Author: Wansteadium

Dear Wansteadium

We are 20 local Guides, and this August we will be travelling to Zambia and Malawi to volunteer with The Book Bus charity. Last year we told you about our volunteering adventure. Here is an update.

The Book Bus travels to schools in rural villages across Zambia and Malawi. Although children learn to read at school, classes can contain over 100 children so it is easy for those children that fall behind to go unnoticed. The Book Bus project works with small groups of children to ensure that all children receive the literacy support they need and the inspiration to read through games, drama and craft activities.

To give us experience of reading to children, we have been visiting local Brownie Units. We have been able to practice reading stories at the right pace, trying out different voices and ensuring that the Brownies understood the stories and found them interesting. We have come up with and tested out craft ideas and games which complement the stories. Working with the Brownies has been good fun and we have learnt which stories work best and which activities children are most enthusiastic about.

Fundraising for the trip has also kept us busy. At Christmas we spent two days bag packing at Waitrose in South Woodford. In February over 100 children came along to our Valentine’s Disco and enjoyed an
evening’s partying and dancing, as well as activities including face-painting, cake decorating, card-making,
mehndi and pink mocktails.

Our next fundraising event is a Barn Dance on Saturday 16 March at 7.30pm in St Gabriel’s Church Hall,
Park Road, Aldersbrook, E12 5 HG. We have a live band, Fiddle and Squeeze to accompany the dancing.
Tickets cost £10 in advance and £12 on the door and include a jacket potato bar. Bring your own booze,
glasses and nibbles. To buy tickets call or SMS 0777 44 65 000 or email africaBookBus@Gmail.com.

For more information about the Book Bus see www.thebookbus.org

© Geoff Wilkinson, who writes on Wanstead Daily Photo: “Very simple, just a lovely bunch of daffs…”

Wansteadium reader Gabrielle Collard, a usually reliable source, writes: 

“Has anyone else noticed the yeti like cries echoing out of Wanstead? Usually in the afternoons, it sounds Chewbacca belching after a heavy meal. Sounds like it’s coming from the end of Nightingale Lane.”

As ever, intelligence is welcome via wansteadium@gmail.com

 

Anonymous writes:

Not only have we heard it, but we have seen it. Definitely frightens the wife. Also has been known to wander streets of Wanstead shirtless in summer. Often seen ‘presumably foraging for scraps’ near Toms corner shop in Wellesley Rd.

 

Last week we reported on the start of the tour of Jamaica by Wanstead and Snaresbrook Cricket Club, in aid of the Courtney Walsh foundation. The tour has now finished, but not without the team ending up in prison.

Club captain Arfan Akram reports:

“Monday 18th was one of the most amazing experiences for the group as the morning was spent at the Bob Marley Museum which was then followed by playing a cricket match against the prison inmates at Tower Street Prison, in one of the most dangerous prisons in the world. There were a few hundred inmates watching and the whole experience started anxiously but ended with much mutual respect between the inmates, guards and members of W&SCC. The Inmates batted first in a cage cricket match in a 15 overs affair match. The prisoners scored 187, with opener Mr. Linton scoring a mammoth 140*. The Herons were never really in it, and eventually lost by 30 runs. Some say losing was the safest way of escaping alive.”

A couple of days later, during which the team faced the bowling of Walsh himself, they headed for a T20 game in Negril. Akram continues:

“In typical Jamaican style, we arrived at 10.45am thinking the match would start at 11am, to be told that we were to have lunch before the match and the match will start at 1pm. So we went to [a] beautiful beach restaurant, Jack Sprats, and had lunch. We were also not told that current West Indian cricketers Jerome Taylor and Darren Powell were playing and opening the bowler, oh and also the match was being recorded for the National News. It’s fair to say we came second in a two horse race. The Treasure Beach Pirates scored 160 for 8 with Fayyaz Khan the pick of the bowlers getting both Jerome Taylor (stumped Jay Williams) and Darren Powell (caught first ball) out. Both dismissals were shown on National News TV. The Herons sadly didn’t bat as well, eventually all out for 72. However the hospitality and amazing location was definitely worth the visit.”

He added:

“The tour to Jamaica has been one of the greatest experiences, not many people can say they have played a game of cricket against prisoners in one of the most dangerous prisons in the world, let alone sit and talk to the inmates. This tour really could not have happened without the support of Michael Finlay from Ark Build Plc and Courtney Walsh. The Courtney Walsh Foundation really does go direct in to the community and work tirelessly giving positive change to those that feel have been forgotten in society.”

Courtney Walsh said: “I have visited Wanstead & Snaresbrook CC a few times in recent years including two amazing fund raising dinners and having had first hand experience of watching the amazing work they do in the local community gave me so much delight knowing they will be supporting the Foundation. I am now even more delighted that all 26 touring members have had an incredible time. Having spoke to most of the team, it really does please me that they have had such an incredible experience whilst in Jamaica. For me they are not the only ones who will have lasting memories, they touched so many hearts of those less priviliged in Jamaica these young people will never forget the visit. Already the visit has given me much motivation to continue the great work the Foundation does. I genuinly thank all the tourists and all the partners that have made the tour happen, we at the Courtney Walsh Foundation are honoured and touched and I hope our relationship continues for many years ahead.”