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The much-delayed redevelopment of Wanstead High School and Wanstead Leisure Centre prompted local parents, including Georgina Brewis and Fiona Law, to demand answers from the council

A year ago, we listed Wanstead High School as the first choice for our then Year 6 children on the Redbridge School admissions portal. We were looking forward to them being among the first students to attend lessons in Wanstead’s new classroom block with its specialist art studios, or to queue for lunch in its newly-opened, purpose-built dining space. We also felt sure they would benefit hugely from a new state-of-the-art, 25-metre swimming pool at the leisure centre.

This is what Redbridge Council had been confidently promising for years, with assurances issued in November 2024 that, despite some delays, the project was still ‘full steam ahead’ and the build would be completed by the end of 2025. Unfortunately, communications from Wanstead High School during 2025 showed the completion date was being pushed further and further back.

The news that the main contractor, Jerram Falkus, had entered administration in February 2026 was devastating. We learned over the summer there was in fact no end-date in sight for the completion of the school part of the project, let alone the promised leisure facilities. This pushed us, and other parents, to draft a petition urging Redbridge Council to prioritise the project, which prompted the council to publish the first update since February. This statement revealed the works abandoned by Jerram Falkus at the start of the year ‘fell short’ of expected standards, requiring a full review of the site. Our petition received 2,154 verified signatures, making it one of only a handful to ever meet the target needed to trigger a debate at a full council meeting. This took place on 24 September with a large delegation of parents present. We presented the petition, asking the council to:

• Ensure the project is made the number one building work priority in Redbridge.
• Publish a timeline with milestones for the school part of the build.
• Set out when and how it intends to appoint a contractor for the leisure centre stage.
• Establish meaningful engagement through a public meeting and regular updates.

Council Leader Kam Rai did confirm the project was Redbridge’s “number one priority” and announced the new contractor for the school part of the build would ensure work was completed before September 2027. As parents, we know first-hand the negative effect of the construction works on day-to-day life at the school and the knock-on effects to teachers’ morale. We do not see this as a party-political issue, and we are grateful for the support we received at the meeting from councillors across the political spectrum. We now ask for the support of the whole community to keep up the pressure to ensure this decade of delays ends as soon as possible.

To read the council’s latest statement on the school, visit wnstd.com/whsupdate

Wanstead Beer Festival returns this month with more than 50 beers and ciders, a specially brewed braggot, new commemorative glass and support for local causes. Paul Donovan reports

A special festival beer, more beer and cider choice, plus a classic new glass, are among the highlights of the fourth Wanstead Beer Festival (WBF) at Christ Church on 10 October.

Bigger and better than ever. There will be more than 50 beers and ciders this time, drawn from across the country. Non-beer drinkers won’t be left out, with gin, rum, wine, prosecco and soft drinks all available. So, hopefully, all tastes will be catered for. There is also some great food on offer: Greek and burgers.

This year, there will also be a special festival beer, brewed by Sambrook’s brewery. The beer, Wanstead Heron, is a braggot, with a 6.3% strength. Sambrook’s head brewer, John Hatch, explains: “Unlike mead, braggot is beer made with both malted barley and honey. Records of fermenting honey go back thousands of years and, before the days of processed and cultivated sugar, honey would have been the easiest way to boost the gravity of beer to create a stronger beverage without the complication of doing double mashes. Honey also adds a distinct flavour and aroma.”

The George & Dragon will be running a special promotion of the Wanstead Heron. Launch night will be 5 October, when this special beer will be half price (limited stocks).

Among other beers to look out for at the festival are the ever-popular Pride of Prague – another chance for West Ham fans to reminisce about when the club won the European Conference League in 2023. Also, returning popular beers include Cromwell bitter, Walrus of Love and Cowcatcher. There will be a lot more cider this year, with Walthamstow-based Real Al providing some new brands. These will be in addition to the likes of Farmer Jim’s Rhubarb Bob and Perry.

Funds raised will go to selected local causes. This year, these are the River Roding Trust, Grow Hope and the Wanstead War Memorial Restoration Fund.

