August 2024

The Wanstead Fringe, which returns next month, has grown from a small-scale community event into a multifaceted platform for local creativity and culture, writes Camille Leadbeater

Every autumn, most of us dread saying our final goodbyes to summer. Whether it’s the onslaught of shorter, colder days, the browning of the leaves or the inevitable return to school, we all face our own challenges at that time of the year. However, in Wanstead, we are luckier than most, as for us this period marks the beginning of a far more fruitful intermission period – the return of the annual Wanstead Fringe. 

Growing up in Wanstead, I have witnessed first-hand how, year on year, the Wanstead Fringe has developed. 2024 marks its 11th year, and appropriately enough, will have as its theme a phrase borrowed from Picasso: “Once we grow up.”

The Fringe has grown up just as we all have. This year, we can look forward to a host of exciting events all taking place on our doorstep, from the book festival to recitals and gigs, from live theatre to the return of the much-loved Kinema, there is something to tickle everyone’s fancy. Already, this year is setting a new record, with eight different plays being planned as well as more music than ever before. I myself am eagerly anticipating cosying up at The Bull for an evening of theatre.

Many of us will have seen the signs that emerge every summer, teasing Fringe events around the area. I remember last year snapping a shot of one of these posters to send to my friend who lives in a place renowned for its own illustrious community events programme, which she regularly gushes about. “See!” I said, “Wanstead is more than a little village – we have enough going on to support our own Fringe.” Even others I mention it to are shocked that such a small area has the means to produce its own festival of local arts, let alone name it after one of the most famous and renowned cultural events in the world (the Edinburgh Fringe, of course!). 

Consecutive Fringes have shown that Wanstead’s ability to run a roster of fine cultural events is truly remarkable. Credits to the Fringe organisers, venues, sponsors and ticket-buyers, who have helped grow this grassroots initiative into what it is today, a showcase of the best of Wanstead. 

Not only is this Fringe season a chance to enjoy Wanstead’s cultural offerings but also to support local business and community. Many of you will have seen the callouts for more volunteers for this year’s Fringe and will hopefully be inspired to help out in any way you can to make sure this Fringe is once again bigger and even better than last year.

And do keep an eye on this year’s calendar of events so you don’t miss out on what’s sure to be a sell-out schedule.

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit wansteadfringe.org

In the first of two articles, Terry Joyes reflects on his 12-year journey to publishing a book about the history of Wanstead High School, just in time for the school’s 100th anniversary next month

The other day I was looking through some old emails, an exercise in which I’m sure many nostalgic hoarders would find indulgence, and I found one dated 2012. Not all that old, but it was its very content that gave it significance. It was part of the correspondence between myself and the late Patrick Renshaw that had given life to my initial idea of compiling a history of Wanstead High School.

Patrick and I had both been pupils at the school, although Patrick was in the year above mine. We also had two conditions in common: we were both born in West Ham and both enjoyed a love of history, he professionally but I as a professed amateur.

In 2012, Wanstead High School was within two years of celebrating its 90th anniversary. There had been such enjoyment of the 75th anniversary in 1999 that the proposition of a further reunion was indeed compelling.

I was delighted to know, through our correspondence, that a professional historian such as Patrick was enthusiastic to the point of offering not only advice but also to writing an essay to set the historical circumstances in which Wanstead High School was born on 23 September 1924. With Patrick’s enthusiasm raising my own expectations of myself, I questioned, nevertheless, my own ability as an historian to undertake such a task. Patrick spurred me on, although he was in a different league; a widely published author of works on the US and its worker population, he was awarded Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. How could I begin to consider collaboration with one of such stature in academia?

Although subject to an inward constraint, I was emboldened to find my collection of important prime evidence and documentation – most of which I had accumulated before and after the 1999 reunion – could be used as building blocks for a projected book; ideas began to flow. Meanwhile, Patrick honoured his commitment to provide a background history, both political and social in context, and I admit to being flattered when he sent me drafts for my consideration. I came to understand the nature of Patrick’s generosity.

