Author: Wansteadium

Congratulations to Wanstead’s opera star Lucy Crowe whose run at the Royal Opera House in Mozart’s Magic Flute has won her an amazing set of reviews.

The Guardian said:  “Crowe sparkled from the get-go, her tone warm, her phrasing exquisitely controlled.” The Times said: “Lucy Crowe spins her golden tone effortlessly as Pamina, her aria achingly beautiful.” And Opera Online said she was “a brilliant Pamina,” adding that “while her soprano generally feels glistening and radiant, the range of nuances she brings to it is quite staggering.”

You can also hear Lucy via BBC Sounds which this week described her as “superstar soprano” – her performance in Handel’s Rodelinda is available for the next month here.

And while we’re on the subject of Wanstead talent, here is our fellow resident Jay Perry, star of the West End stage and currently playing Aaron Burr in Hamilton, singing the National Anthem at an NFL game earlier this month.

Bravo all round.

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Frustrated commuters who haven’t been able to use the ticket barriers on the London-bound Snaresbrook platform for more than a year have had an update from TfL – it looks like a fix (presumably to the water leaking down the stairs) is on its way, but it’s not going to be quick.

Confirmation at last that Wanstead Dry Cleaners, next to Boots on the High Street, will not be reopening. It had been thought the premises was being refurbished, but it’s now clear that the whole building has been sold and renovation work is taking place.

Apparently, so we are told, young people go online for their dry cleaning nowadays, insofar as they need it because so many are working from home. Sending a van to pick up and deliver clothes to be cleaned is apparently more efficient than paying rent and rate on a high street location. Hence dry times for dry cleaners.

The future for the prime retail site is not yet known, but one can hazard a few guesses. It’s unlikely to be a bookshop.

But for now, to the former staff of Wanstead Dry Cleaners, thank you for your service of more than 20 years. And good luck with your impressive collection of trainers.

A group planning to open a new school on the former St Joseph’s Convent on Cambridge Park, which received approval earlier in the year, is seeking to increase the number of potential children attending.

The scheme previously received permission to have 150 pupils at the school, but the group now wants to increase that to 260. It also wants to use the convent’s former chapel as a place of worship between 5am and 10pm. It is believed the application is for an Islamic faith school; it also says “the place of worship would be used by mainly pupils of the school (circa 60%) with some non pupils attending (circa 40%)” and that four services would take place during the day.

The site was used as a girls’ primary school from 1918 but closed in 2020, since when the site has been vacant. Comments can be made on the planning application on the Redbridge site, references 2645/25 and 2263/25.

Graffiti aside, nothing appears to have happened on the Evergreen Field for four months – work stopped in late June following an order by Redbridge inspectors specifically about tree report.

A spokesman for Redbridge council said: “The applicant is currently working to discharge the planning conditions tied to their planning permission. While we don’t yet have details of the developer’s intended start date, they appear eager to commence work once the conditions have been satisfied.

A record 950 people attended the third Wanstead Beer Festival at Christchurch halls earlier this month. More than 40 beers and ciders were on offer, as revellers packed into the marquee in the Christchurch garden.

The latest WBF was the biggest so far, raising funds for three nominated charities – the Wren Group, Wanstead Community Stables and Christchurch. 

The organisers thanked everyone who came along, as well as a supporting cast of local business sponsors and the Wanstead Fringe. “It is a difficult time for the hospitality industry – pubs and breweries are under pressure. But what the WBF shows is that there is a lot of support out there for good beer and good pubs. Now it is on to the fourth beer festival next year,” said Paul Donovan, one of the organisers.