December 2019

In the second of two articles by former local resident David Williams, the journalist-turned-tour guide and lecturer explains why he often returns to the area – as he is doing this month – to give talks to local groups.

I am not a genealogist but my interest in social and oral history has intrigued me for the past 15 years. After retiring from a career in print journalism and the film and television industry, I was keen to find something which would occupy my time. A casual search on the City of London Corporation website revealed they were inviting applications from people to become tour guides and lecturers. That was for me!

After qualifying as a guide in 2005, I went on a number of short courses about various aspects of London’s rich heritage. So, it was on to Birkbeck, University of London, to complete four years of part-time study in the evenings to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. The journey continued by spending two years distance learning to get a Master’s degree in Sport History and Culture at De Montfort University, Leicester, and finally, a second Master’s degree in Heritage Studies at the University of East London.

At school, history was all about kings and queens, politicians, dates of battles won and lost, the Empire, rebellions… and so the list goes on. Do I get an extra mark if I remember the date of the Battle of Waterloo? I passed the subject at GCE O level but that was all. Yet, here I am, almost 60 years later, living and breathing history, going around the Home Counties talking about London, its people, heritage, status, social development, influence and reputation over many centuries. I am fortunate to meet so many people who share my enthusiasm.

Without doubt, my journalistic background, including a year-long period as a cub reporter on the Woodford Times, has sharpened my instincts for investigation and research and confirmed a long-held theory that everyone has something to contribute to the social mix of how we live our lives now, in the recent past, and even long after people have gone to meet the grim reaper!

My talk this month is entitled Pounds, Shillings and Poverty and will explore London in the 19th century, which was an age of invention, mechanisation, railway building and urbanisation. Fortunes were made – and lost. Squalid living conditions added to the misery of those who also struggled against disease and rising crime. But there were also those who devoted their lives to improving the working and social conditions.

Whether I am giving an illustrated historical presentation on a cruise ship or talking to a small group in a village hall, the message, whatever the theme, is that London has a rich vein of history, good and bad. It’s always worth talking about.

Helping others can be both fulfilling and fun, says Ron Jeffries of Redbridge Voluntary Care, a good neighbour scheme that has been running for over 40 years and is in need of volunteers in Wanstead.

From time to time, most people will know someone who needs help with transport to a hospital, the doctors, a clinic or the dentist. You may be aware of someone who is lonely, sick or elderly, someone who would welcome the company of a visitor.

You may have wondered if you might be able to help but are unsure how to go about it. If so, help is at hand! And it will be both fulfilling and fun for you, and a lifeline for someone who needs your support.

Redbridge Voluntary Care (RVC) is a good neighbour scheme and registered charity which started in 1973 and offers help to any resident of the London Borough of Redbridge. We help residents in many ways, by visiting lonely people, sitting with the sick or elderly when their carers go out or providing transport for people to attend medical appointments. We also take people to hospital to visit their partners or relatives. This can be a one-off visit or a regular commitment. In an emergency, RVC can get shopping or collect prescriptions. We also have volunteers who are willing to act as escorts during a visit to the doctor or hospital. This can be of benefit to patients who are hard of hearing, visually impaired or just nervous.

We have a small band of volunteers able to change light bulbs, check batteries, carry out small repairs, sort out bills or move furniture. However, what we cannot do is gardening, decorating, regular shopping or housework, or transport people who cannot get into an ordinary car.

At present, we have over 100 volunteers. Some act as duty officers, working from their homes for a day once a month or so. A dedicated telephone line is transferred to the home, taking calls from residents who need help. The duty officer has a contact list of volunteers who are able to assist when needed. When a request for help comes in from a client, carer, Age UK or social worker, the duty officer has to match up volunteers to the request and see who is available for the required task.

New volunteers in the Wanstead and Woodford area are always welcome, and we also need more duty officers. The work is rewarding in that we are able to offer help to those who are vulnerable and who need our assistance. Volunteers meet from time to time to share experiences, and so RVC is also a means of getting to know members of your local community.

Are you up for it? Can you spare an hour or so now and then to help someone who is lonely or vulnerable? If you are interested in finding out more, please get in touch. You will be warmly welcomed.

Wanstead Village councillors have changed the venue of their surgeries, with meetings to be held at the Allan Burgess Centre from January onwards.

Surgery times remain the same, taking place from 10am to 12 noon on the second and fourth Saturday of the month. “We look forward to meeting more residents in our new setting to discuss local issues… We also encourage those who cannot join us on Saturday mornings to contact us by email or phone at other times,” said Councillor Daniel Morgan-Thomas.

