June 2019

Ahead of a series of wool art workshops for children at Wanstead Library, Guli Hamra explains how growing up in Kyrgyzstan provided her with an intrinsic connection to wool and how her creativity unravelled.

My name is Guli and I have been living in England for 17 years. I am originally from Kyrgyzstan, a country in Central Asia. People in my country have traditionally been nomads and they have always used wool in their life.

I grew up where people make carpets from wool, as well as yurts, clothes and many different things which we still use in modern life. In my childhood, I used to help my mum, our neighbours and relatives to make carpets. So, I know how to work with wool!

I used to have lots of craft hobbies until I saw a picture made out of wool on the internet. I couldn’t believe it because it was just like a photograph. My first attempt at wool art was made from my scarf. I laugh at that now, but at that time, I was so proud of myself. And a big thank you to all my family who believed in me and gave me lots of support in my art from the beginning until now.

A year after I started making wool art, I was invited to Scotland by the writer Shahsanem Murrey, to show my work in her project about Scotland and Asian cultures and traditions. That was my first exhibition, which gave me more confidence. Nearly four years on, I am now painting with wool and I run classes for adults and children. My art and that of my students has been displayed in exhibitions in Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Kazakhstan, and at the moment, I am exhibiting a bit nearer to home in Romford.

Painting with wool is the process of creating art using non-traditional materials to mimic traditional painting and drawing techniques. With this style, instead of using paint and a brush, students use wool fibres to create the effects of layering colour, creating texture and depth. The process of creating artworks with wool helps people reduce stress and tension, find an inner balance and reveal their hidden talents.

Wool art is truly unique; layer by layer, we meticulously place multiple colours of wool fibres on fabric surfaces forming landscapes, floral scenes and portraits. The fibres are then compressed under a glass surface, imitating the appearance of watercolours, oils and charcoal drawings. Allow me to introduce painting with wool to your child and ignite the talents that resides within them.

James Knight has been experimenting with colour and abstract paintings since his childhood, experiments which have helped prepare him to take part in the 10th Art Trail Wanstead this September.

My early years were spent in Shoreditch, and I always had an interest in drawing, painting and colour. My family were printers and worked with colour and form. I remember helping my mother spread ink onto a letterpress printing plate during my childhood. The form of the spread ink was one of my earlier experiments with colour.

When I entered secondary school, my two main influences were art teachers Mr Wesley and Mr Swindon. Mr Swindon was a great portrait and caricature artist, whilst Mr Wesley was wonderful with colour and pattern. Both encouraged me to feel free artistically and to experiment.

Upon leaving school, I worked for Panoramic Pictures taking photos of entire schools. Anybody who has had their school photograph taken will know the school is formed into a half-circle, with a camera in the middle on a swivel tripod. The great sport was for boys to have their photo taken at one end and then run round the back of the half circle and have their photograph taken at the other end, appearing in the same photograph twice.

From there, I continued to paint for my own pleasure in between a variety of jobs, which involved interior planning, photography and carpet and fabric design. All of which enabled me to indulge my love of colour. I also worked with the renowned interior designer Jon Bannenberg, who was a master of interiors and colour. He would join ceilings with walls using pattern to make a room flow and create abstract form by stippling feature walls.

The time open to me for painting dwindled as work got in the way, but I was always considering various ideas for when I had the time to put paint to canvas. I have always been more interested in abstract and surrealist art. I greatly admire Edward Burra and Salvador Dali. Burra, in particular, for his interpretation of the human form and Dali for his surrealist approach to the living world that surrounds us. Although, I think every artist must be admired for the amount of thought and work that goes into creating a painting.

Despite missing out on the league title, Snaresbrook FC are still a squad of winners, says Millicent Brown, and they count Frank Lampard Snr among their supporters.

It’s been another fantastic year for the historic local Wanstead football team Snaresbrook FC, which has been playing on the Nutter Field for decades.

Originally named RAFARNO – short for Royal Air Force Army Royal Navy Officers – the club was set up at the end of World War One to provide sporting activities for the local community. Even these days, a fenced-off section with a fir tree remains at the top end of the ground, marking the area where horses and carriages used to drop off passengers.

This season, the team has been competing in one of the top divisions of Essex’s highest-flying leagues – the Essex Olympian Football League – and for a long time looked as though they would end up champions.

Sponsored by local businessman and renowned soccer legend Frank Lampard Snr of the nearby Nightingale on the Green pub, they had a great start early in the season, and even up until mid-season were the top club with games in hand. Sadly, in the end, Snaresbrook lost the Division One title by just six points, ending up fourth in the league, despite having beaten the eventual champions in two games.

New manager Rob Caine, currently taking over from former manager Paul ‘Stan’ Staniford, said: “We have a squad of winners. It was a tough year – let’s move on from it… We haven’t done ourselves any injustice, all our players should be proud of what they have achieved this year. Most of the teams which played us this year – including some Premiership teams – told us we were one of the best teams they had played and we deserved to be in the top division. This coming year is going to be another tough year, but this summer, we have some triallists coming over to the Nutter Field and hopefully they will be signing up with us for next season.”

