In the first meeting of the Wanstead Social Distance Club, author and film-maker John Rogers spoke about some of the walks he’s taken around our part of east London, and reflected on the joys of seeing things you hadn’t noticed before. You can watch the video of the session below, and watch out for the next meeting.
You can support John by watching his videos, buying his book, reading his blog, backing him on Patreon, or even buying an Eastern Avenue hoodie. True.
UPDATE: This meeting is now past – you can read about it here.
The inaugural meeting of the Wanstead Social Distance Club takes place today at 1pm when author John Rogers will speak about some of the fascinating things he’s learned while walking around our bit of east London.
John was one of the first people to take part in the Wanstead Fringe and has been something of a stalwart. He is a constantly creative presence in our bit of East London, is author of the Lost Byway blog and the book This Other London, and is the maker of beautiful films.
Russell Brand calls him an alchemist, Iain Sinclair said he was a walker/writer from a better time.
The meeting is the first in a series of talks Wansteadium will be hosting during the lockdown. It will start at 1pm and finish by 1.30 – ideal, in other words, to take part in over a spot of WFH lunch.
To take part, click this link at some point before 1pm. The controls at the bottom of the screen allow you to “raise your hand” to ask a question. Otherwise when you join the meeting you will be on mute.
Here is a video John made on his most recent walk – it was taken before the lockdown – which includes some areas very close to home.
We’re delighted to announce the first meeting of the Wanstead Social Distance Club, a regular virtual gathering which will take place over the next few weeks for the entertainment of us all.
And we’re even more delighted to be able to tell you that the speaker at the first club meeting will be John Rogers, raconteur, film-maker, author and walker.
A regular at the Wanstead Fringe over the years, John is always interesting, curious and engaging. At the first meeting on Monday lunchtime at 1pm, he’s going to be talking about something suddenly close to all our hearts – walking around London.
To take part in the meeting, just click this link any time from 12.45pm on Monday. The meeting will be over by 1.30pm so that everyone can get back to work. Think of it as an interesting chat over a sandwich. (BYO)
If you miss the event, video of John’s talk will be available on Wansteadium afterwards.
We’re lining up future speakers. If you would like to volunteer or nominate someone, please drop us a line at info@wansteadium.com
Scenes from Wanstead’s part in the NHS clapathon.
https://twitter.com/eddie_cafe/status/1243275527919632384?s=21Before the singing started in lovely Wanstead ❤️❤️ #clapforourcarers pic.twitter.com/4TmoXOGmtv
— Nicola Heath (@Nicola_Heath) March 26, 2020
Thank you to all at NHS, from our little balcony in Wanstead, London. You’re the real heroes #clapforourcarers #clapforNHS pic.twitter.com/NEH8N3y0Yb
— Hammad Zamurrad (@hammadzamurrad) March 26, 2020
Today’s one outing with the family to Wanstead Flats. #NHS pic.twitter.com/v0JdOP26NP
— Huw Illingworth (@huwinslow) March 26, 2020
Door-to-door deliveries of the Wanstead Village Directory have been suspended because of Coronavirus problems – copies will instead be available solely through display stands in the Co-op, Tesco and now also at Waitrose and Sainsbury’s in South Woodford. They may also be available at M&S soon.
Editor Lee Marquis said:
The reasons for doing this are twofold. Most importantly, we all have a responsibility to adhere to social distancing guidelines, so I believe it would be wrong to ask my delivery team to walk the streets of Wanstead and risk interacting with others. In addition to this, a recent study by the US National Institutes of Health (as reported by the BBC here) has found the virus can survive on cardboard for up to 24 hours. So I can’t, in all good conscience, allow our magazines to be posted through letterboxes on a mass scale when there is a potential risk that this may be contributing to the spread of the virus. Instead, we will allow those who wish to pick up a copy to do so from our stands (by virtue of our normal processes, a period of at least 24 hours will elapse between our magazines being packed at the printers and placed in our stands).
