April 2026

I am a long-term resident of Wanstead. I worked in property management and am now an active campaigner on local issues. Like many local residents, I am concerned about the long-delayed rebuilding of Whipps Cross, which the Labour government has further delayed to 2036. If elected, I will press for the Labour-dominated council to use its right to engage more in NHS issues, including the lack of GP appointments in this part of the borough, which tends to be overlooked because of a focus on Ilford.

Promoted by Crispin Acton on behalf of Redbridge Liberal Democrats, all at 45 Wellington Road, London, E11 2AS.

I live in Snaresbrook and care deeply about the local area. I’m currently a senior director at the UK’s fraud prevention service, tackling fraud and corruption. I also worked in a number of government departments and as head of policy on the Leveson Inquiry into phone hacking. I have previously served as a councillor in Waltham Forest and led on economic growth and housing development until May 2022. I will fight to ensure Wanstead Park gets its fair share of investment. That’s why I need your support on 7 May.

Promoted by Thomas Morton on behalf of Redbridge Labour, both at 12a Highview Parade, Woodford Ave, Ilford, IG4 5EP

I live in Wanstead Park and my children attend local schools. Since becoming your local councillor, I’ve focused on being approachable and responsive to residents. I’ve worked closely with the local police team in Wanstead Park to tackle anti-social behaviour. I’ve also been working to improve traffic and road safety, particularly around the primary school. Additionally, I’m passionate about protecting the River Roding and protecting our local environment. Only Labour has a fully costed plan; don’t risk your community.

Promoted by Thomas Morton on behalf of Redbridge Labour, both at 12a Highview Parade, Woodford Ave, Ilford, IG4 5EP

Wanstead Park could be transformed by a £5m Heritage Lottery Fund grant, if an ambitious bid by the City of London Corporation succeeds.

At the Friends of Wanstead Parklands AGM last month, Wanstead Park Project Officer Alison O’Connor told members and supporters that the Heritage Lottery Fund is actively encouraging an application, though the process will be lengthy. The first step is securing a £250,000 development grant by late summer 2026, which would fund options appraisals for the park’s Grotto, Temple and long-broken lake system, as well as an 18-month project officer post. If all goes to plan, restoration works on the ground could begin in 2028.

“The park has sat on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register since 2009. This lottery bid represents the best opportunity yet to finally start to change that,” said a spokesperson for the Friends.

Wanstead should be proud of its connection with former Astronomer Royal James Bradley (1692–1762), says Dr John Fisher in the second of a series of articles celebrating the man who proved the Earth’s motion

In 1711, James Bradley left his home village of Sherborne in Gloucestershire to join his maternal uncle James Pound, the Rector of Wanstead, with the object of being prepared for life as an ordained minister of the Church of England. The same year, Bradley matriculated at Balliol College Oxford as a commoner. He graduated BA in 1714 and MA in 1717.

Before completing his studies at Oxford, Bradley contracted smallpox. He survived, aided by his uncle, who, also having a medical degree and a licence to practice, employed a nurse to ensure round-the-clock care. In 1719, Bradley was ordained as a minister with a small parish in Herefordshire but regularly visited Wanstead.

Bradley’s appointment as Savilian Professor of Astronomy in Oxford in 1721 necessitated his resignation from the Church. As well as his duties in Oxford, he continued working alongside his uncle in Wanstead, observing Jupiter and Saturn and their satellites. His lectures in Oxford, given in Latin, revealed him to be a brilliant teacher of applied mathematics, highlighted by his lecture De cometa, a disquisition on the bright comet of 1723, applying the universal law of gravitation.

In 1722, in Wanstead, James Pound married the wealthy heiress Elizabeth Wymondesold, sister of Matthew, a successful financier who owned a large estate to the east of Wanstead. Late in 1724, Pound suddenly died intestate, leaving Bradley dependent on the goodwill of his new aunt. Their relationship was close, as Elizabeth travelled to Oxford with Bradley when he spent time there and Bradley did not marry until after Elizabeth’s death. Uncertainty about the nature of this relationship may be a reason why Bradley’s private papers were likely destroyed by his executors, which included the Peach family of Chalford, Gloucestershire, into which Bradley married in 1744.

Late in 1727, Bradley suspended a telescope in his aunt’s small house in Wanstead on a site close to the present Co-op. With this telescope, Bradley discovered the aberration of starlight, a deflection in the observed positions of every object in the sky due to the motion of the Earth. Further observations led to the discovery of the nutation of the Earth’s axis. For the first time since precession was discovered by Hipparchus 1,900 years earlier, this discovery allowed astronomers world-wide to calculate “the first point of Aries” with precision and accuracy, a vitally important factor in calculating longitude at sea.

After his appointment in 1742 as Astronomer Royal at Greenwich, where Bradley made far-reaching improvements, he continued his work on nutation in Wanstead. His last recorded observation using the suspended telescope in his late aunt’s small house was September 1747. He no doubt continued social contacts via the Wymondesold family.

