September 2025

New permit parking controls have come into force in Wanstead.

The restrictions are an extension to the WD permit zone – operational from 8.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday – which now includes Grove Park, The Avenue, Grosvenor Road, Stansted Road and Eastway.

There are approximately 65 new visitor and shared-use parking spaces within the extended zone, which are available with one hour of free parking under the RingGo service.

The changes follow a consultation by Redbridge Council earlier this year.

Wanstead and Snaresbrook Cricket Club is celebrating the end of a successful season.

”It’s been a fantastic season for the club. The first team reached the final of the national T20 club competition, as well as the semi-final of the national 40-over club cup. They won the Essex T20 cup, finished third in the Essex League and reached the final of the Essex League cup. The majority of the first team came through the junior section of the club, and the boys’, girls’, women’s and other men’s teams have also done well this summer,” said a spokesperson.

The Wanstead Village Directory and South Woodford Village Gazette have been put forward for an award that recognises businesses that 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 and Redbridge Business Awards. Voting is open until 31 October.

Visit wnstd.com/vote

Attending court can be intimidating for witnesses, but volunteers at Snaresbrook Crown Court are there to help them every step of the way, says Catherine Redmond from the Citizens Advice Witness Service

For many people, attending court as a witness can be a daunting and unfamiliar experience. But at Snaresbrook Crown Court, a dedicated team of local volunteers are making a big difference in helping people feel more confident and supported when giving evidence.

The Citizens Advice Witness Service, a national initiative funded by the Ministry of Justice, operates in every criminal court in England and Wales, and runs a strong team right here in Snaresbrook. Snaresbrook has 20 courtrooms and is one of the biggest and busiest crown courts. Around 20 trained volunteers give their time each week to welcome and support witnesses and their families attending court proceedings.

From 9am each day, volunteers are on hand to greet witnesses, explain what happens at court and offer reassurance. They talk through who’s who in the courtroom and what to expect, always remaining impartial and supporting both prosecution and defence witnesses equally.

As well as practical guidance, volunteers provide much-needed emotional support. They’re trained to handle sensitive situations with empathy and care, and they often chat with witnesses about other concerns in their lives, pointing them towards organisations that can offer further help after the trial.

The team is supported by two experienced staff members, who keep everything running smoothly. Volunteers come from all walks of life; some are retired and looking to give back, others are students gaining insight into the justice system. What unites them is a shared commitment to helping others and remaining fair and neutral at all times. The role is varied and unpredictable; some days are quiet, others are busy with back-to-back cases, but it’s always rewarding. Volunteers also attend sentencing hearings, ensuring witnesses are supported at every stage.

“It has given me the opportunity to develop invaluable skills, especially in communication,” said one local volunteer. Another added: “Being a volunteer has not only allowed me to support others, but it’s also deepened my understanding of the justice system. Every day is different, and every person I meet reminds me why this role matters. It’s been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done and it’s really helped me build confidence in myself and how I communicate with others.”

New volunteers are always welcome. The service asks for a day of volunteering a week, with three months of training, observing trials and shadowing others, followed by 12 months of active volunteering. If you’re empathetic, flexible and interested in supporting others while gaining insight into the criminal justice system, this could be the perfect role for you.

For more information and to apply to volunteer, visit wnstd.com/witness

Hidden along the edges of the M11 Link Road is a secret artwork, three miles long and invisible. Over the 22 years it has been there, it has become a secret layer of East London. On Saturday 27 September it will be opened to the public for a day as part of the Wanstead Fringe Festival. Graeme Miller reports

LINKED is a work I opened in 2003. It is a chain of analogue radio transmitters that runs from Hackney Marshes to Redbridge Roundabout broadcasting the voices of the former residents of the 500 or so buildings demolished to make the road. You need a special radio receiver to hear this layer of speech from over 100 people who rebuild these vanished spaces and what happened in them in words.

