Author: Wansteadium

Three days to vote for the playground

Efforts to renovate the Christ Church Green playground are continuing apace, and there is a way that supporters can back the campaign without having to put hands into pockets (though those who pledged money to the crowdfunding drive and have yet to cough up are being *encouraged* to do the decent thing)…

The cost-free way of showing support is to register to vote on the Aviva Community Fund, which can raise up to £5,000 for the project. All supporters need to is register on the site and then distribute 10 votes as they see fit – but voting closes on Friday 29 May.

(At this point, the ever impartial Wansteadium must point out that the rebuilding of the Scout HQ on the corner of Hollybush Hill which we were talking about last week is ALSO seeking funding from the Aviva fund, and would also be grateful for the backing of Wanstead supporters. Happily the 10 available votes can be shared.)

The playground fund has now raised more than £21k, and further events are in the pipeline, including a day of tidying and painting which is being held on 10 June. Once the fund hits £25k, it is hoped it will be able to attract some grants from larger funds.

 

Wanstead filmset

Wansteadium reader Ann writes: “‎Lots going on in the car park at Wanstead Leisure Centre on Tuesday morning. Reception said it was a BBC crew doing some filming – a remake of an epic if the number of trucks is anything to go by. So what were they filming?” Anyone with hard info is invited to share it.

 

Wanstead’s unluckiest shop?

  Brief flurry of drama on the High Street on Thursday morning when it appeared that Boots was on fire. It wasn’t – it was apparently an accidental triggering of a smoky security device. It’s not the first time this has happened, and allied with people breaking the window, it’s beginning to feel like we have a contender for Wanstead’s unluckiest shop…

Wanstead in gentrification shock

  People of Wanstead, your attention please. Mario’s Shake Shack has been gentrified.  It has lost its home-made red painted sign. It has lost its uncomfortable banquettes. It now has a cake counter and what look suspiciously like an interesting selection of gelati. (If you want a reminder of how it used to look, see this video on YouTube.)

In case this change is too much to handle, may we take the opportunity to highlight the drastic refurbishment at the much-loved Wanstead Hairdresser’s on Woodbine Place.  The yellow woodwork has been replaced with what looks like Farrow and Ball Pitch Black (number 256). Fans of original features will be delighted to know that the Wanstead Society-compliant original lettering of the sign has been retained.

 

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(And in its prefurb state…)