September 2024

In the second 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 this month

In 2012, I and fellow Wanstead High School alumnus Patrick Renshaw had begun to put the wheels in motion to bring my idea of compiling a history book about Wanstead High School to life. The project was due for completion by 2014 ahead of the school’s 90th anniversary, but we were thwarted by a rigorous Ofsted inspection which caused the anniversary celebrations to be cancelled, and with it, the impetus we had for the project was lost. 

What could revive our lost enthusiasm? Would it be the 95th anniversary in 2019? That proposition died with the advent of Covid. For those of us who lived throughout World War II, it was like facing the aerial weaponry represented by the silent V2 rocket missile; one never knew where and when it would strike. The major social difference was, of course, that segregation turned individuals toward electronic communication; emails did not require social integration. Ironically, in such domestically located circumstances, considerations of the production of a history of the school could be renewed in earnest, with the obvious goal of the 100th anniversary.

Searching through the remnants of the previous book projections, and with the continuing support provided by Patrick Renshaw, I found I had a firm basis on which to fulfil earlier promises. New material was supplied by willing collaborators and it soon became evident that two major themes were emerging: unity and continuity – mostly in positive contexts, but occasionally in the negative, which helped to give the book balance. The rose-tinted views could be questioned and contextualised.

Then, in the summer of 2023, I was deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden death of my prime collaborator and friend, my inspiration, Patrick Renshaw. Entitled The Story of Wanstead High School, the book is dedicated to his memory. It bears his name as co-author and was published over the summer; A4 in size with about 275 well-illustrated pages.

The book is also dedicated to every pupil and member of staff who has passed through the doors and walked the corridors of Wanstead High School since the first individuals – 92 pupils and five staff – gave birth to the original Wanstead County High School, under the leadership and headship of the visionary Arthur Frederick Joseph a century ago on 23 September 1924.

All proceeds from sales of the book will remain with the school; it has been enough for me to enjoy searching through the school’s history and trying to produce a coherent analysis. I wish Patrick were still alive to mark his critical analysis of the book, which, together, we had initially projected 12 years ago.

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

Daveena Seepaul, Head of Residential Property at local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash, takes a look at some of the many pitfalls and problems that can arise from residential purchase transactions 

Having dealt with a range of residential purchase transactions, our team has seen many pitfalls and problems that can arise. Most issues can be resolved; however, some can derail the transaction. Many of these pitfalls can be spotted early on so your solicitor can take appropriate steps to minimise risk.

Building regulations
Missing permissions for planning and building regulation approvals could mean that works already carried out are unauthorised and may even be unsafe. Purchasing a property with missing permissions may also result in a loss of value. You may even have to pay to reverse the works so they are brought to current building regulation standards. An indemnity policy is a possible solution, but it does not confirm the quality of the work that has been done.

Potential developments
When a Local Authority Search is carried out, it is specific to that property. Information is not always provided on neighbouring properties. To some degree, your solicitor will obtain information from the seller’s solicitors regarding any information their client holds regarding neighbouring properties. In addition, you can check with the relevant council departments for information.

Trees and shrubs
Some trees in the UK are legally protected, which means you will need the council’s permission to lop, prune or remove them. The local search results obtained by your solicitor should show if there are any Tree Preservation Orders in place.

Lease term
If you are buying a flat or other leasehold property, the unexpired length of the term of the lease needs to be carefully checked. If the term drops below 80 years, this can cause problems and affect your mortgage offer. Some lenders even require a minimum lease term of 95 years. A shorter term could also cause difficulties in selling the property in the future. 

Service charge demands
If you are buying a flat or maisonette, enquiries need to be raised regarding anticipated service charges that you will be required to pay. There could be major works to the block that could include roof repairs or refurbishments that could run into thousands of pounds. The cost of these works can be on top of your usual annual service charge, especially if there is no sinking fund held by the management company or landlord.

There are a variety of complex issues that can arise in property transactions and the above are only a few examples you may encounter. A skilled property solicitor will navigate you through your transaction.

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

The Forest Philharmonic Orchestra will host the North and East London Young Musician of the Year finals in Aldersbrook this month.

“This new competition, in collaboration with the North London Festival, offers young musicians a chance to develop their performance skills,” said a spokesperson.

Finalists Joseph Reynolds, Mee-Hyun Esther Park and Yixuan Kassia Ren will each perform a concerto movement with the orchestra in a concert at St Gabriel’s Church on 29 September (5pm; tickets: £10).

Visit wnstd.com/fpo

A Yew tree inside the Wanstead Park playground has been fenced off to reduce the risk of poisoning from its toxic seeds and leaves.