I lived in one of these houses for a decade where the details of ordinary life met quite extraordinary events and the super-local met the global. Originally the work was commissioned by the Museum of London, and the recordings are now part of their oral history collection, the most visited in the archive I am told, and it has broadcast continuously since it opened. A couple of years ago we began restoring the work as gradually some transmitters failed, or in one case the lamppost it was on was demolished by a lorry. Now, they are nearly all working and you can explore the route at your own pace, following a printed map or Google Maps on a smartphone.

Hearing the voice of lollipop lady Jean Gosling, or tree-resident Green Dave alongside a Tube-driver in his cab, children scrumping and books blowing down the street in a storm, brings past the past to life. It has been a real pleasure to return to the area and put myself between the public and the artwork, hearing stories and connections people have with their locality and its unique resonant history. It is a pleasure to return to the special location of Wanstead Library, and we look forward to meeting new and returning public there.

LINKED: Saturday 27 September, 11am -5pm

Wanstead Library

FREE (Recommended for ages 12+)

You are welcome to book in advance, or drop in on the day.

Further detail, access information & booking
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/linked-tickets-1606542203979

Redbridge Council has issued a statement following the recent change of local RingGo parking location codes.

“To help make parking in Redbridge easier and more simplified for local people, we have been working with Ringo to reduce the number of codes people need to choose from to park in the borough. During the update process one or two new location codes may have taken a little longer than others to update onto the Ringo app, however as the old codes and new codes were both useable during the update process there should have been minimal impact on users. The update process is now complete ensuring new codes on the Ringo signage boards in the borough and those on the app match. Anyone wishing to contest a parking fine they received in the borough is able to do so through our usual appeals process, which can be found on our website.”

In the seventh of a series of articles charting the experiences of a Wanstead-based travel writer, Carole Edrich discovers how widely read Wanstead Village Directory is… and that being an oddfellow pays off

I don’t feature in The Times or present for the BBC and would hate being a famous influencer. I can write in different styles and for different types of reader, but ramming my maverick, madcap meanderings into words of one syllable to suit the supine sub-literate gives me a headache. I will never make the top of a travel junket schmooze list because my preferred phraseology – and outlook – is as conventional as crocodiles are vegetarian. That’s absolutely fine by me.

It’s a hot summer’s day here in Chester. A blessedly normal hot summer’s day. Not one of those O-M-G-How-Am-I-Ever-Going-To-Sleep summer’s days that scare the bejeezus out of me through their implications. I’m here for Media Gateway.

All the journos I’ve met on the train are given hotels super-close to the station. I’m slightly sad that to get to mine takes a 20-minute wander. But it’s better this way. I like meeting locals and, through them, finding stories, so when put with the rest of the herd, I spend my free time escaping.

To say I am slightly directionally challenged is like saying water is a little bit wet, the moon is a little far to walk to and that things might work slightly better if we were nice to each other for a change. So, when I pass city walls to get to my hotel, I’m a little confused. Am I really on the way to a great central location while the big guns are outside it, or am I – as usual – lost?

The Oddfellows boutique hotel – when I find it – is central and outrageously, gloriously quirky. I view an Alice in Wonderland tearoom with a big party table that’s also used for meetings; a light, bright breakfast room; a comfy bar with outdoors bit; lots of lovely plants; and huge, wild, contemporary décor.

My ‘room’ – a split-level suite – is larger than a louche Londoner’s living space. It has all the stuff I need, plus wide windows overlooking a lush, leafy loggia, a bed big enough for five, a gleaming oldey-worldey bathtub, wall-mounted desk, comfy sofa and separate shower. I’d write my next book here if I didn’t need the advance for luxuries like eating.

My Media Gateway junket comprises 16 15-minute chats with 14 country reps, visits to 13 local attractions, 12 short walks and 11 meals. Oddfellows extends my stay to let me search for inspiration (afternoon tea for lunch right in the hotel, creativity at Glass Deva and the inevitable wine story). They said they chose me over the other 200-ish journos for my offbeat style! Turns out, they found me in the Wanstead Village Directory!

Sometimes, being different pays off.