The WBF has been well supplied by many breweries, including Brentwood, Mighty Oak, East London, Sambrook’s, Pretty Decent, Pillars and Signature breweries. Local businesses have once again heavily supported the event. Not to forget the commemorative glass, which comes as part of the entry fee. These beautifully designed glasses are proving popular, with WBF loyalists able to boast a cupboard of three glasses. A full set will require you to come on 10 October.

But success only comes if people turn up. Last year, more than 900 attended. It is hoped this year to go beyond that number. There may be some tickets on the door, but that depends on whether we sell out before the day. Cheers.

The Wanstead Beer Festival will take place in the halls of Christ Church on 10 October from 1pm to 11pm. To book tickets (£10), visit wnstd.com/beer

This month, St Gabriel’s Church in Aldersbrook will host a Black History Month celebration, open to all and bringing the community together for an evening of Afro-Caribbean culture. Felicity Brewis reports

Back in 2020, a number of churchgoers at St Gabriel’s in Aldersbrook set up an informal and non-political Black Lives Matter (BLM) group with the intention of bringing people together and affirming community diversity. Since that time, members of the group have continued to exchange news and information affecting the black community, both locally and nationally, and small groups have enjoyed visits to local theatre and a museum.

This autumn, the BLM volunteers are organising an evening of Afro-Caribbean culture with insights into community history via storytelling and poetry, opportunities to try African drumming (see page 10), delicious food and drink and dancing.

This is not just an event for churchgoers but a lively social occasion to mix with and learn more about our Afro-Caribbean neighbours and the major contributions they have made to British life.

The Black History Month movement started in the USA as far back as 1926 with the writer and historian Carter G Woodson announcing a ‘Negro History Week’ to commemorate the lives of influential black men and women. By 1976 (America’s bicentenary year), it was formalised and renamed Black History Month, which has since been celebrated in the States every year in February.

In the United Kingdom, Black History Month has been observed since 1987, the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean. It was conceived by Akkyaaba Addai-Sebo, who came to the UK from Ghana in 1984 and whose thinking aligned with the anti-racist agenda of the former Greater London Council. The idea was pioneered by its Principal Race Relations Adviser, Ansel Wong, and other progressive London councillors. A series of lectures, music and cultural events followed (with many international speakers and participants) to inform the public of the importance of historic black British figures and their contribution to our national life. The idea spread and was taken up in other UK cities until it became a nationally recognised celebration. The month of October was chosen because, historically, it had been the time of year for African leaders to gather together to discuss important issues. And, being the start of the new academic year in Britain, it was hoped it would engage schoolchildren and foster pride in their heritage for black students.

The national theme of this year’s Black History Month is ‘Honouring Our Communities,’ which means not just people from the past but today’s nurses, doctors, educators, public officials, sports professionals, entertainers and musicians – people from all walks of life and from the many diverse black communities of the African diaspora.

St Gabriel’s Black History Celebration will take place on 17 October from 7pm (tickets: £20). Visit wnstd.com/17oct26

Many of us witnessed the solar eclipse in early August, but fewer will have experienced the lunar eclipse a few weeks later. Deepak Dembla was awake in the early hours to take this photo montage on Wanstead Flats

My name is Deepak Dembla. I’m an IT professional with a passion for photography, stargazing, fitness and dancing. I love capturing beautiful moments and exploring the night sky.

This lunar eclipse began at 2.23am on Friday, 28 August 2026. I began by taking a long exposure of Wanstead Flats with a wide-angle lens, then used my zoom lens to photograph the eclipse and capture lunar details. I documented the eclipse phases by superimposing the eclipse photos on the wide-angle Wanstead Flats picture to get the final image shown here.

An eclipse is an astronomical event when a celestial object is temporarily hidden as another object passes in front of it. A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth moves between the Sun and the full Moon; this blocks the light from the Sun and casts a shadow on the Moon’s surface.

Lunar eclipses are of three types. A total lunar eclipse is when the Moon moves completely into the Earth’s inner shadow (called umbra) and glows red in colour. The red colour is due to the fact the sunlight passing through the Earth’s atmosphere bends and scatters, allowing longer red wavelengths to reach the Moon. This is known as Rayleigh scattering. A partial eclipse happens when only a part of the Moon passes through the umbra. And a penumbral eclipse is when the Moon passes through the Earth’s lighter shadow (called penumbra) and dims slightly.