Visit wnstd.com/councillors

Jonathan Diamond, a partner at Wiseman Lee Solicitors, explains why divorce proceedings tend to spike in the New Year and how couples can avoid falling into the trap of the marital ‘blame game’.

Sadly, January is one of the busiest times for couples to consider divorcing. Some researchers have suggested the stress of spending time together at Christmas can be the final straw for some relationships that have already been under strain.

Whatever the reasons, as the law currently stands, the quickest way to obtain a divorce is to apportion blame on your spouse. In this day and age, it may seem grossly unfair to resort to finger-pointing to end a marriage that has irretrievably broken down.

In fact, earlier this year, the government heralded an end to such practices and instead promised new ‘no fault’ divorce laws. That was back in April 2019 but, sadly, parliament ran out of time to pass the new legislation, and although it could still become law in the future, as things stand, the old – and some would argue antiquated – law remains.

In order to divorce, one spouse must petition the court and demonstrate the marriage has broken down irretrievably as a result of either unreasonable behaviour, adultery, two years’ desertion or two years’ separation (five years if one party refuses to give their consent).Three of these five reasons involve blaming the other party, while the other two require couples to wait either two or five years to split formally. Understandably, many people feel it is unreasonable to have to wait so long.

In a rush to make a clean break and move on with their lives, some couples might consider turning to online divorce. When it was first launched, it made headlines after 13 people used the system to apply for a divorce on Christmas Day! However, even when divorce is amicable, there are real risks in opting to apply for a divorce online rather than through a solicitor. Couples are, after all, making a number of hugely important decisions with wide-ranging implications. Getting it wrong can cause serious issues affecting property, finances and pensions, even for people with relatively modest incomes and assets.

An added problem is that many online divorce centres have a huge backlog of cases, with some reporting delays of more than a year. The reality is that a ‘quickie online divorce’ is anything but quick and could lead to serious problems over the split of assets.

Any couple considering divorcing this January needs to be aware of the effect the divorce blame game can have. Although the current law may mean they can feel forced to blame the other party, even when the couple has simply grown apart, it is important not to let this set an unfortunate tone for the rest of the process. Effective and sensitive communication really is key. This is especially important where children are involved, and good legal advice will help divorcing couples reach as amicable an agreement as possible.

Fundraising for the Wanstead Parish winter night shelter – which will open on 7 January – has reached over £6,600 at the time of writing.

“This includes £2,000 from the Aviva Community Fund, a £1,000 anonymous donation, £250 from the Wanstead Business Network and a multitude of smaller donations,” said Rev Jack Dunn. “People have really got behind the work of the parish in seeking to help some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in our society find shelter and safety.”

Visit wnstd.com/shelter

Wanstead and Snaresbrook Cricket Club’s new nets will be installed in time for the new cricket season.

“Our new nets are now a reality thanks to grants from the London Marathon Community Trust, Sport England and the National Lottery Community Fund, as well as fundraising by club members. Work started in November, with the old nets being ripped up and the initial base for the new nets being laid. The contractors will finish construction of the new nets in time for the 2020 cricket season,” said club chairman Martin Pluck.

Residents keen on beautifying the streets of Wanstead for the year ahead are urged not to miss the 2020 deadline for adopting a tree pit near their home.

“Planting bee-friendly flowers under a street tree will make your road look beautiful, reduce chemicals being sprayed and help wildlife,” said a spokesperson for Wild Wanstead, which is aiming to increase the number of street trees across the neighbourhood planted at their base to support pollinating insects.

“Just email the council by 25 January to tell them the location of the tree you’re adopting and they’ll provide a label to stop it being sprayed. Plant the base with wild flowers, geraniums, herbs or any other small plants.”

Email cleansing.services@redbridge.gov.uk or visit wnstd.com/treepit for more information and street gardening safety advice.

Redbridge Council is seeking feedback from residents as to where communal charging points for electric vehicles should be located.

“The advance of this technology has been slower in this country than some others, but gradually the electric car revolution is taking off. Redbridge Council is keen to support this form of transport, providing charging points across the borough. This is an ongoing process, so expressions of interest are invited regarding possible sites,” said Councillor Paul Donovan.

Email evcp@redbridge.gov.uk

Volunteers are needed to take part in a World War Two community theatre project.

“The Hope and Glory project aims to explore what life was like in Redbridge during the Second World War through performance and research techniques,” said project leader Alfie James. Participants will work towards creating a show to be performed at Redbridge Drama Centre in April. “This will be a fun and enjoyable project, which will bring local history to life on stage… No previous acting experience is required.”