To read more of Carole’s work or to listen to her podcast, visit wnstd.com/edrich

For more information on Oddfellows in Chester, visit oddfellowschester.com

Calvin Bailey MP will be holding a pop-up surgery in Wanstead on 18 September.

“Come along and speak to me about issues that matter to you. Please email my team if you will be coming and they can send you the location,” said the Leyton and Wanstead MP.

The surgery will take place between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

Email calvin.bailey.mp@parliament.uk

Organisers of the Haven House Christmas Cake appeal are seeking local volunteer bakers to take part in the festive fundraiser.

“Every year, a group of volunteers whip, mix and bake their hearts out to raise funds for the children’s hospice… If you can spare the time to bake one or more traditional fruit cakes, or if you would like to order a cake (or two) for the festive season, please get in touch. Last year’s cakes were a sell-out success in Wanstead and Woodford, let’s do it again!” said Paul Canal.

Email havenhousexmasbakers@gmail.com

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, unless there is a dispute underlying the estate and the will! Kavita Rana from local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash explains

When a person dies, their estate is administered in accordance with their wishes in the will. If the deceased does not have a will and dies intestate, the intestacy rules govern the distribution of the estate. So, where does this leave you?

Contesting a will
There are a number of grounds to contest a will. It may be that the deceased did not have the relevant mental capacity to understand their decisions at the time the will was signed. A failure to satisfy this test could result in the will being invalid.

It is important that any lawyer advising on the will checks whether the person making it understands the consequences of their actions and is of sound mind. This could lead to a claim if not.

A will can also be overturned for undue influence. For example, if the deceased was pressured, forced or coerced into making the will or the content of it, this may give rise to an action to declare the will invalid.

What if an individual feels they have been inadequately provided for in a will?
This might lead to a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The law allows dependents to apply to the courts for reasonable financial provision from the estate where there is inadequate provision in the will. The court’s award will depend very much on the individual facts surrounding dependency.

What if the deceased made a promise to provide property for an individual, but the will fails to make the bequest?
If an individual relied on the deceased’s assurance of property and acted to his detriment as a result, the courts have jurisdiction to enforce the promise and order that the property be transferred from the estate to the individual, even if the will does not provide for this. For example, in the case of Gee vs Gee (2018), the court found in favour of a son who was cut out of a promised inheritance of farmland after his father transferred the asset to his other son.

How was the will signed?
There are grounds to challenge a will depending on how the will was signed. This depends on who the witnesses to the will were, how many witnesses were present for the will signing and who was present when the will was signed (to name but a few crucial grounds). If the will was not executed properly, this could be an automatic ground to declare the will invalid.

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

Joshua Abbott is preparing to publish Modernism Beyond Metro-land, a book documenting 20th-century architecture in London’s suburbs. In the third of a series of extracts, the spotlight is on Snaresbrook’s Hermitage Court. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson

An art deco haven beside Woodford Road, Hermitage Court was one of many such speculative estates that appeared around the suburbs in the interwar years.

The road network around and into the capital grew during that time, with new bypass roads, like the Great Western and North Circular, making the car a more central feature in middle-class lives. This new network facilitated the spread of the suburbs, allowing developers to build further away from ‘town’, whilst advertising that central London was only a short(ish) drive away for both business and pleasure.

This expansion was aided by the growth of the Underground network, with the spread of the Piccadilly Line and particularly in north-east London, the Central Line, allowing those who couldn’t afford a private car to commute to the centre of the city for work.

Hermitage Court was designed by architect A Duckworth for the Suburban Real Estates company, one of many developers who sprang up in the 1930s to make the most of the comparative lack of planning controls of the era, spawning the so-called ‘ribbon developments’.

The estate was designed in an art deco style, bringing a slice of Hollywood glamour to those in suburban London. The deco details used around Hermitage Court could be found at similar schemes all around London; curved metal windows (often called suntrap), green pantiled roofs, decorative elements around the entrances and wooden doors with curved detailing.

The apartment block itself is arranged in an E-plan, built in brick and interspersed on the exterior with bands of render, giving the block a dynamic, horizontal emphasis. The estate was built on the site of two older mansions, the homes of the old gentry making way for the new speedy suburbanite.