The project Patrick and I were pursuing was due for completion by 2014; but we were to be thwarted. The school found itself in line for a rigorous Ofsted inspection, one which would consume the thinking and attitudes of staff so that all preparatory actions became assessment-oriented. Fear of Ofsted’s visit prior to any reunion necessitated cancellation of the 90th anniversary celebration, and with it was lost the impetus we had shared in producing the book. Our initial enthusiasm was dormant, and as I will explain next month, it took a pandemic to revive our interest.

A reunion will take place at the school on 22 September. For more information and to order a copy of The Story of Wanstead High School by Terry Joyes and Patrick Renshaw, visit wnstd.com/whs100

Joshua Abbott has launched a crowdfunding campaign to publish Modernism Beyond Metro-land, a book documenting 20th-century architecture in London’s suburbs. In the second of a series of extracts, the spotlight is on Wanstead Library. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson

Wanstead was part of Essex until 1965 when it became part of the new London Borough of Redbridge. From 1945, Essex County Council instigated a large library building programme overseen by their chief architect HC Connolly, building new facilities all over the county. However, by the late 1960s, Redbridge began a new wave of library construction, often creating buildings that combined health, educational and advice services.

Wanstead Library was opened in 1969 on a site next to Christ Church Green, replacing a smaller branch library from 1944 on the High Street. The new building was designed by the Architects Department of Redbridge Council, at the time led by Michael G Booth, with the job overseen by D Meyer and B Etteridge.

At first glance, the 1969 library might be dismissed as a typical post-war piece of municipal architecture, a mixture of jutting shapes and sharp angles in dark brick. However, if we look closer, we can see it is in fact an interesting and thoughtful piece of design. The building fits into a small plot between Spratt Hall Road and Woodbine Place with facades facing west and north. To ensure a regular and even source of natural light, the building is arranged in a rectangular plan with staggered facades at the north and south ends. The northern end is glazed floor to ceiling with thin, vertical window strips, dispersing the light across the library floor. Light is also admitted via a series of triangular roof lights which face north, allowing a soft, even light suitable for reading and study.

Internally, the library was arranged in separate areas for adults, children and reference books, all accommodated in a column-free space under a timber-clad ceiling. Adjoining the library is the Churchill Room, intended as a meeting space for cultural and educational groups, with room for 150 people. The hall also has facilities for cooking, storage, offices and changing rooms. The library and hall were opened on 4 October 1969 by Patrick Jenkin, the then Conservative Member of Parliament for Wanstead and Woodford. The library and the adjoining Churchill meeting rooms were refurbished in 2017.

For more information on Modernism Beyond Metro-Land and to support the crowdfunder, visit wnstd.com/mbml

In the 12th of a series of articles featuring the images of local photographers who document the wildlife of Wanstead Park and the surrounding area, Diane Dalli presents her shot of a Little Owl on Wanstead Flats

My hobby is wildlife photography and my favourite subjects are birds of prey, such as Kestrels, Buzzards and Sparrowhawks, all of which can be spotted at times on Wanstead Flats.

There are also one or two Little Owls around in the woods here. They nest in large old trees with hollow cavities and have successfully bred here, as young owlets have been spotted occasionally. They feed mainly on invertebrates such as worms, beetles and grasshoppers and the occasional small mammal or bird. When they spot their prey, they will swoop down to catch it with their sharp talons. 

Little Owls are the smallest UK owls and so are not that easy to spot. They are mainly nocturnal but are also active during the day and can sometimes be seen perching on a branch, especially if the sun is out. They are easier to see when the trees have lost their leaves and there is less cover as their markings make very good camouflage. The giveaway is the pair of sulphur-yellow eyes staring out with a very stern expression.

I was lucky enough to spot this Little Owl in a wooded area of Wanstead Flats one morning in May. It sat there staring at me for some time and I was able to take some photos as it posed, seemingly unconcerned. As I was taking my leave, it blinked, and one of its eyelids got stuck, giving it the appearance of a wink!