Call 07858 625 622

As part of her Spreading Kindness Through E11 initiative, anti-bullying ambassador Elsa Arnold launched an ‘outreach for loneliness’ project earlier this month.

“We held an event at The Duke, where children designed Christmas cards and stockings, which we filled with gifts for the residents of Cambridge Nursing Home,” said Elsa. “The stockings were delivered by local families, who also spent time at the home to spread Christmas cheer… I would like to thank The Duke and the wider community for their enthusiasm in getting involved.”

Henry Scott stood as an independent candidate for the Leyton and Wanstead constituency in December’s General Election.

Having recently turned 18, he was the UK’s youngest candidate.

“The election has been brilliant, and it’s given me a lot of experience, but also educated me a lot on the issues in our area and in the country. From the homeless to business owners, everyone has problems that need to have a change in the way they are dealt with… I was surprised at some of the abuse myself and other parties received, but I’ve been told that’s just how politics works… I am definitely going to run for a councillor position next time. The campaign has spurred me on and built me up with enthusiasm,” said Henry, who received a 1% vote share with 427 votes.

In the third of a series of articles by members of the Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society, Robert Gibbons tells the story behind this image taken on the South Bank

A few years ago, I had booked to see The Wizard of Oz at the Festival Hall on the South Bank and had arrived early for the afternoon matinee, which was due to start at 2.30pm. I always carry a small compact camera with me and decided to kill time by wandering around on the off-chance of seeing any photos worth taking.

Squeals of laughter drew my attention to an area where multiple jets of water were squirting from the ground at random intervals with children running in and out, trying to guess the right timing in order to avoid a soaking. None of them were successful.

After a while, a couple of young guys spontaneously started to do handstands in the waterjets, and it seemed this might make an interesting shot. However, within a moment, a mother and her small son entered the scene, beyond and between the two handstanders, and I could see that the child was completely enthralled with the action and mesmerised with innocent joy.

As a photographer, you get a kind of visceral feedback when elements combine and the composition feels ‘right’, so I put the viewfinder to my eye, instinctively framed the shot and pressed the shutter to record the ‘decisive moment’ before the scene changed and life moved on.

This picture was accepted for exhibition at the London Salon in 2009.

Although I title this photo Waterjet Handstand, at its heart it’s about the joy of a child experiencing things for the first time, and therefore has a timeless quality. I’m pleased I was able to record it.

Residents are invited to get into the spirit of Christmas with a series of festive events in Wanstead Park on 22 December.

“Wrap up warm and gather at the tea hut at 10am to enjoy a slice of cake and something warming. Join in the carols, accompanied by the glorious sounds of Aldersbrook Brass Ensemble echoing across the Heronry Pond,” said event organiser Gill James. From 11am to 2.30pm, families are encouraged to continue the seasonal celebrations at the Temple. “Children can enjoy stories and Christmas crafts, and everyone can listen to folk music and ceilidh band Storm in a Teacup and local musicians Cliff Oliver and David Thornett playing seasonal melodies on the keyboard. The surprise performance will be a 15-minute Christmas carol.”

All events are free, with donations to Shelter and Friends of Wanstead Parklands.

Residents of all faiths and none are invited to a street party this month, organised by Leytonstone and Wanstead Synagogue, in celebration of the Jewish festival of Chanukah. Martin Gaba reports

On Sunday 29 December, there will be a bracing diet of free latkes (potato pancakes), doughnuts and hot chocolate as Leytonstone rocks to the live music of Menasche and the Shulhoppers in a street party to mark the eighth night of the Jewish festival of Chanukah (Festival of Lights). This will take place opposite Leytonstone bus station on the planting area at the junction of Fairlop Road, Fillebrook Road and Grove Green Road. All are welcome!

This street party is organised by Leytonstone and Wanstead Synagogue (LAWS). It will begin with the lighting of a huge candelabra, the Leytonstone Menorah, with nine stems, for the Jewish festival of Chanukah, which runs from 21 to 29 December this year. Starting with two lights, an additional light is lit every night until all nine are switched on, when there will be a splendid spectacle of them all shining forth. After the event, the party will continue with music and refreshments at LAWS.

Chanukah marks a miracle which took place in 167 BCE after a successful Jewish revolution by the Maccabees against Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the occupying Greeks, in which they recaptured the Temple in Jerusalem. Every Jewish place of worship has a special light on the whole time to signify the Divine Presence. However, there was only enough oil to light the candle for one night in the Temple. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days until fresh supplies could be brought. Over 2,000 years later, we are still marking this event with small presents, candle-lighting and songs.