The driveway is flanked by two pantiled pedestrian entrances leading you into the landscaped grounds. More deco details can be found along the outer perimeter wall, with streamlined, rendered go-faster fins indicating the age of the motor car. Of course, the speculative developers didn’t disappear come the postwar period, and a short walk along Woodford Road reveals a number of 1950s and 1960s apartment blocks in various shades of Modernist, but nothing with quite the same lean élan as Hermitage Court.

For more information on Modernism Beyond Metro-land and to pre-order a copy, visit wnstd.com/mbml

From healing spaces to Islamic gardens, the new programme of speakers for Aldersbrook Horticultural Society’s monthly meetings covers a wide range of topics. Ruth Martin reports

We’re excited to begin our new programme in September by welcoming Julia Bolton and Asa Gregers-Warg, chairman and head gardener at the renowned Beth Chatto’s Gardens near Colchester. Julia – who is Beth Chatto’s granddaughter – and Asa will be giving a talk on the past, present and future of these iconic gardens.

In October, we turn our attention to shady spaces with a talk from Lynne Moore, who runs the award-winning Moore & Moore Plants near Billericay. Her Chelsea gold-medal winning independent nursery specialises in plants for shade, something every gardener needs! A selection of plants will be on sale.

Our November speaker is one of our own members, Jenny Tosh, who will offer ideas on how to create an attractive front garden.

At our December meeting, Marie Shallcross will tell us about eight different Christmas plants whilst we tuck into Janet’s mince pies and sip mulled wine! Then, in January, Shannon Thaden from Lea Organic will be with us to explore the topic of growing under glass, perfect for those planning their spring growing season.

In February, we’re delighted to welcome Lily Schleiker-Blythe, head gardener at Horatio’s Garden in Stanmore. Following an inspiring talk last year about the Chelsea-winning Horatio’s Garden designed by Charlotte Harris, Lily will share her own experience caring for another of these unique, healing spaces.

In March, Ed Flint, who trained at Great Dixter, will give a talk titled ‘Roses and Friends’, focusing on companion planting ideas for one of our best-loved flowers. In April, member Helen Bonnick will speak about how to develop a bird-friendly garden, providing practical advice for supporting garden wildlife.

In May, we have two highlights. First, we’ll enjoy a talk by renowned British designer Emma Clarke, who will share her knowledge of Islamic gardens. Emma designed the Islamic Garden at the Aga Khan Centre in King’s Cross, and her insights into this style of gardening promise to be fascinating. Later that month, we’ll enjoy an evening visit to the Aga Khan Centre itself.

Finally, in June 2026, we’ll make our long-awaited summer visit to Beth Chatto’s Gardens, bringing the year full circle.

We are also continuing our community gardening efforts, meeting once a month to tend the gardens at Aldersbrook Bowls Club (our regular meeting venue) and at Aldersbrook Medical Centre. We look forward to welcoming members back in September and extend a warm invitation to anyone who would like to join us for a friendly, plant-filled year ahead.

For more information on the Aldersbrook Horticultural Society, visit wnstd.com/ahs

The Woodford and District branch of the National Trust has announced its new season of talks.

The programme begins on 24 September with a presentation about the wildlife of Epping Forest by retired biologist and photographer Peter Warne.

Future talks will include a look at the art of John Constable (15 October), the history of Walthamstow (12 November) and the restoration of Waltham Abbey Church (3 December). Events take place at All Saints’ Church hall in Woodford Wells from 2.30pm (visitors: £3).

Call 07774 164 407

A guided bird walk will take place on Wanstead Flats this month.

“This time of year can yield summer migrants as they head back south. Skylarks can still be seen on the open ground and Little Owls can sometimes be found in the small copse. We’ll also be checking the ponds for various waterfowl species,” said a spokesperson for the North East London Local Group of the RSPB, which will be leading the walk on 27 September from 9am (non-members: £3; booking required).