The Nightingale’s Frank Lampard Snr, who is sponsoring the team once again during the forthcoming year, said: “This has been a great season for my team – and what a brilliant year it has been supporting them! To have such a fabulous club so close to my Nightingale pub is a dream come true – and it is fantastic that we have teamed up together. It’s lovely to have the whole team coming in to enjoy our Sky Sports action at the pub after most of their games. The new season is almost upon us and I am sure it is another year when Snaresbrook FC will do themselves proud and be one of the main contestants for the top spot.”

At a recent ceremony at the Nutter Field clubhouse, the following awards were made:

• Golden boot: Tyriquee Solomon
• Manager’s player: Josh Woodcock
• Players’ player: Chris Huggins

Aldersbrook Lawn Tennis Club held a 24-hour hit-a-thon last week, raising funds for children’s mental health charity Carefree Kids and the club.

“Tennis and social members kept a ball in play during 24 hourly slots; either a tennis ball, a table tennis ball or a pool ball,” said a club spokesperson. Running from 6pm on 21 June until 6pm on 22 June, the event has raised £800 so far and was supported by local bands Replay, Breakfast Bunch and Major 3rd. Located on Blake Hall Road, the club boasts six all-weather courts.

Visit wnstd.com/altc

Residents who have been involved in anti-war movements in east London are invited to participate in oral history project ‘Not on our Watch’.

“We will be recording stories of campaigning, struggling and building relationships within the grassroots peace movement from post-WWII to the present day,” said a spokesperson for Eastside Community Heritage, a charity which promotes an understanding of inter-generational experiences through historical explorations.

Call 020 8553 3116

The new president of a local public speaking club is encouraging any residents keen to improve their confidence and leadership skills to join them.

The Woodford Green Speakers are affiliated to Toastmasters International and meet fortnightly at Wanstead Golf Club. “Toastmasters has helped thousands around the world to overcome their fears of public speaking,” said Pamela Odukoya, who was elected as the group’s president in June. Meetings will take place on 9 and 23 July from 6.45pm.

Visit wnstd.com/wgs

A memorial plaque has been placed in the City of London Cemetery at the recently discovered location of the final resting place of Joseph Merrick, who was exhibited as the Elephant Man in the 1880s.

After his death in 1890, Joseph’s bones were removed of flesh and stored for medical study. What happened to the rest of his remains had been a mystery for over a century, until author Joanne Vigor-Mungovin studied the Aldersbrook cemetery’s burial records in April this year, which ultimately led her to the grave’s location.

The Battle of Agincourt (25 October 1415) will be discussed at next month’s meeting of the East of London Family History Society at Wanstead Library.

“King Henry V’s wet, cold, tired, hungry and scared army inflicted a massive defeat on the French. Their knights charged into heavy, wet ground and were slaughtered, many even after they were captured. But when he returned home, Henry received a hero’s welcome,” said Jef Page, whose presentation will take place on 24 July from 7pm (visitors: £1.50).

Call 020 8554 8414

An annual operatic event will return to Christ Church next month.

“Glamour on the Green is an evening of operatic singing in the church from young professional musicians, with two sessions of music surrounding a 90-minute interval for picnics in the garden,” said a church spokesperson. The performers for the event on 20 July (from 6.30pm; tickets from £20) are: Jessica Norton (lead soprano), Lydia Haynes (mezzo-soprano), George Ireland (piano), Clem Hetherington (tenor) and Tom Mole (bass).

Visit wnstd.com/gotg

Members of the Wanstead Youth Club – which meet on Thursday evenings at Wanstead Youth Centre – took part in the launch of a gardening project earlier this month.

“Participants designed their own plant pots and filled them with their choice of flowers and shrubs. Other plans include putting up bird boxes and bird feeders, which the youngsters will have responsibility for, and installing trellises on the walls for climbing plants to add colour to the area,” said the club’s new leader Keith Cranmer.

Email keithc@essexboysandgirlsclubs.org

More than 20 people took part in a clean-up day at Eagle Pond in Snaresbrook earlier this month.

Wanstead Village councillor Jo Blackman organised the litter pick with the City of London Corporation – who owns the site – after a number of residents expressed concerns about the state of the pond. “It’s great to see what a difference we can make when we work together. A group of residents are now joining forces to make lasting improvements,” said Councillor Blackman.

Email jo.blackman@redbridge.gov.uk

Redbridge Council is consulting residents over the possible extension of the WA and WB permit parking zones.

“Parking in some residential roads in Wanstead is becoming increasingly difficult as a result of commuter parking and displacement from adjacent controlled areas. A number of requests, together with signed petitions, have been submitted… asking for us to work with local residents to develop suitable solutions,” said a spokesperson. The consultation closes on 19 July.

Visit wnstd.com/consultjul19