For more information on Dr Fisher’s book, The Life and Work of James Bradley, visit wnstd.com/fisher

In the sixth of a series of articles featuring images by Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society members, Anuraj Theivendram compliments Bente Dahl on her keen eye for detail

Photography is often described as a universal language, and few members of the Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society (WWPS) embody that spirit more warmly than Bente Dahl.

A passionate hobbyist and club member since November 2020, Bente brings both commitment and creativity to her craft using her mobile phone camera, but lately, her compact Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ80. She is a regular participant in club competitions, where her diverse portfolio ranges from landscapes, travel and macro to vibrant street scenes. Many of her images focus on the local community in Wanstead, capturing everyday life with sensitivity and a keen eye for detail. Whether it’s the quiet dignity of a familiar street corner or the bustle of a local event, Bente’s photographs remind us that beauty often lies in the places closest to home.

Her commitment to exploring different genres and learning from talks and club activities demonstrates that photography is not bound by background or experience. Bente’s work inspires fellow members to experiment boldly, while showing newcomers that the joy of image‑making is open to everyone. Her gallery on the WWPS website highlights this breadth, with pieces such as Entrance and Italian reflecting her curiosity and willingness to see the world from fresh angles.

The outgoing chair, Sue Rosner, and Bente inspired other club members to join the 52 Frames community, where they take up a different challenge each week.

WWPS is proud to celebrate members like Bente, whose dedication enriches the society’s creative life. As a club, we remain committed to encouraging diverse membership across ages, genders and backgrounds. Photography thrives when perspectives are shared, and our competitions, workshops and mentoring sessions are designed to welcome both seasoned photographers and those just beginning their journey. With Bente’s example before us, we invite you to join WWPS. You are invited to visit the club as a guest before committing, meeting on scheduled Mondays in Wanstead House Community Centre.  Together, let’s continue to capture the stories of our community and celebrate the diversity that makes our society strong.

To view more of Bente’s work, visit wnstd.com/bentedahl

For more information on the Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society, visit wnstd.com/wwps

St Gabriel’s Church in Aldersbrook will host a local history night on 7 May.

“Did you know Winston Churchill gave a rousing speech to an overflowing St Gabriel’s Hall in 1927? Or that St Gabriel’s controversial vicar was a regular in the Daily Mirror in the 1930s? Or that unemployed men helped landscape Wanstead Flats 100 years ago?” said Georgina Brewis.

The event – in aid of the church hall refurbishment fund – will feature a range of stalls and talks, with historians on hand to answer questions (from 6.30pm; tickets: £7). Visit wnstd.com/7m

In the second of a series of articles, Susan Allison reflects on the community project which created nearly 50 kneelers for Christ Church, each with a story to tell and each recording a snapshot of present-day Wanstead

This community project got underway at the Wanstead Festival in September 2024, when stitching began on the first kneeler. Over the following 12 months, another 40-plus kneelers were stitched by numerous members of the community, celebrating the diversity of people and experiences in our village.

Every kneeler (or hassock) tells a story. Working with a uniform deep blue background, kneelers were either purchased directly from stock, modified or uniquely designed to mark a person, business or organisation in Wanstead. Some people chose to purchase and work on their own kneeler; some sponsored a kneeler for someone else to work on and some were purchased
through a generous bequest from John Sunley, a former member of Christ Church’s congregation.

The kneelers were presented to the church in October 2025, along with a guidebook that is available to purchase (£5; in aid of the church tower restoration fund), but the project is not over yet. We are now preparing an exhibition of the kneelers and their stories, which will be on show at this year’s Wanstead Festival. All project documents will then be collated and archived. This project demonstrates Christ Church’s community engagement, a vital component in securing funding for the refurbishment of the church and the restoration of the church tower.Wanstead Community Gardeners
Sewn by: Claire Hill and Irene Thomas
Dedicated to: Marian Temple

This design is the Wanstead Community Gardeners’ logo of an edging tool against a brick wall, adapted for cross-stitch. Rosemary Thomas OBE said: “The kneeler project is appropriate for us since we spend so much time on our knees! We are street gardeners and our aim is to adopt sad patches of public soil (SPPSs) and make them worth walking past. Our first SPPS was the Corner House garden, started in April 2003. Wanstead’s iconic and much-loved High Street cottage garden was, at that time, indeed a very sad patch. Since then, we have adopted tree surrounds, pavement beds, a traffic roundabout and some interesting patches in very unexpected places. No sad patch of earth seen from the street is safe. Our volunteers are our lifeblood. Interested people join in with the work parties and give what time they can, some adopting their own area. For all of us, it is a way of taking some ownership of our environment. Over forty patches have been adopted so far. Long may we continue!”