“This is a native evergreen with the scientific name Taxus baccata. There are groups of Yew trees in various parts of the park, providing shelter for assorted creatures during winter. However, eating the foliage or seeds can cause sickness or even death,” said local botanist Tricia Moxey.

The leaves are flat, dark-green needles and the green seeds are surrounded by bright-red, fleshy arils. 

Plans have been put forward for the restoration and improvement of two historic landmarks in Wanstead Park.

“Consultants have been appointed to develop options for the preservation of the Grotto, with costs ranging from £350,000 to £912,000. All options involve work to stabilise the structure, without which it could collapse. The future of the Temple is also being considered, with plans to make the building and its surroundings into more of a community hub,” said a Friends of Wanstead Parklands spokesperson.

Redbridge Council has been awarded £3m to transform the walking route between Wanstead Park, Roding Valley and Ilford town centre.

The funding – part of Greater London Authority’s Civic Partnership Programme – will be used to create a riverside path to connect existing footpaths into Roding Valley and open up access to green spaces.

“By improving pedestrian routes, we’re connecting Wanstead, Woodford and Ilford, making sure people from all parts of the borough can access all we have to offer,” said a council spokesperson.

Art Group Wanstead will have a bird-themed display at the Wanstead Festival this month.

“Fly over to the art show on Christ Church Green on 15 September,” said Donna Mizzi. “We will focus on ‘Winged Wonders’, and it will be more than a bird-spotter’s delight, including free workshops and demos to give adults and children a chance to try new art methods. Terrified of trying your hand at art? Make a beeline for Brenda Coyle’s ‘Painting for the Petrified’ mini-sessions.”

Art and crafts will also be on show and for sale.

Visit wnstd.com/art

Cadent has applied to set up a temporary compound on the Redbridge Lane West allotments ahead of work to the adjacent gas site.

“The original planning permission – approved in December 2022 – was for a compound on Wanstead Park Road. This variation effectively means returning to their initial plans to use our allotments as the main site. This has come as a shock and, apart from all the original considerations, likely means some plot holders waiting even longer to return,” said Sally Parker.

Visit wnstd.com/cvar

Nearly half the tickets for next month’s Wanstead Beer Festival have been sold.

“The Wanstead community showed it likes its beer last year when the inaugural event sold out a week in advance. Ticket sales so far this year are already over 40%, so don’t miss out,” said organiser Paul Donovan.

The festival – which will take place in the halls of Christ Church on 12 October – will feature a wide variety of beers and ciders, along with a gin bar.

The £10 admission fee includes a unique Wanstead Beer Festival glass.

Visit wnstd.com/beer

The growth in Wanstead Fringe events, particularly theatre, is spectacular, says director Jon Fentiman, who will be bringing Miss Julie (a play that was once banned in the UK) to a brand new Fringe stage 

September in Wanstead means the arrival of the Wanstead Festival (15 September) and its bigger brother, the Wanstead Fringe, our very own three-week celebration of music, film, books, performance arts, magic, local history, creative workshops, food, drink and even pre-loved treasures! With opportunities to enjoy everything from comedy nights to opera, stargazing to a jumble trail, events are dotted around our cafes, sports clubs, churches and even the local library, showcasing many of the wonderful venues Wanstead has to offer.

The growth in the number of events being organised this year is quite spectacular, with professional theatre productions leading the way and boasting over 50 performances. For Wanstead Fringe 2024, actor and theatre practitioner Marissa Landy has curated 10 different productions from both her own and visiting companies, some fresh from success at the Edinburgh Fringe, whilst Fiona Gordon’s brilliant Wanstead Theatre Co will be bringing six site-specific performances of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads to City Place Coffee, the perfect venue.

As a director and producer for the East London Theatre Company, I am extremely excited to be bringing a production of the classic play Miss Julie to this year’s Fringe before it transfers to The Courtyard Theatre, Hoxton in October. Written by Strindberg in 1888, performances of Miss Julie were banned in the UK for half a century, only reaching British stages in 1939. For years, Miss Julie was considered just too provocative and inappropriate in its depiction of sexual desire and conflict between classes. Today, it is one of the most regularly performed plays in the UK and across Europe. Set in the servants’ kitchen on the estate of a Swedish aristocrat, the action centres around his errant daughter, Miss Julie, his lordship’s footman, Jean, and the house cook, Katrin. Although set at the end of the 19th century, like any classic play that survives the test of time, its themes – such as how we manage our desire for a better life whilst wrestling with the expectations of society and others – still resonate with a modern audience.

