Steve Wilks and Deborah Selner remember Jill Stock, who died at the end of May. Known to many, her funeral saw the City of London Cemetery’s chapel overflowing with friends and family celebrating her life I had the pleasure of knowing Jill when I moved to Wanstead and she introduced me to various people who were involved in Neighbourhood Watch. Ever the community worker, she initially became a Watch Co-ordinator and then Chairman of the Safer Neighbourhood Panel, assisting the police and running the group. Having lived for over 40 years in Wanstead, she had a wealth of local knowledge. She regularly organised the annual street party for residents on Cranbourne Avenue where she lived. Through working as a nurse and being involved in her own children’s schools as a member of Nightingale and Wanstead High PTA, she knew a huge bank of people from...

Wanstead resident and student member of Stop the War Coalition Lucy Nichols explains why she and a few friends recently hosted a stall on the High Street opposing war with Iran On Saturday 29 June, myself and a group of student activists from the Stop the War Coalition ran a very successful stall on Wanstead High Street. We talked about the very real threat of war with Iran and encouraged locals to share with us the reasons why they were against British involvement in a war in the Middle East. We came to Wanstead as part of a national day of action called by the Stop the War Coalition, a campaign group set up prior to the war in Iraq which has been campaigning tirelessly against British and American warmongering abroad ever since. The group has a support network that spans the country and includes everything from...

London City Airport’s Master Plan, released on 28 June, proposes to double the number of flights each year. Steve Wilks looks at the effects of the new proposals on Wanstead and its environs With an increasingly global and networked world, travelling in our jobs is becoming more commonplace. At London City Airport, in the last five years, its passenger numbers have grown by 40%, hitting 4.8 million in 2018. It expects demand to rise to 11 million by 2035, but its current capacity is limited to 6.5 million passengers, according to the London Borough of Newham. London City CEO Robert Sinclair has stated the airport does not plan to build a new runway, extend the length of it or expand beyond its current site boundary. The airport wants to emphasise that it will focus on sustainability while expanding and using fuel-efficient aircraft and making its grounds...

A performing arts school in Wanstead celebrated its 10th anniversary in July by staging a show at Forest School’s Deaton Theatre. “It is very humbling to know that our school has become a significant part of the lives of so many young people over the past 10 years, and to see their growing love and appreciation of the performing arts,” said Michael Da Silva Pearce, principal of DSP Performing, which runs Saturday classes for five- to 16-year-olds at Wanstead High School. Visit dsp-performing.org...

Wanstead and Snaresbrook Cricket Club has raised over £46k through its Project Heron campaign, which is aiming to generate £75k to refurbish its clubhouse and install new cricket nets. The total includes a £25k grant from Sport England, £10k from the National Lottery Community Fund and several £1,000-plus anonymous donations. “Congratulations to the fundraising committee for all their work to achieve this… Over the coming months, we will continue to organise events and apply for more grants to reach our target,” said club chairman Martin Pluck. Visit wnstd.com/nets...

A South Woodford resident who organised an informal gathering of local classic car owners and their vehicles in June is planning to repeat the event this month, and is extending an invitation to Wanstead car enthusiasts. “‘Classic and a Cuppa’ is open to all classic, vintage and veteran cars and perhaps some more modern, interesting or rare ones,” said Gary Zylberszac, whose first event at South Woodford’s Derby Road car park saw 26 vehicles take part. The second gathering will take place from 10am to 12 noon on 11 August. Visit wnstd.com/cars...

Work to replace 5.3km of water pipes across 20 roads in Wanstead began last week and is expected to continue until March. “This is an important piece of work and we’re investing £2.2 million in the scheme to provide a safe and reliable supply for future generations… A range of techniques which do not require open trenches will be used to lay the new pipes, with trenches being used only as a last resort… We don’t plan to remove any trees, but any that do have to be removed will be replaced,” said a Thames Water spokesperson....

Redbridge Council is seeking feedback on plans to fine drivers who leave their engines running while parked as part of the authority’s efforts to reduce air pollution. “Engine idling is one of the key contributors to air pollution and this new policy will be an important tool to reduce toxic air,” said a spokesperson. Fines will only be issued if drivers refuse to switch off their engine when asked. The consultation closes on 2 August. Visit wnstd.com/idle...

John Cryer MP has confirmed he intends to seek reselection as Labour’s candidate for the Leyton and Wanstead constituency at the next general election. “I look forward to asking local members to once again put their trust in me to represent Leyton and Wanstead in Westminster,” said the politician, who has represented the area since the general election in 2010 and currently enjoys a majority of 22,607 following the 2017 election. Visit johncryermp.co.uk...

A series of free information sessions are being run in the borough, offering tenants the chance to find out about their rights and renting in Redbridge. The mobile Redbridge Tenants Forum is taking place throughout July in various locations and is also being used as a platform to let renters know about a free new course being offered by the council. The Redbridge Tenant Accreditation Course gives tenants the opportunity to learn in more detail about their rights, how to be a good tenant and the responsibilities and rights of a landlord. As well as finding out more about the course, the information sessions also offer tenants general advice on tenant rights and how to resolve difficult situations with landlords. Free Tenant Information Packs will also be distributed at the sessions. The session will take place at Wanstead Library on 24 July from 1pm to...

In the 10th – and last – of a series of articles celebrating the Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society – which is now in its 126th year – club member Alan Simpson continues to offer an insight into the group’s history. Photo by club member David Tyrrell. When the opportunity came to move club meetings to Wanstead House Community Centre in 2014 – only 70 years after it was first suggested – the chance was taken. Once there, it was not long before the club had outgrown its ground-floor meeting room and moved into the much larger room in the attic (once the home of the defunct Leytonstone and Wanstead Camera Club). The only downside of the move to Wanstead House was that the change of evening (from Tuesday to Monday) meant several members could no longer attend, including Peter Smith, a long-standing member and former...

In the sixth of a series of articles following the progress of the Wanstead Environmental Charter, Councillor Paul Donovan (Wanstead Village, Labour) looks at how the council’s Local Implementation Plan will help. The Wanstead Environmental Charter has been gathering pace since its launch at the start of May. Most of the local schools attended the launch and signed up for the principles of making Wanstead a cleaner, greener place. Each has been taking things forward, with Wanstead High School working toward the internationally recognised Eco-Schools Green Flag award. Litter pickers continue to clean up the area – maybe one day people will stop dumping the waste in the first place. There has been great support for the charter from The Stow Brothers, who hosted the launch and promotes the campaign on its front window and with the distribution of the leaflet. We need more businesses to...