Email nelondonrspb@yahoo.co.uk

Wanstead High Street will be closed to traffic between Grove Park and Wanstead Place from 7am to 7pm on 14 September to create a car-free Wanstead Festival.

A market will be in place on the High Street from 10am to 5pm, with the annual festival taking place on Christchurch Green from 11am to 6pm. “Our biggest outdoor event of the year is just around the corner! Invite your friends and family to Wanstead for a brilliant day out with great entertainment,” said a spokesperson for Vision RCL.

Visit wnstd.com/festival

Chess has come a long way recently but there is still a missing piece, says 18-year-old Jay Demetriou, whose membership of Wanstead and Woodford Chess Club has helped him connect with the community

With social media providing us all with quick-fix entertainment with little need for thought, it could have been assumed that thought-provoking pastimes like chess would fade into irrelevance. Instead, chess is more popular than ever before; chess.com now has more than 4.5 million active UK users. Many of these new players come from the younger generation, and at Wanstead High, I’ve watched this phenomenon first-hand.

More and more young people are playing chess! Chess has flourished, not because it is so different from other activities, but because it has moved with the times and adapted for the modern world. Chess can be played online, like a video game. The game-mode Bullet Chess (where each player has one minute to make moves) has proved particularly popular in an entertainment landscape which prioritises quick dopamine hits. Streaming series like The Queen’s Gambit have also breathed new life into the game. The boom is great for chess, turning what was once seen as unfashionable into a game for everyone.

This online integration, however, leads to the exact problems we always hear about social media and video games: a loss of a feeling of community; a loss of true connection. While this is frequently used as a way of attacking young people, it is rarely followed by a solution. This is why local chess clubs are important, and why the social atmosphere of Wanstead and Woodford Chess Club is so valuable for us; a way to bridge the gap between the internet and true community.

Our chess club creates this atmosphere through its location, the welcoming Wanstead House, and the accessible nature of chess as a mental sport. A game for all ages. There are two sections of the club: the junior section, which runs every Tuesday from 5pm to 7pm, and the broader club session which runs from 7.30pm to 10pm. The bar is a key reason for the lively feel! From here, teas will be brought to the players during their games. When matches are over, players will often return to the bar to chat. It’s also a meet-up point for a trip to the pub for some!

For juniors, whose first experience of chess may have been from behind a phone screen, playing games over the board with their friends – learning and improving together – allows them to maintain their love for the game. The social aspect of chess should not be overlooked.

While chess is alive and well, it could be livelier if more people were to join clubs and enjoy the social aspect. Providing an answer, though not the answer, to the broader 21st-century problem of a lack of community. So, next time you think of a night-in, why not think of a knight out?

Wanstead & Woodford Chess Club meets at Wanstead House, 21 The Green. For more information, visit wnstd.com/chess

The Friends of Wanstead Parklands is seeking volunteers to help maintain and improve the park’s woodland play area.

“Would you like to be part of a team of local parents and carers who love our play area? Could you come up with ideas for future play equipment, fundraise to make it happen and help complete basic safety checks? If you would like to be a play area champion, please get in touch,” said Roger Woodhouse.

Located behind the Temple, the play area first opened in June 2023.

Email rogwoo@googlemail.com

The Wanstead Book Festival, part of the Wanstead Fringe festivities, is once again hosting a wide range of talents and authors working in various styles, writes Giles Wilson

The link between places and memories is a subject we have covered in a couple of different ways during the years of the Wanstead Book Festival, not least through the work of E11’s resident psychogeographer, John Rogers.

So, it’s fitting that John will be kicking off this year’s book festival as he speaks to another local, Joanna Pocock, whose book Greyhound has just been published. It recounts a journey she made across America by bus and what she learned by repeating the trip 20 years later. She found a country that had become more atomised and on the brink of environmental calamity, but which nevertheless found her memories and experiences overlapping with each other.

A changing society is one Stephen Colegrave chronicles in his daily work as executive editor of independent media outlet Byline Times, and his major work on the history of Punk, which is to be published in the autumn, will remind people of how society was initially horrified but later came to embrace the ethos of punk. He will be speaking to Lord Victor Adebowale.