LAWS is a small, warm, all-age and inclusive, traditional orthodox Jewish community,  with a congregation right across the Jewish spectrum, from those who have no religious belief to those who are observant. We have a robust and stimulating programme, including weekly explanatory Saturday services followed by a meal, wonderful Friday night dinners attended by up to 35 people, Hebrew tuition and workshops on Jewish topics of cultural and religious interest.

All who want to learn about Judaism – whether they believe in a God or not and just wish to explore Jewish culture or identity – are very welcome to attend.

The Leytonstone Menorah is generously supported by the Highways Agency, Make it Local, the Waltham Forest Borough of Culture, The United Synagogue and the Federation of Synagogues. The menorah was constructed at Design Engineering’s workshop in Leytonstone.

In the fifth of a series of articles looking at the work of Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering, Priti Mistry offers advice on how older people can prepare themselves for the winter season

It is that time of the year again. Winter is upon us and already it is cold, and in most homes, the heating has been switched on. However, for some older people who are on a low income, they sadly end up leaving their heating off to make ends meet and to be able to manage their money. Therefore, I want to share some tips that will help us all to get through the colder days and months.

Test your heating
You don’t want to find out your heating isn’t working when you need it most, so it’s a good idea to get your heating system serviced every year in the build-up to winter to make sure it’s running safely and efficiently. Make sure gas heating is serviced by a qualified Gas Safe-registered engineer. If you’re a tenant, your landlord should check your heating system and appliances are safe at least once a year. If you own your home and are on means-tested benefits, you may qualify for a free annual safety check from your gas supplier (although this is not the same as a full service).

Extra food
Keep some extra food in the cupboard or freezer just in case you can’t get out to the shops. Also, if you’d rather stay indoors, you could do your food shopping online and get it delivered to your doorstep. Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering also offer a home support service (paid for) where we can go out and do shopping for you.

Water pipes
Water pipes can freeze and burst, so it’s important to know where your main stopcock is and check it’s easy to turn in case you have to turn the water off. If it’s jammed, you may need to replace it.

Slips and falls
To avoid a slip or a fall, keep a mixture of salt and sand handy to put on steps or paths when it’s icy out. You could try a local DIY shop, or get in touch with the council, as some provide free bags.

Dog walking
If you’re worried about walking your dog in icy weather, contact The Cinnamon Trust (call 01736 757 900). They may be able to match you with a dog-walking volunteer in your area.

Keep moving
Not only is staying active essential for your general wellbeing and fitness, it also generates heat and helps to keep you warm. When you’re indoors, try not to sit still for more than an hour. Get up and wander about, maybe spread out chores throughout the day. If walking is difficult, you can do chair-based exercises while sitting or holding on to the back of a chair. Even moving your arms and legs and wiggling your toes can help you keep warm and well.

Redbridge Council will begin consulting residents next month about plans to roll out the Low Emission Neighbourhood proposals in the local area.

“The area covered will encompass most of Wanstead, bringing changes to encourage walking, cycling and public transport use. The new scheme will also see measures to lower speeds, cut rat runs and reduce the levels of pollution… Make sure you have your say in creating the low emission Wanstead of the future,” said Councillor Paul Donovan.

Click here to view current council consultations.

The death of a loved one is something most of us will experience at some point in our lives, so it is important to understand your duties as an executor of a will, says Hollie Skipper of local solicitors Wiseman Lee

If you have been named as an executor in a will, there will be many practicalities that need to be dealt with which fall to you. At such an emotional time, you may be unsure of what needs to be done.

It’s a common misconception that you cannot act as an executor if you are a beneficiary of the will. In fact, an executor is very often a spouse, child or other family member who will inherit from the will.

As executor, your role is to deal with the assets of the person who has died. The assets often include a house, bank accounts, investments and belongings. The assets are collectively known as the Estate. Once you have obtained the Grant of Probate and the assets of the Estate have been collected in, it will fall to you to distribute the Estate in accordance with the terms of the will and ensure that each beneficiary receives their inheritance.

As executor, the first thing for you to do will likely be to register the death and obtain copies of the death certificate. It is important to request several official copies as photocopies will not be accepted by many of the organisations you will need to notify. When registering the death, the registrar will provide you with a reference number so you can use the ‘Tell Us Once Service’. This is an online service that notifies most government organisations of the death in one go and is a very useful tool. You will, of course, still need to contact banks, building societies, insurance and pension providers separately.