Lunar eclipses are rare astronomical events, happening once or a few times a year. Total lunar eclipses are even rarer, with the next one visible from Europe taking place on 31 December 2028. A total eclipse lasts around three hours in certain geographical regions. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to look at with the naked eye.

To view more of Deepak’s photos, visit wnstd.com/deepak. To order prints, email deepakdembla@yahoo.com

In the 11th of a series of articles featuring images by the Woodford and Wanstead Photographic Society, Anuraj Theivendram reflects on the Wanstead Festival, a celebration of community, colour and creativity

Wanstead came alive once again on 13 September as the annual Wanstead Festival filled Christ Church Green with colour, music and an unmistakable sense of community spirit. From the moment the first visitors arrived, the atmosphere was vibrant, welcoming and full of energy! A true reflection of what makes our village special!

A huge thank you goes to Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure, whose organisation, professionalism and support throughout the day were outstanding. Their team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to create a festival that was safe, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone. It was a pleasure for our photographers to be part of an event run with such care and attention.

This year offered a fantastic range of photographic opportunities. The classic cars drew crowds all afternoon, gleaming whenever the sun broke through the clouds and providing a nostalgic nod to motoring heritage. On the main stage, a mix of choir singers, local youth performers and several bands brought music to the heart of Wanstead, giving us vibrant moments full of character and expression. Across the green, stalls, makers, families and local groups added layers of texture and storytelling. These are the kind of scenes that make community photography so rewarding.

As always, we remain mindful of consent requirements, particularly around images of children, so our coverage focused on the festival atmosphere, the activities and the spirit of the day, ensuring we captured the essence of the event while respecting safeguarding guidelines.

Wanstead Festival continues to be a highlight of the local calendar, and this year’s celebration was no exception. We’re excited to share a selection of photographs from this year’s festival, each one reflecting the spirit of the day, and we look forward to returning next year to capture even more of what makes our community shine!

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

Redbridge Council is considering introducing two new yellow box junctions in the local area following a series of traffic surveys across the borough.

The surveys identified 14 junctions that are regularly obstructed, including Blake Hall Road at Tennyson Avenue and New Wanstead at Homesdale Close. “Yellow box markings are designed to keep junctions clear, prevent congestion and keep traffic moving,” said a council spokesperson. A public consultation on the proposals took place last month.

Visit wnstd.com/ybox

A small memorial garden near Wanstead High School is in need of a local volunteer to help care for it.

The garden was created beside the Redbridge Lane West allotment gates in 2003 in memory of 23-year-old Finnish student Suvi Aronen, who was murdered nearby. “It is looking very unkempt at the moment. I’ve planted some new plants, but I’m hoping a more local volunteer, perhaps someone who walks past every day, might be able to take it on,” said Marian Temple of the Wanstead Community Gardeners.

Visit wnstd.com/wcg

Village Vouchers has launched a new digital service, replacing the printed voucher booklet with a mobile-friendly website and app offering discounts and deals from local businesses.

Residents can register for free to browse participating businesses and access selected free offers, while paid membership provides access to the full range of vouchers (£5.99 for a six-month subscription). Offers can be redeemed directly from a mobile phone when visiting participating businesses. New offers and businesses will be added regularly, with the scheme continuing its aim of encouraging residents to support independent shops, restaurants and services across the local area.

Visit villagevouchers.uk/wvd2

The Wanstead Village Directory has been nominated for the Redbridge Best Media Business of the Year award.

“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, who also publishes the South Woodford Village Gazette. Both publications are firmly established in their respective communities, with the Wanstead magazine celebrating its 20th anniversary earlier this year and the South Woodford edition now in its 35th year. The award is a borough-wide category within the Ilford and Redbridge Business Awards. Voting is open until 30 September, with the results to be announced in December. “Every vote will help recognise the role independent local media plays in keeping communities informed and connected.”

Visit wnstd.com/voterba

A local resident is collating a booklet of photographs to celebrate the history of cows in Wanstead.

“Do you have any old photographs of cows wandering through the streets? Whether it’s cows grazing outside your house, peering over a garden fence or simply being part of everyday life in Wanstead, I’d love to hear from you,” said David Bennett. Under ancient commoners’ rights, cows grazed on Wanstead Flats – and roamed nearby roads – until the BSE crisis of 1996.