Tom Shakespeare is a distinguished thinker in the field of bioethics, often broadcasting on the BBC, but his current focus is rather softer – it’s a series of witty feel-good novels, the first of which was described by Alexander McCall Smith as “beautifully observed and highly entertaining.”

For years, Rory Cellan-Jones was a fixture on our TV screens as the BBC’s technology correspondent, and in fact, when he spoke at the Wanstead Book Festival three years ago, social media was the topic. Thanks to the very social media he observed, he has unexpectedly become one of the country’s most celebrated dog owners for the way he has gently coaxed his rescue dog, Sophie from Romania, out from behind the sofa into everyday life.

Alan Connor has yet to write about dogs, but he’s covered an incredibly varied range of subjects, including crosswords, quizzes, the shipping forecast and, recently, the huge range of words we have for rain. He’s a comedy writer, quiz guru and is also crossword editor for The Guardian. And as described by Rory Cellan-Jones, he is “the man with the contents of the Oxford English Dictionary stored just above his left eyebrow… and he’s quite funny too.”

These are just some of the speakers. And right in the middle of the festival is another family book day with three authors – Sophy Henn, Nima Patel and Crystal Sung – who will be engaging young readers, hoping they will come to love books as much as some of the adults around them do.

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

The music programme at Wanstead Fringe 2025 brings a rich mix of community and creativity, with events taking place at what are turning into some of the area’s most beloved Fringe venues. Giles Wilson reports

Opening the festival at St Mary’s Church on 5 September is the much-loved, eve-of-Fringe musical charivari, with Joe Walters again turning impresario. This event has become something of a Fringe tradition – a lively and informal programme bringing people together to enjoy an eclectic mix of musical styles and tastes. It’s the perfect way to set the tone for the days ahead: warm, welcoming and full of Fringe spirit.

The Duke street party – which takes over Nightingale Lane for one marvellous afternoon each September – will have live music featuring their house band The Dukes of Duke, with everything from classic crowd-pleasers to hidden gems to discover.

In the Crossing Continents concert at Wanstead United Reformed Church, the talents of two accomplished soloists will combine to take listeners on a vibrant and exciting journey with music from Latin America, Spain, France and beyond. Ricardo Curbelo will be playing harp, cuatro and maracas, and Fiona Harrison will play classical/Spanish guitar.
We also have pianist Yuki Negishi, who will be playing as a soloist at Holy Trinity Church – a programme including Ravel, Chopin and Beethoven. Yuki will also lead two performances of the Saint-Saëns classic Carnival of the Animals, which paints musical portraits of the lion, swan, elephant and others; a real treat for families who love music.

Another treat for families will be Alice in WonderBand at St Gabriel’s Church, a whimsical journey through the curious world of brass bands as seen through the lens of the classic children’s story. Each part of Redbridge Brass band will take on a different character to bring the story to life. They’re going to be warming up with a selection of tunes based on famous stories: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Matilda, Harry Potter and more.

On 20 September, The Friends of St Gabriel’s present Harmony Happening, a relaxed singing workshop led by Jenny Goodman, whose warm, inclusive approach has made her a favourite among the community choir.

One of the musical highlights is something completely new. Wanstead-based composer Simone Spagnolo has worked with harpist Clara Gatti Comini to create something you will never have heard before. Reveries, taking place at St Mary’s, is a headphone-based immersive play, which combines harp music, narrative text and what is described as “spatial sound design.” It’s going to be a full audio experience that creates an atmosphere where recollections dissolve and truth intertwines with imagined lives – a personal and intimate experience that unfolds inside your own mind.

Finally, the festival draws to a close at St Mary’s on 27 September with the return of the much-loved Natural Voices Choir, an uplifting finale that captures what’s at the heart of the Fringe.

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

Local residents helped raise £8,750 for charity by opening their gardens to the public this year.

A number of homes across Wanstead, Woodford and beyond took part in the National Garden Scheme, which raises money for cancer charities, such as Marie Curie, Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice UK.