Tin in a Bin
Sewn by: Susan Allison and Lauren Johnson
Dedicated to: Tin in a Bin foodbank charity

Tin in a Bin is a charity collecting contributions of food and toiletries in ‘bins’ placed at strategic locations across Wanstead, from where they are collected and collated at St Mary’s Church. Contributions support foodbanks and other charities across the borough. Tin in a Bin has sparked local interest with support and posts often seen on social media sites offering items for sale in exchange for contributions to Tin in a Bin. Such sterling work earned the charity the prestigious Mayor’s Community Award in 2022. Locations of the ‘bins’ can be found on the charity’s Facebook page. Lauren was particularly pleased to have helped with this kneeler as she hosts one of the Tin in a Bin drop-off bins at her home.

For more information on the project, visit wnstd.com/kneelers

A hustings will be held at Wanstead Library on 5 May ahead of the local council elections on 7 May.

Candidates representing five political parties will take part. Organised by the East London Humanist group, the debate will have an environmental theme. “Apart from anything else, this will keep the focus on local issues. The environment includes potholes, parking and planning, as well as climate and nature,” said a spokesperson.

The debate will begin at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm).

Questions can be submitted online.

Visit wnstd.com/ask

Head injuries affect more than a million people each year. While many recover fully, others face lasting physical and emotional challenges, explains Bradley Wright of local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash

A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain caused by trauma to the head. The potential causes include falls, accidents at home or work, road traffic accidents or assaults.

More than one million people suffer a head injury each year. Many of those will have minor symptoms and no lasting effects but, unfortunately, others will be left with traumatic brain injuries that can be life-changing.

Mildly traumatic brain injuries may affect your brain cells temporarily, but more serious injuries can result in bruising, bleeding and other physical damage to the brain that can result in long-term complications or even death.

Some signs or symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while other physical and psychological effects may appear days or weeks later.

Signs of potential brain injury include headaches, tiredness, balance problems, vomiting, vision and speech problems, low mood, concentration issues and seizures.

There are a number of steps you can take to reduce the risk of accidents that could cause brain injury, including wearing a seatbelt in a vehicle, wearing a helmet while riding a bike, wearing head protection when playing contact sports and even making sure you have a non-slip mat in the bath or shower, or handrails, if necessary.

The effects of traumatic brain injuries differ from person to person, obviously depending on how severe the injury was and what part of the brain was damaged. After serious injuries, many people are left with severe symptoms and may be transferred to a specialist brain injury rehabilitation unit. However, if the patient is judged to be able to return home straight from hospital, the patient and their family should be given contact details of the hospital’s neurological rehabilitation team so they have someone to contact in the future.

A discharge meeting should be held with the hospital before a patient is sent home. Close family members, along with the hospital and rehab staff, should attend. All remaining difficulties the patient has should be considered by the hospital, including any physical, psychological and cognitive issues. It is vital that the patient and their family have been advised on how to manage the patient’s continuing problems and that the hospital has provided a satisfactory explanation as to his or her continuing need for rehabilitation and how this will be met.

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

In the 15th of a series of articles featuring wildlife images from Wanstead Park and Wanstead Flats, Diane Dalli presents her shots of a Green Woodpecker

During a walk on Wanstead Flats, I was stopped in my tracks when I noticed some movement in the long grass. I had heard the laughing yaffle call of the Green Woodpecker several times that morning, and here it was, right in front of me!

It stuck its long beak into the soft mud searching for some tasty insects or caterpillars, then hopped up onto a small mound where it stretched its neck up and looked around. I was able to stand some way off as I had a long lens on my camera and took a few shots before it flew off with its characteristic undulating flight.

The Green Woodpecker is a very colourful bird with a green and yellow body and a red crown. The female has a black moustache marking but this is red on the male. Despite its vivid colours, it can be difficult to spot, especially when it lands in a tree. It uses its stiff tail feathers to support it as it climbs up the trunk in a series of hops, blending in with the foliage or lichen on the trees. However, it does generally feed on the ground in grassy areas, using its strong beak and long sticky tongue to help it find the insects it feeds on.

Woodpeckers are usually quite solitary birds, but as spring arrives, they look to pair up and build a nest. The male excavates the nest hole quite high from the ground and prefers the softer decaying wood of a mature tree, especially oak or ash. Four to six eggs are laid, which hatch after about three weeks. Both parents take turns at incubation, and when the eggs hatch, they also take turns feeding the young in the nest.

The Green Woodpecker is just one of the many species of birds that can be seen on the Flats, but it is one of the most appealing and always delightful to see, hear and photograph.

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

Residents are encouraged to ensure they are registered to vote in time for the local council elections taking place on 7 May.

In Redbridge, 63 members of the council will be selected, contested across 22 wards. Wanstead Village and Wanstead Park are represented by three and two councillors respectively. The deadline to register to vote in person is 20 April. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 21 April.

Visit wnstd.com/reg