Wansteadium

Wansteadium reader Sarah Wilde was in Nepal at the time of the devastating earthquake in April. Though not injured, she did, she says “feel the deep fear” they caused. On returning to Wanstead, she decided to raise money to help those hit so badly by the destruction.

She is a yoga teacher and so will be holding two classes in the Churchill Room at Wanstead Library on Tuesday evening – a beginner’s class from 1900 to 2030, and an intermediate class from 2030 to 2200. Those taking part are invited to make a donation (there’s a suggestion of £20) to the Disasters Emergency Committee. Sarah made this film with them. She can be contacted via her event page on Facebook.

Happy 150th birthday to Wanstead United Reformed Church! Geoff Wilkinson took this picture, and writes on Wanstead Daily Photo: “I have photographed Wanstead United Reformed Church several times, you can see a picture of it bathed in late afternoon sunlight here. A few days ago I had the opportunity to have a look around inside, I have to say it is beautiful. When you enter most churches they appear oblong (apologies I don’t know the architectural term) this is more of a square and appears very homely. It is very light and airy inside like another of my favourites, St Mary the Virgin in Overton Drive.

The United Reformed Church has had an interesting past. It was transported brick by brick by horse and cart from its original location in St Pancras to Wanstead in 1865. In September 1940 it was hit by three bombs during an air raid and the crypt was used as an air raid shelter. If you are passing and the doors are open do pop in and have a look around, like all of Wanstead’s churches it is wonderful.”

Another High Street power cut, on Thursday morning. Improvised measures in the Evergreen surgery, captured by fearless photographer Marcus Tylor.

The possibility of increased high-density housing for Wanstead and Woodford, which was one of the options in a consultation for local longterm planning, has been scrapped, the Wanstead Guardian is reporting.

The suggestion was widely opposed by residents, who argued that infrastructure such as schools, playgrounds and surgeries were already struggling. That approach appears to have been successful.

Councillor Kam Rai, who chaired the working group for the Local Development Framework, told the paper:

“This report is 18 months of work and from looking into detail at all the options, we want to have the relevant infrastructure in place. This is difficult with the Wanstead and Woodford option.

“It was a case of what we want the borough to look like in ten years, schools and doctors’ surgeries are already under pressure in Wanstead and Woodford.”

Husband was in Barbados and visited another Wanstead, higher and more floral than our own maybe? @Wansteadium pic.twitter.com/GRCNeRA8w3

— Kirsteen King (@KirsteenKing) May 24, 2015

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.