December 2022

Santa will embark on a pre-Christmas tour of Wanstead this month, chauffeured through the streets by Elf Steve Hayden aboard his Parker Dairies milk float.

“You can’t beat seeing how much children enjoy seeing Santa. It’s a fun community event that makes everyone smile and injects a bit of magic into Christmas. Please have some change ready for the elves’ collection buckets,” said organisers Amy Moore and Áine Burke.

Santa’s drive-by through Wanstead will take place on 21 December, covering 31 roads from 4.30pm.

“Huge thanks to Parker Dairies, North London Loft Rooms and Terry Tew Sound and Light for supporting this event.”

Funds raised will support local schools and local charities.

Wanstead route, 21 December

• 4:30pm-5:00pm: Gordon Road, Highstone Avenue, Cambridge Park Road, Dangan Road, Addison Road, Spratt Hall Road
• 5:00pm-5:30pm: Wanstead Place, Wanstead High Street, The Avenue, Gloucester Road, Buckingham Road, Hereford Road, Leicester Road
• 5:30pm-6:00pm: Warwick Road, Rutland Road, Grosvenor Road, Nightingale Lane, Rodney Road, Elmcroft Road
• 6:00pm-6:30pm: Deynecourt Gardens, Eaton Rise, Lorne Gardens, Elmcroft Road, Cowley Road, Wellesley Road, Halstead Road
• 6:30pm-7:00pm: Nelson Road, Wellesley Road, Wanstead High Street, Hermon Hill, Alexandra Road

All timings are approximate & subject to change

Local volunteer bakers will be making Christmas cakes this December to raise money for Haven House Children’s Hospice.

It follows the success of last year’s appeal, which saw 42 cakes sold in exchange for a donation to the Woodford Green charity, raising £1,210.

“Thanks to all who continue to support this cause. If you would like to order a Christmas cake, please get in touch by 11 December to arrange local delivery,” said organiser Sarah-Jane Mendonça.

Email havenhousechristmascakes@gmail.com 

Like Santa, December is a busy month for Wanstead resident Frank Charles BEM, who’ll once again soon be delivering presents to sick children. Unlike Santa, Frank needs your help to fill his sack with toys 

The Frank Charles Give a Gift Appeal has had a very eventful 2022, granting wishes to children with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses throughout the year, delivering supplies to families in need and supporting rough sleepers with food and clothing via the other branch of my charity, Feed the Streetz.

I began the Frank Charles Give A Gift Appeal in 2004 and we celebrated its seventh anniversary as a registered charity last month. 

As a child, I spent several years in Great Ormond Street Hospital and it was pretty miserable being in there over Christmas. Many years later, my first son, Ashley, passed away from the same illness that had blighted my early childhood, and it is in his memory that I decided to try and brighten the lives of children who were too ill to go home over the festive period. So, every year since 2004, I deliver Christmas presents to sick children at Acorn Ward in Whipps Cross Hospital.

Wanstead residents have always been very supportive of my charity, with donations of toys, clothing, furniture and financial contributions, which have helped so many families in the East End of London. A special thank you to Elsa Arnold for hosting a quiz night last month at the Leytonstone Tavern, raising funds for my annual Christmas toy appeal (and congratulations to Wanstead Warriors who were victorious in the quiz and kindly donated their winnings to the appeal). And thanks also to John Wagstaff from Petty Son & Prestwich for making a kind donation to the cause.

Ali from Wanstead Pharmacy has once again offered to accept unwrapped presents at the shop for this year’s toy appeal, now in its 19th consecutive year. Books, toys, games and gifts suitable for all ages up to 16 years will be most welcome. The last date for dropping off presents is 17 December.

My Feed the Streetz foodbank has also been very busy this year due to the cost of living crisis affecting the whole country. In May, the charity bought a secondhand van and this has helped so much in collecting and distributing food, as well as delivering donated furniture to those in need.

Finally, a big highlight for me personally this year was being invited to the late Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 25 May with my wife, Paula.

On behalf of everyone at the Frank Charles Give a Gift Appeal and Feed the Streetz, we would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and happy New Year.

Gifts can be dropped off at Wanstead Pharmacy (75–77 High Street) until 17 December. For more information on the Frank Charles Give a Gift Appeal and Feed the Streetz, visit frankcharles.org.uk 

Elsa Arnold, founder of the Spreading Kindness Through E11 initiative, talks about her new role as community outreach coordinator for The Duke and highlights how you can help her spread festive cheer

When I started the Spreading Kindness Through E11 initiative with Mark Mountney at the age of 16, I never thought it would have grown to what it is now, four years later. I’m extremely grateful to every business that has worked with us during that time and excited to be bringing some Christmas cheer to the Wanstead alongside The Duke and Leytonstone Tavern as their new community outreach coordinator.

We hope that by working together we will be able to reach even more people in need in both pubs’ local areas and support other initiatives and charities which strive to make a difference to the lives of others. 

Here are a few things coming up at The Duke this winter, which fall under their new community outreach programme.

Monday 5 December, 11am to 6pm
We will be hosting a Community Action Day at The Duke, where we invite you all to join us to engage with activities which give back to those in need. For example, we’ll be making and packaging gifts for nursing home residents, and we are excited to be partnering with a new care home this Christmas: Mornington Hall in Manor Park. In addition, we will be providing a space for other community initiatives to include people in their own work, including the Corner House Project. Please pop down and get involved.

On the same day, we will be providing a Christmas lunch to families at Haven House Children’s Hospice, who will join us for some festive fun. If you would like to assist with preparing for this, we would welcome any volunteers on the day.

Saturday 10 December
The Duke’s new Christmas market aims to bring together people in the community and support local businesses. We will be hosting fundraising stalls for our community outreach programme and there will be live music performances throughout the day – we’d love to see you there!

Sunday 11 December
We would like to invite local families to help deliver our gifts to residents at Mornington Hall Care Home. We invite children and their parents to sign up to join us and help spread some Christmas cheer to more isolated members of the community.

Finally, The Duke will, of course, be selling Christmas trees again this year, but this time from the wonderful St Mary’s Church on Overton Drive. So, get yourselves down there to grab your favourite tree.

We really hope to see you at an event soon. If you would like to work with us in the future, please get in touch.

For more information and to get involved, email community@network-6.com