It was another unexpected magical moment on Wanstead Flats and the reason I will keep coming back with my camera.

To view more of Diane’s wildlife photos, visit wnstd.com/dalli

Essex Art Club will be celebrating its 125th anniversary by holding an exhibition at Wanstead House this month.

“The Essex Art Club was founded in 1899 and was originally a sketching club for students of Walthamstow School of Art; Walthamstow at the time was in the Essex countryside! Within a few years, the club had separated from the school and gradually became an art club at a more professional level,” said a spokesperson.

The display of members’ work will be open on 31 August and 1 September.

Visit essexart.club

Daveena Seepaul, Head of Residential Property at local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash, looks at some important questions asked by buyers and sellers

Conveyancing is the legal transfer of home ownership from the seller to the buyer. The conveyancing process begins when an offer on a house is accepted and finishes when the keys are released.

The buying and selling of a home is probably the most significant personal transaction that people undertake in their lives.

What do you need to do when selling?
On a sale, your title number will enable your solicitor to obtain title documents. You will also need to provide certain documents such as leases, share certificates for management companies, NHBC (National House-Building Council) and other guarantees, planning and building regulation documents etc, which the buyer will require.

Your property will either be registered at the Land Registry or it will be unregistered. The majority of properties are registered so the legal title is held by the Land Registry. If your property is unregistered, you will need the unregistered title deeds to prove ownership.

Your property solicitors will ask you to complete forms to form part of the contract package. This will consist of property information forms which provide the buyer with detailed information about the property, and a fixtures and fittings form which outlines exactly what you will be leaving in the property. Additional paperwork will be required for leasehold properties.

What do you need to do when buying?
You will need to instruct your solicitor and your proposed mortgage lender at the earliest opportunity. Your application for a mortgage should be made as soon as possible. You should pay any valuation fee your lender may ask for and consider the type of survey you want carried out. Your solicitor will apply for your searches and you will need to make the payment for these searches.

Your solicitor will ask you to provide evidence of your source of funds, which is a legal requirement. With an estimated £4bn of fraud in conveyancing per year, solicitors have an obligation to identify any client who pays money and to know how funds were generated. Being able to prove the source of your deposit and provide evidence are an essential part of the process.

I want to buy and sell at the same time. How can I do this?
Many people want to move out of their existing property and into their new property on the same day. Your solicitor will help to synchronise your sale and purchase, keep all parties informed of how the other matter is progressing and negotiate appropriate dates with them.

Edwards Duthie Shamash is located at 149 High Street, Wanstead, E11 2RL. For more information, call 020 8514 9000 or visit edwardsduthieshamash.co.uk

Members of the Woodford and District Flower Arranging Group will be celebrating their platinum anniversary at Wanstead House next month. Margot Cooper reflects on seven decades of floral artistry 

Some 70 years ago, a group of women met weekly at Woodford County High School and the Odeon, South Woodford, inspired by the flower arranger Julia Clements to create beautiful floral designs for their homes.

These local gatherings developed into the Woodford and District Flower Arranging Group, meeting monthly, entertaining working wives and demonstrating how to create pleasing arrangements in vases, jugs, bowls and any other suitable containers they had in their homes, usually using wire netting or pinholders to hold flowers in place.

In 1959, the many flower clubs and societies across the country joined together to form the National Association of Flower Arrangers (NAFAS). The Association is divided into 21 areas, our local one being London and Overseas. This gives us the benefit of links with flower arrangers worldwide. The club became so popular that there was a waiting list of over 100!

As time passed, the club became an established part of the local community. Members planned and participated in many church festivals and charitable events and welcomed visitors and members to the monthly demonstrations of floral art, as we continue to do today. During the 1980s and 1990s, competitive events were held to showcase members’ skills. These continued, often with other local clubs, until around 2002.

Our members contributed to the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee event ‘London Pride’ in Valentines Park. We have also had the privilege of arranging flowers for a variety of prestigious events in stately homes, garden festivals and cathedrals countrywide, a highlight being Westminster and Southwark cathedrals (which we work with to this day).