Running for seven nights, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the talents of three brilliant actors: Maria Naterstad (Miss Julie) and Lia Goresh (Katrin), both recent graduates of the internationally renowned East 15 Drama School, along with Chris Agha (Jean), who performs regularly at The Royal Opera House and prestigious off-West End venues. 

Grab a ticket and you’ll not only experience an exciting, intimate performance – staged in the round – but also be amongst the first patrons of The Wanstead Curtain, a new performance space which Wanstead Fringe volunteers have been allowed to create in the hall of Wanstead Methodist Church. Hopefully, see you there!

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit wnstd.com/fringe

Wanstead Theatre Co has been a regular feature at the Fringe and this year, the company returns with Talking Heads. Fiona Gordon explains what to expect and the innovative way it’s being promoted

As a site-specific theatre company, where we perform the play in the place it is set, we are always on the lookout for suitable Wanstead venues. Over the years, Eton Manor (Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson), The Bull (Two) and Our Lady of Lourdes (Bazaar and Rummage) have generously offered us their space and time.

And this year, it is City Place Coffee in the middle of our bustling High Street that has kindly agreed to host our production: the well-loved and universally acclaimed Talking Heads by Alan Bennett.

Filmed originally as a TV series in the late 80s and the early 90s, it was then remade during lockdown for a new housebound audience. It was one of the very few TV shows allowed to be filmed due to social distancing rules, as each episode only has one actor in it. However, the famous episodes featuring Thora Hird in the original series could not be remade due to social contact being restricted with anyone over 70.

Not often performed as a stage show, we are delighted to be bringing it to life in a vibrant high street setting. Three women in a café. Each has a story. What secrets will you overhear?

But that’s not all we’ve been working on. This year we have decided to harness the power of social media to widen our audience at our shows and elevate our profile.

We have made a mini mockumentary about the fictional production team who run Wanstead Theatre Co. Filmed in various Wanstead locations, it is a behind-the-scenes comedy about a theatre company and the current show they are doing, which as far as we know, has never been done before.

We want people to engage with the mockumentary, find it funny, then realise we are a real-life professional theatre company and they can actually come and watch the show featured in the episodes. And who knows? If they are lucky, they may also bump into some of the characters.

Each episode is just two or three minutes long, broken up into mini clips for social media, but the full episodes will be put on YouTube so they can be watched in a more traditional TV format. A selection of the clips can also be seen on the popular Facebook group, Wanstead Community Hub.

We hope this modern way of raising our profile will secure the future of our theatre company. Our mission of bringing the West End to Wanstead still holds true, but hopefully, with the added exposure, we’ll be bringing the audience to Wanstead as well.

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit wnstd.com/fringe

One of the highlights of this year’s Wanstead Fringe is All Rest, an immersive opera set and staged in the graveyard at St Mary’s Church. Here, the opera’s composer Simone Spagnolo explains what to expect

The opera All Rest is an original, immersive opera experience portraying a fictional dreamscape about the people dwelling in St Mary’s graveyard. Six characters and a chorus of ghosts lead the audience on a journey through the grounds, offering a glimpse of past and future stories.

The stories featured include some of Wanstead’s well-known historical characters, including Astronomer Royal James Pound, Admiral Robert Pamplin and Jessie Nutter, one of the sisters who bequeathed much to the people of Wanstead. As ghosts who still inhabit the premises of St Mary’s, these characters narrate precious memories of their lives, eventually reuniting in a final, poignant choral moment to bridge their reminiscences with the audience’s presence. 

The opera features solo voices, a choir, flute, violin, portable speakers and St Mary’s historic organ. It was premiered earlier this year at the St Mary’s Music Festival, which originally commissioned it, but the Fringe has arranged this second opportunity to experience this unique, site-specific work. 

Aside from reflecting on the history of Wanstead and St Mary’s, this performance piece draws inspiration from the aesthetics of promenade and immersive theatre, which enables the spectator to be within the scene and a common location to become a theatrical setting. Serena Braida – who wrote the text – and I shared an aim to join this peculiar format with that of the number opera, so as to allow the magic of the music to further complement the immersive experience. 

Having the possibility to put in action such a stimulating, interdisciplinary exchange certainly prompted our interest and curiosity. Possibly, the most fascinating thing about All Rest is that it gave us the opportunity to create a piece in which reality and representation cross and blur each other in a spectacularly inspiring location. Ghosts, graves, characters from the past, operatic singing, nature walking, portable radios, choral chanting: everything fades into the current moment, subtly offering a spiritual touch. I guess this is what we tried to achieve, a brief spiritual moment in which art and nature meet. 

We hope visitors and audiences will enjoy our work, in its apparent simplicity, and we wholeheartedly thank all those who have contributed to this imaginative performance piece.

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit wnstd.com/fringe