“Ten homeowners volunteered their time and invited visitors to enjoy their gardens. Please continue to support this wonderful initiative,” said local volunteer organiser Teresa Farnham.

Visit ngs.org.uk

Don’t only enjoy viewing the art achievements of others. Take delight in helping to produce some community artwork yourself, suggests Donna Mizzi, founder of Art Group Wanstead

Members of Art Group Wanstead are preparing to show their work at the Wanstead Festival on Christchurch Green on 14 September. But this year, they will also be reaching out to local festivalgoers of all abilities and ages to help create a new piece of community artwork they can all be proud of.

Local residents and visitors, including children, will be encouraged to each create their own small piece of art on blank postcard-sized paper to go with this year’s Art Group Wanstead theme: Colour Me Happy. Participants will be able to create art focusing on any subject using any materials in any colours or tones – do whatever makes you happy. Photos will be taken of each of the postcard artworks. Art Group Wanstead artists Theresa Hardy and Sharon Quinton, who formulated the idea, will carefully knit the artwork together digitally to create a ‘patchwork’ banner that can be displayed in and around Wanstead. The Stow Brothers estate agents will be helping to produce it.

“It’s thrilling to see your own art on display in public,” says Sharon Quinton. “Contributing to a community artwork that will be shown again and again will be particularly rewarding.”

These pages show some of the works local artists have been inspired to create by the ‘Colour Me Happy’ theme, which will also be displayed at the festival.

There will be free workshops and demos on the Art Group Wanstead area of the big event throughout the day, ranging from mosaic to botanical painting to calligraphy and collage. If you believe you lack the ability to paint, watercolour tutor Brenda Coyle will help instil confidence with her one-to-one ‘Painting for the Petrified’ mini-sessions. Students from her Wanstead House classes will also exhibit their work.

Many local residents will have viewed some of Art Group Wanstead artists’ work last month at a pop-up gallery on Wanstead High Street. Local artists are always looking to display work, and this much-appreciated shopfront space was generously made available by Alan Patient & Co accountants.

Wanstead Festival runs from 11 am to 6pm on 14 September on Christchurch Green.

For more information on Art Group Wanstead, visit wnstd.com/art

A local gardener is urging residents to help prevent the spread of two problematic weeds.

“Guernsey Fleabane and Knotgrass have become widespread across Wanstead. Pulling them up by the roots early is simple, but once established, it’s much harder. These thuggish weeds suppress the germination of wildflowers and other species and reduce the capacity of young plants to grow. Please look out for these damaging weeds in our streets and your gardens,” said Sally Parker, a Pollinator Pathway volunteer for Warren Road.

Woodford Pantomime received an award for the best production of a traditional pantomime at the NODA London Awards, held in June.

The honour was in recognition of the amateur company’s January production of Sleeping Beauty, with preparations now underway for their next show.

“Rehearsals have begun and excitement is building as we prepare to bring the tale of Dick Whittington to life in 2026,” said a spokesperson. The panto will take place at Sir James Hawkey Hall from 1 to 11 January.

Visit swvg.co.uk/wpanto

Live theatre is one of the main pillars of any fringe festival, and Wanstead is no different. Camille Leadbeater runs through some of the plays she’s looking forward to this September

This year’s Wanstead Fringe once again does, for theatregoers, two things: it continues to develop our local dramatic enterprises while bringing in a raft of creatives from out of town, transforming the neighbourhood. The programme at our two theatre venues – upstairs at The Bull and at The Wanstead Curtain on Hermon Hill – is bold, diverse, and brimming with unforgettable performances for all ages.

An Evening with Jack the Ripper reimagines the East End’s most infamous true-crime mystery for the stage, as award-winning broadcaster Steve Morgan leads audiences through the foggy streets of Victorian London in search of the elusive killer. Love and Human brings a chilling sci-fi twist to the programme, while in Quiet Light, a shipwrecked stranger and an eerie lighthouse keeper confront their pasts.