If you have not already done so, you will need to obtain a copy of the will and consider whether or not you need to apply for a Grant of Probate to legally allow you to deal with the assets of the Estate. If no will has been left, referred to as ‘dying intestate’, you will need to apply for ‘Letters of Administration’ to legally deal with the assets. If everything was jointly owned or there is no property involved and assets are below a certain value, probate may not be required. If you think you may need to apply for probate, it is best to seek legal advice to ensure the process is carried out properly.

Applying for Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration involves valuing the assets, paying any inheritance tax due, closing bank accounts, selling property, liquidating investments, settling any debts from the proceeds of the estate, accounting to beneficiaries and finally settling their legacies.

Sometimes, people are reluctant to take on the role of executor. Hopefully, the person making the will would have taken time to discuss the matter with you first. You may refuse to act by signing a Deed of Renunciation. If other executors are named, they will be able to continue without you. Alternatively, you can appoint a solicitor to deal with the administration of the Estate on your behalf.

In the second of a series of articles, local photographer Geoff Wilkinson discusses his new exhibition – entitled ‘Quick! Before it goes’ – depicting London’s East End, an area which resonates with many residents here. Pictured here is Ezra Street in Bethnal Green

Although I have, during my lifetime, continued to be aware of the changing East End, it is only since opening Gallery 84 in 2008 and spending more time exploring the vast area for photographic opportunities that I have realised how much of it has actually disappeared.

Huge swathes of tenement buildings have been replaced by modern dwellings, much better living conditions for the residents, I’m sure, but the loss of the architecture leaves a void not filled by the modern equivalent. Or is that just nostalgic thinking?

Some gems still survive; the Georgian town houses at the southern end of Bethnal Green’s Paradise Row are a fine example. They have survived and live in harmony with the fashionable restaurants and bars that have taken over the railway arches at the northern end.

The shops and houses of Columbia Road remain unchanged since the Victorian era. Its Sunday flower market attracts tourists and shoppers from all over London searching for perfect blooms and garden plants. With the hustle and bustle of a full market, plants being bought and sold, the unchanged shopfronts are the perfect backdrop for the day. Had this example of a market street been swept away, the economic and social benefits to the community as a whole would have been lost.

Change will happen and, of course, it should, but perhaps we should think just a little more before pulling down buildings and thus changing the character of an area.

Living in Wanstead, I never take for granted how lucky I am to live in such a unique place that has people within the community who strive to protect and conserve both buildings and a community environment for future generations.

Saint Francis Hospice is in need of more volunteer drivers from the Wanstead area to chauffeur patients to and from the hospice grounds.

“As a volunteer driver, you’ll be helping fight isolation and loneliness among people living with life-limiting illnesses. You’ll also be sparing them the difficulties of driving or using public transport,” said a spokesperson for the Romford-based hospice, which provides care to people across Havering, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge and Brentwood.

Call 01708 753 319

Wanstead Library will host a Christmas rhyme time session for children under five this month.

“Come along to this extra special festive rhyme time with a special visit from Santa. Enjoy rhymes, songs and stories with your child and meet other parents and children,” said a library spokesperson.

The event will take place on 18 December from 2pm to 2.30pm (free). Regular rhyme time events take place at Wanstead Library on Wednesdays (2pm to 2.30pm) and Fridays (11am to 11.30am).

Call 020 8708 7400

A homeless shelter will launch at Christ Church hall next month.

Open every Tuesday night from 7 January until the end of March, the project is a partnership with the Forest Churches Emergency Night Shelters. Wanstead Parish is hoping to raise £10,000 to cover the costs of the shelter, including adapting the hall kitchen and buying new sleeping bags.

“It is a disgrace that homeless people are still dying on our streets. This shelter is a small but important step to address this,” said Rev Jack Dunn.

Visit wnstd.com/shelter

Local resident Frank Charles is seeking donations of new toys or books for his annual Christmas visit to Acorn Children’s Ward at Whipps Cross Hospital.

“The presents will go to children aged zero to 16 years who will be in hospital over the festive period and beyond, with this being the 15th consecutive year that I have delivered toys there,” said Frank, who founded the Frank Charles Give A Gift Appeal in 2004. Donations can be left at Wanstead Pharmacy, 75–77 High Street, up until 5pm on 20 December.