Our world has changed dramatically in the last 70 years and this is reflected in our membership numbers, but at our monthly demonstrations (now held at Wanstead Library on the third Monday of every month), many different cultures join together with a shared love of flowers for an evening of harmony and friendship. Visitors are always welcome.

The club also has strong links with Wanstead House Community Association, where classes and workshops are held for those wishing to learn in an educational environment. We will also be holding our 70th-anniversary celebrations here with a lunch followed by a demonstration by international floral designer Derek Armstrong.

The group’s next meeting will take place at Wanstead Library on 19 August at 7pm. The anniversary event will be held at Wanstead House on 13 September (12.30pm; tickets: £30). Email jan.law42@outlook.com

The Wanstead Village Directory and South Woodford Village Gazette have been put forward for an award that recognises businesses which excel in community engagement.

“We aim to support the community in everything we publish, but we now need the community to support us by voting for our magazines,” said editor Lee Marquis.

The Redbridge Social Value Award is a borough-wide category within the Ilford Business Awards.

Voting is open until 31 October.

Visit wnstd.com/voteforus

From landmarks to abstracts, Art Group Wanstead member Barkatun Poland (aka Kalpona) makes the most of the park on her doorstep and maintains a link to her Bangladeshi roots

I used to walk in Wanstead Park before the COVID pandemic, but only occasionally, in spite of it being literally on my doorstep. However, during lockdown, a walk in the park became part of my daily exercise and this has continued ever since. I’ve now experienced it at all times of the day, through all seasons and moods, and it has become an inspiration for some of my most recent artwork.

I’ve always painted, even while working full time in education and bringing up my children, and was one of the first students to enrol in an Open College of the Arts course in fine art. I now have a bit more time on my hands and have become a member of Art Group Wanstead, which has helped me link up with some really talented local artists. 

I paint mainly in oils and acrylic. In the past, I combined both portrait and landscape work. More recently, following my walks in Wanstead Park, I’ve created a series of semi-abstract paintings and I feel this has helped me to best capture the shifting subtleties of colour and shade, as well as my own thoughts and moods. I’ve also painted some of the local landmarks in Wanstead Park, including the Temple, the Tea Hut… and the cows!

I recently exhibited my work at an exhibition in the Hawkey Hall in March and contributed a series of paintings on the theme of bluebells for an exhibition in The Stow Brothers on Wanstead High Street. In the past, I’ve exhibited work in the Brick Lane Gallery and had a self-portrait in the Royal Academy’s summer exhibition for the Open College of the Arts.

Between 2014 and 2019, I set up and ran a pre-school, playgroup and extracurricular project in Uttara, Bangladesh, which included art classes for young people. During my regular visits to Bangladesh I ran classes for children and young adults, which was really inspiring and reminded me of my own childhood when I would always find a quiet moment to draw and paint.

And ‘Kalpona’? This harks back to my family roots in Bangladesh. It’s the name I use to sign my artwork and is the name by which I am known by my family and close friends. It’s my ‘dak nam’ (nickname in Bengali) and means ‘imagination’.

To view more of Barkatun’s artwork, visit kalponafineart.com

A reunion to mark the 100th anniversary of Wanstead High School will take place on 22 September.

“Old Heronians, former staff and all members of the school community are welcome. Catch up with old friends, take a tour of the school to see what’s changed, listen to a programme of live music from pupils and staff and check out our centenary merchandise and historical items from the last 100 years,” said a spokesperson.

A book documenting the history of the school has also been published.

Visit wnstd.com/whs100

The proposed expansion to Wanstead’s permit parking scheme is a threat to our local economy and community spirit, says Councillor Paul Canal, who encourages participation in the consultation

Redbridge Council is hungry for more of your cash, and their latest wheeze is to extend the Wanstead permit parking scheme, with permits costing up to £223 a year.