Email office@ppreditions.com

The Wanstead Women’s Institute has launched a project to create a series of knitted poppies to mark the restoration of the Wanstead War Memorial.

“The aim is to set three poppy wreaths on the side and rear fences around the memorial with streamers of poppies falling to the ground… If you’d like to help, please grab your needles! Completed poppies will be needed by the end of September,” said a spokesperson.

The project is a spin-off from the Christ Church kneelers project.

Email kneelers4cc@gmail.com

As the Wanstead Fringe prepares to launch its new Family Fringe, Camille Leadbeater reflects on celebrating place, community and the joy of being exactly where we are

Universe. Galaxy. Milky Way. Solar System. Earth. Europe. United Kingdom. England. London. Greater London. Redbridge. Wanstead. E11. 51.567° N, 0.033° E. We are here. You are here, too (I assume, since you’re reading the Wanstead Village Directory). The Wanstead Fringe is here as well. And for the past 14 years, it has been rooted in this corner of East London. Here it began, here it has grown and here we intend for it to stay.

However, this year, things will change a little. A new strand of the festival is to be launched: Family Fringe. The idea is one we hope will become a permanent and cherished part of every Fringe season. It will feature a host of events for families, children and young people, creating opportunities for new generations to become part of Wanstead’s cultural life.

The ambition is to establish new traditions that over time become as beloved as some of the Fringe’s more long-standing fixtures, like the Eve-of-Fringe Charivari or The Duke Street Party, albeit with slightly earlier bedtimes and considerably less drinking! After all, traditions become so when they are shared. By involving younger generations, communities preserve customs, stories and celebrations that make them unique. We also celebrate change and evolution, not just how we got here but who we will eventually become.

Every September, the Fringe brings a renewed energy to Wanstead. Just as summer begins to fade and many of us reluctantly return to offices, classrooms and routines, the festival fills the area with music, theatre, creativity and celebration. It gives people a reason to gather together as the evenings grow darker and the leaves begin to turn. We do it because we are here and because we are glad to be.

Recently, I came across a quote from James Baldwin: “There is reason, after all, that some people wish to colonise the moon and others dance before it as an ancient friend.” What I take from this is that we should celebrate what we have. Of course, we must explore, adapt and develop, but also, shouldn’t our focus be equally on how we can live in harmony with the world around us and championing what we’ve got (while we have it), rather than constantly looking elsewhere for fulfilment?

I believe the Fringe is, in many ways, an expression of that idea. While headlines are increasingly filled with stories of missions to the moon, Mars and who knows where else, it sometimes feels as though we’ve forgotten to stop and appreciate the remarkable things right in front of us. We spend so much time looking outward, we neglect to cherish what is already here. We are here. Right now. The Fringe is our way of making the most of that fact. It is a celebration of the small things that make life meaningful. We champion Wanstead not only through the events we host, but through the care we invest in the area itself: the fairy lights and cushions for the Kinema on Christ Church Green, the restoration of the Wanstead Curtain, the performances, exhibitions and activities created by local people who give this neighbourhood its character. Most importantly, we celebrate the extraordinary talent that exists here.

The Fringe is made by performers, volunteers, artists and audiences who collectively create something greater than the sum of its parts. Hopefully, the new Family Fringe will continue that tradition. One exciting addition is the launch of the Wanstead Youth Theatre, beginning this August. Young people will spend two weeks taking part in workshops before performing a production during the Fringe. We hope it will be the first chapter in a story that continues for years to come. Who knows? Some of the children taking part this year may one day become the artists and organisers who shape future Fringes. They may be the people who continue to enrich Wanstead and strengthen the bonds that connect us all. Because the key to happiness is often simpler than we imagine. It lies in appreciating what we have, celebrating where we are and sharing this.

So, please do come to an event (or three, four or more). We have found ourselves here from all walks of life, from all over the world. Join us in celebrating where we are, what we have, the wonderful fact that, against all odds and amid the vastness of the universe, we are here. And what a wonderful place to be.

Wanstead Fringe 2026 will run from 5 to 26 September. For more information, visit wansteadfringe.org