Wanstead Bowling Club57

West Essex Ramblers37

STAIRS

K&D Joinery 39

THEATRE

Highams Players13

Illyria 32

Wanstead Theatre Co19

TUITION & COURSES

11+ Centre10

MagiKats50

VENUE & ROOM HIRE

Lily House 67

Nightingale on the Green 59

WARDROBES

Woodthorpe Joinery2

WINDOWS

Best Double Glazing26

McCarty & Smith 1

WINDOW SHUTTERS

Woodthorpe Joinery2

YOGA

Yanar Mind & Movement 12


May/June 2025 67

Luxury, fully serviced

consulting, treatment

and business rooms

in the heart of

South Woodford

Ideal for therapists,

counsellors, aestheticians,

doctors, businesses seeking

room hire inclusive of

all utilities, fully manned

reception and WiFi

Now introducing ‘private boardroom’

corporate breakfasts & lunches available

www.lilyhouse.com

Tel: 020 8530 8888


Independent directory of businesses, news and events in and around South Woodford

May/Jun 2025

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