Wansteadium

A taste of the tribute concert in memory of Harry Ellis-Grewal, which was held on the first anniversary of his death.

The Autumn edition of the Friends of Wanstead Parklands newsletter is available now, just click or tap the image to open the PDF.

The edition includes information about the state of the ponds, the birds, and an obituary for Jean Maestri who ran the Wanstead Park Tea Hut for 30 years.

The new payphone which has been installed outside Tesco on Wanstead High Street has some merit to it – it’s not garish, it’s quite classic in its design in a way. The King might even approve of it.

It will be interesting to see if the phone is ever used by anyone ever.

Because of course this venture isn’t about a phone at all. It’s about getting a digital advertising display board on to the High Street which will be pushing all sorts of products 24 hours a day until kingdom come. Probably adverts for NatWest and the Nationwide.

This particular phone is separate from the application to install digital display boards at various points on the High Street which Redbridge refused earlier this year, a democratic decision which was immediately challenged by a firm of multinational ad-pushers who appealed to Michael Gove for him to overturn it. No doubt he will do so.

Wansteadium is no nimby. But the Wanstead Village Conservation Area rules state that shopkeepers should not have “internally illuminated” signs, ie big plastic boxes with fluorescent strips inside them. Most of them observe it – and why not, it’s part of keeping Wanstead villagey.

So while our local shopkeepers abide by these rules, advertising and phone box firms can seek to drive an illuminated coach and horses through the High Street.

The removal of any trace that there was ever a NatWest on Wanstead High Street was as efficient a process as British banking can ever have seen. After the branch closed on 31 October, but before the children were out treat-or-treating, the bank’s signs were removed, window stickers scraped off and whitewash applied. Definitely trick, not treat.

So a genuine word of thanks to the staff of Wanstead NatWest for their public service over many years. 

And no thanks at all to NatWest itself, which has left Wanstead without any banks. As a company which is 39% owned by the taxpayer, which received £45bn in bailouts, and which has made more than £3bn profits so far this year – it should hang its head in shame. As should those banks and building societies which went before it by closing branches.

The nearest banks to Wanstead are now in George Lane and Leytonstone High Road. But for most people who for whatever reason need counter service, the burden falls once again on Wanstead Post Office. Bravo and thanks to them.

The cows have returned to Wanstead Park for their autumnal visit. And though walking in the park is unlikely to be a top weekend activity for any but the hardiest in the current deluge, the three Longhorns will nevertheless be a welcome sight. Volunteer chaperones have been advising humans and canines on the correct protocols.

Meanwhile, anyone fancying foraging in the park or other bits of Epping Forest has been advised that it is not a good thing. The BBC this week reported:

People have been warned not to pick mushrooms in Epping Forest. The City of London Corporation, which conserves the ancient woodland as a registered charity, said the fungi were vital to the health of the forest’s one million trees.

It said the fungi play an important role in protecting the roots of trees, providing water and vital minerals. The authority said those caught foraging faced prosecution and a criminal record.

BBC News

This was one haul confiscated by the Corporation, which also said that one person had been stopped with 49kg of mushrooms.

A concert to mark the anniversary of the death of Harry Ellis-Grewal, pictured, will be held at the weekend, featuring his band, The Rodents,  who are reforming as a tribute.  

Harry, from Wanstead, died last year aged 29. He worked for Variety children’s charity, and the event at Leytonstone Social Club will be raising money for the charity. 

Also on the bill will be local band The Replacement Hipsters. 

Tickets can be purchased in advance at a small cost reduction, link below, with the opportunity to make a donation in addition if you wish. Tickets on the door are £10.