And for younger theatregoers, Myths, Maps and Monsters: Zeus’ Birthday Bash! promises high-energy, interactive fun as children race to save Zeus’s birthday by solving puzzles. Also at The Bull: Screwloose Improv returns with a five-star, prison-themed hit, fresh from a sell-out run at Colchester Fringe.

Over at The Wanstead Curtain, audiences can embark on an epic musical voyage with Resurrection: The Musical, an adventure inspired by The Buccaneers Legend trilogy. Families will also love The Magic Bookmark, in which panto dame and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Mama G leads a lively and heartwarming mission to protect the world’s stories from vanishing forever.

Three local favourites are returning this year. Wanstead Theatre Co is staging a screening of its behind-the-scenes mockumentary once at City Place. At The Curtain, Baloney Theatre Company is also back with a must-see production, BuzzFest, an immersive and wickedly funny journey into the heart of British festival culture. Equal parts chaotic and heartfelt, it blends live performance, multimedia and razor-sharp character work to capture the highs and lows of a weekend in the fields – booze, bad decisions, awkward tent flings and all. But beyond the laughs and mud-splattered antics lies a deeper commentary on connection, mental health and community.

And following the success of Miss Julie at last year’s fringe, East London Theatre Company return with Constellations by Nick Payne, a brilliantly inventive and emotionally charged play that explores love, time and the infinite possibilities of choice. The company brings its signature clarity and intimacy to a modern classic, staged in the round for an immersive and emotionally resonant experience.

Wanstead Fringe 2025 proves yet again that local theatre can be daring, dynamic and endlessly inventive.

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

With real ale, real community spirit and really good causes, Wanstead Beer Festival returns this October with more brews, new names and a fundraising mission. Paul Donovan reports

The third Wanstead Beer Festival is set to return on 4 October. Bigger and better than ever, there will be more beers and ciders this time, topping the 50 mark. Gin, wine, prosecco and a selection of soft drinks will also be on offer. Our hosts, Christ Church, will again be offering their superb burgers and hot dogs.

Among the beers to look out for are Milestone Brewery’s Cromwell Best, a deep, slightly malty bitter. Then, there is the lighter East London Brewing Company favourite, the award-winning Cowcatcher. The always popular, champion-winning beer Captain Bob from The Mighty Oak Brewing Company will again be available. And those who like a dark beer can’t go far wrong with Brentwood Brewing Company’s stout Walrus of Love. Harvey’s Brewery’s Sussex Best will be on tap.

Among the ciders, there will be a good selection from Somerset-based Farmer Jim. Get in early for the tasty Rhubarb Bob.

The Wanstead Beer Festival is once again seeking to blend the local with national in the selection of beers. Among local breweries contributing are Brentwood, East London, Redemption, Neckstamper, Pillars, Pressure Drop, Mighty Oak and Pretty Decent. These are tough times for the hospitality sector, with pubs and breweries under pressure. Thousands of pubs are closing every year; it is a real case of use them or lose them. So, we all need to do our bit to support the sector.

Sadly, since last year, Walthamstow brewer Beerblefish has stopped trading. They were an early backer of the Wanstead Beer Festival. Whilst Beerblefish will be missed, we have a new brewery to add in Leyton-based Libertalia. It is hoped that among Libertalia’s offering will be the popular new bitter Private Eye.

Tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss out. Bought in advance, tickets cost £10, which includes the unique beer festival glass. This year, there is a new twist, with a bit of colour added. Tickets on the door will be £12 and we aim to keep drinks around £5 a pint.

Proceeds from the event are to be split between three charities: the Wren Wildlife Group, Wanstead Community Riding Stables and the Christ Church restoration fund. The funding for the stables will be going towards buying a big horse. “A horse that is safe, strong, kind, well-schooled and suitable for riders with disabilities,” said a member of the fundraising team.

Thanks go to all the local businesses who have sponsored the event and helped make it possible. The Wanstead Beer Festival is a real community effort all round.

The Wanstead Beer Festival will take place in the halls of Christ Church on 4 October from 1pm to 11pm. For more information and tickets, visit wnstd.com/beer