Visit frankcharles.org.uk

Wanstead Society chairman Scott Wilding explains why the group’s social events are just as important as their work to protect, preserve and improve the local area

The Wanstead Society was formed in 1997 with the aim of protecting and enhancing the built environment in Wanstead, Snaresbrook and Aldersbrook. But for a long time now, we have aimed to bring the community together through a series of annual social events in local businesses.

We have long sought to enhance the local environment by working with developers to ensure good design in new buildings, by planting trees in public spaces and funding gardening schemes across the area. But there is little point in improving the area if we don’t bring the people who live in it together.

This year, we held a summer social in the Nightingale pub, and a winter one in More Italy. Both laid on great food and a welcoming atmosphere, and we would like to say thank you to every pub or cafe that has held one of our socials. We are lucky to be spoilt with such good choices in such a small area.

These are informal events with free nibbles and a drink provided by us. We have been overwhelmed by the support from local businesses who have offered us rooms for free and discounted rates on food and drink. This is our opportunity to thank Wanstead Society members for their support and offer a chance to meet other members for a catch-up over a few informal drinks.

Ideally, we would like to have a social event every quarter in a local venue and open the society up to more people interested in what we do. Our aim is to hold a different event in a different part of Wanstead throughout the year. This is not only our chance to showcase what we do and bring people together to discuss local issues, but also to showcase a local business and what it can offer. The High Street, and its shops, cafes and restaurants, are more than just businesses. They are part of our community too. We need to support our many independent businesses as much as possible, and what better way than over a glass of wine and some good food?

The Wanstead Society has long campaigned for good urban realm and quality design for our area, but there is little point in protecting the fabric of a place if the people who live in it don’t feel part of a community.

Wanstead is lucky in that, unlike many parts of London, it has a thriving community. We hope we can play a small part in bringing people together and showcasing our fantastic local businesses.

If you would like to help us organise a social event, or offer your business as a venue, please let us know and together we can continue to help our community grow.

In the seventh of a series of articles looking at the developing plans for restoring Wanstead Park, John Meehan, chairman of the Friends of Wanstead Parklands, looks at what has been achieved in the park so far and explains what is still to come, and invites anyone who cares about the park’s future to become a member. Ornamental Waters photo by Christian Moss

The present campaign for Wanstead Park was started in 2005. Initially an ad hoc committee of concerned local people, the founders delivered a successful lottery-funded project to raise awareness of the park. About a decade ago, we reactivated a membership-based group called the Friends of Wanstead Parklands, which had been dormant for some time.

The Friends has grown into a dedicated group of volunteers, which works tirelessly with the City of London and other stakeholders to improve the Wanstead Park experience – both for its human users and resident wildlife!

The Friends has constantly been implementing small, much-needed projects to improve the park, for instance, a successful bid for £8,000 of Tesco funding to pay for new picnic tables and benches by the tea hut. They also paid for the restoration of the antique tables in the Temple.

More recently, the Friends also convinced the Field Studies Council to run a two-year education programme in the park for local schools and children, and they are currently agreeing a sponsorship with the Corporation to provide additional signage to help people navigate the park.

We have already been successful in convincing Redbridge to put signage on roads leading to Wanstead Park, which are now in place.

The Friends also runs events throughout the year, including children’s events at the Temple, talks by historians and historical novelists, information stalls at local fayres and shows, music concerts, quiz nights, walks and an upcoming Christmas event at the Temple.

One of the most important jobs the Friends do is to keep the local community informed of the park’s history, ecology and events through a variety of media. Our website is very informative and well used and we also produce four newsletters per year for members. However, our most impactful work is on social media, where the Facebook page has 1,366 members and the Twitter account has 1,867 followers (and 4,465 tweets).

In recent years, our work has focused on attracting a substantial funding package from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and we have played a very active part in shaping and producing a Parkland Plan to guide that work, in partnership with the Corporation and others.

The latest draft of the Parkland Plan has been completed and was featured in the November Wanstead Village Directory, whereas the implementation of the lottery bid awaits the structural assessment of the four lakes in the park, which involves checking their stability under flood conditions (see our feature in the October Wanstead Village Directory).

The Friends committee meets every month to coordinate our work. We are now a registered charity, with stated charitable objectives agreed with the Charities Commission and properly maintained accounts.

Our Annual General Meeting, usually held at Wanstead Golf Club, gives regular members and interested members of the public an opportunity to ask questions about the work of the Friends and quiz speakers from the Corporation of London.

If you wish to be involved in the ongoing development of the Parkland Plan, and actively contribute to the thinking behind it and the local community, please consider joining the Friends of Wanstead Parklands.