Our old, well-managed scheme, with its 9.30am to 10.30am curfew, worked well but was extended a few years ago to fill the council’s coffers. This latest ruse is slow death by a thousand incremental expansions, known internally as ‘monetising the roads’. They forget they are our roads and we have already paid for them!

Wanstead is known for its vibrant local businesses, quaint cafés, independent shops and pubs that contribute to our community’s unique charm. Extending the permit scheme will deter potential customers from visiting these establishments due to the added inconvenience and cost of obtaining permits. Reduced foot traffic will lead to a decline in sales, forcing some businesses to cut back on staff or even close. Back-street pubs and cafés face a calamitous loss of daytime trade.

Easy access to parking is crucial for fostering community interactions and social life. Extended permit schemes can hinder social activities by making it more difficult for friends and family to visit residents. Social isolation can increase, particularly affecting the elderly and those with limited mobility who rely on visits from friends, family and carers. Our community’s social fabric is strengthened by ease of interaction, and complicated parking restrictions will further undermine this.

For many residents, especially those on a tight budget or with children at home who use a car to get to work, the cost of parking permits will add up significantly – second car permits are five times the cost of the first permit! It is also regressive – more expensive homes with driveways will still get free parking – it’s those of us in flats and terraces who will have to pay.

Moreover, the permit scheme does not necessarily guarantee parking availability, which means residents might still struggle to find convenient parking spots despite paying for permits. This situation creates frustration and a sense of unfairness among the community.

If you agree with me, you can stop it! The council are ‘consulting’ and if enough people object to their skewed survey, they may pull or scale back the scheme (not that Redbridge has a great record of listening to residents, but we can always hope). So, make your voice heard and say you don’t want to have to pay to park outside your own house.

The Wanstead permit parking consultation is open until 18 August. Visit wnstd.com/parking24

Paul Canal is a Wanstead resident and Conservative councillor for Bridge ward. 

The proposed expansion to Wanstead’s permit parking scheme means residents will be able to park more easily, says Councillor Jo Blackman, who encourages participation in the consultation

My election in 2018 took place against a backdrop of angry protests against council plans for parking permits in and around the High Street. Those opposing warned of the death of the High Street and made vocal protests at public meetings and online. So, what’s happened since?

Parking controls were introduced on the High Street, bringing it in line with other town centres in the borough. This meant more availability of parking for visitors and customers, with a higher turnover of parking proving valuable for our thriving High Street, no doubt also helped by the council’s one-hour free parking. Parking controls were also introduced on nearby streets where they were backed by residents, which means they are able to park more easily. And we’ve had various requests since from residents for parking controls on their streets, which has seen an expansion of the permit zones to other areas in Wanstead where supported in council consultations. It may be no surprise residents have backed an extension of parking controls as we are seeing increased pressure on parking due to neighbouring boroughs introducing restrictions (including borough-wide controls in Newham). This has meant more long-term parking of vehicles from those boroughs in our area.

Wanstead is a fantastic place to visit, and fortunately, it is also well served by public transport – buses, the Tube and improving cycle links too, as well as car parks on Grove Park and at the library, though these may be less attractive options if we offer plenty of free parking on nearby residential roads. Streets closer to stations without parking restrictions are also impacted by people coming into our ward to park and take the Tube into town. 

The council is aiming to keep costs down; the first permit for residents is just £22.50, one of the lowest prices in London. We will soon be updating our permit system to ensure a smoother experience for those applying.

Government rules mean any revenue generated by parking schemes can only be spent on transport improvements, with the bulk of our parking revenue going to road safety schemes and the Freedom Pass and Zip Oyster schemes, which the council subsidises via TfL.

The council is currently consulting on parking controls for Grove Park, The Avenue and Grosvenor Road after residents raised concerns about parking obstructing their driveways and the long-term parking of commercial vehicles. We look forward to seeing the outcome of the consultation and will continue to work with residents to address their parking concerns.

The Wanstead permit parking consultation is open until 18 August. Visit wnstd.com/parking24

Jo Blackman is a Wanstead resident and Labour councillor for Wanstead Village.