Wansteadium

Geoff Wilkinson writes on Wanstead Daily Photo: “I came across this scene as I made my way to the open air Kinema during the Wanstead Fringe, it was very surreal. It was dark and I was alone when I came across this very bright light shining through the trees and casting these long shadows, it was all very ‘close encounters’. However I wasn’t abducted by aliens and I ended up with this picture which I really like…”

Guerrilla gardener and horticultural heroine Marian Temple writes: “This idea has been suggested to me by several people over the years and I think maybe this is the year it should happen. Nightingale Green is the little green down the end of Nightingale Lane (off Grosvenor Road ) next to the Nightingale pub. No spring bulbs there. It would do people’s hearts good to see ‘em. I’m suggesting one Sunday towards the end of September or early October. That’s the earliest I can do. Could be a great community event with local families or local anyone involved and of course the pub would be part of it.

What I need is a couple of other people who could help me get this mini project off the ground (as well as the bulbs in the ground). Primarily publicity with flyers delivered to locals and put on trees. Plants also need to be dug up from my garden or the Corner House Garden for over planting our bulb patches. Stuff like that. All good fun. Please get in touch with me via the Wansteadium if you can help organise this.”

You can contact Marian via marian@wansteadium.com

 Quick, regulars of the laundrette on Wanstead High Street: get your washing done before the weekend. This note has been put in the window of the shop – an irony really since the DIY shop nextdoor is just about to open. (Sad to see, though, that the name The Painted House, which we thought would make a fine name for a DIY shop, has itself been painted.)

As we mark the laundrette’s passing, let’s remember the turbulent times it’s had in the past few months… from its moment of glory earlier this year in this TV advert (pictured)…

…to the matter of its proposed conversion to a fast food shop… to the fire which brought some drama to Wanstead High Street but thankfully didn’t leave too much damage (with picture by quick-off-the-mark-photographer Marcus Tylor)

Those who will mourn its passing are invited to pay tributes below.

…lots and lots of people, as is only right for a community event like this.  But since we’re here, let’s just run through the names.

Liz Adshead, David Adshead, Nick Affleck, Lisa Affleck, Rob Affleck, Beatrice Affleck, Maya Anaokar, Andrew and Wanstead Oxfam, Nick Bertram, Hannah Boltwood, Annie Boud, Jenny Burbage, Alex Chaplin and the East London Chorus, Jane Clapton, Joe Clapton, John Cryer MP, Bente Dahl, Vin Denson, Robert Dineen, Chris Drew, Alf Engers, Rob Fearn, Clive Fenner, John Fentiman, Ronnie Finch and the staff of the Duke, Mark Foster, John Garlick, John Gilsenan, David Hartt, Suzi Harnett, Janice Hunte, Kat Ibrahim, Debbie Jones, Ellie Jones, Ted Kessler, Isaac King, Danni Lapham (of CycleAlert), Michelle Linaker, Alistair MacQueen, Wanstead Majestic, Velvet Orr, Ray Pascoe, Shayne Perry, Layla Pierce, Martin Pluck and Wanstead Cricket Club, Zuzi Pols, Michael Poole (BBC), Caroline Roberts, Geraldine Roberts, John Rogers, Scott Savill, Patricia Smith, Kim Smith and the crew of the Rotisserie Co, Alice Stanley, Mark Stephens, Suzanne Taylor, Marion Temple, John Wagstaff, Ade Ward, Melissa Watson, Carole Wiles, Geoff Wilkinson, Lynn Wilkinson, Danielle Wilkinson, Giles Wilson, Maura Wilson, Madeleine Wilson and William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley.

Thanks too to all those supporters who donated to help fund the Fringe, and to our sponsors – T-Space, The Manor House, The Duke, Exaprint, Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure, Mario’s Shake Shack, and especially Petty Son and Prestwich whose continued support made the whole thing possible again.

*The whole thing was co-ordinated by the Wanstead Fringe Association, a not-for-profit group of local volunteers which exists to “co-ordinate and support artistic and cultural activities in Wanstead”. Anyone who is interested in getting involved is invited to email info@wansteadfringe.org. 

 Wansteadium has been otherwise engaged for the past few weeks, so the fire at Wanstead Fish largely passed without comment  (though much concern, since this is a venture that the whole of Wanstead seems to love and admire), as have the renovations at the former Nam Am, the first anniversary of Sainsbury’s applying for permission to open a branch at the former Barclays Bank, and the perplexing decision of Wanstead’s most prominent newsagent to stop selling newspapers and move, apparently, into the helium business.

BUT there is one thing which cannot be missed, and that is the imminent opening of a new DIY shop in the former and long empty Painted House. From the preparations it looks delightfully unglamorous and practical. It’s no Robert Dyas, that’s for certain, but boy do they have a selection of sticky tape, little packets of screws and shower hoses. We hope to find out more – and will in doing so spare a thought for what it might mean for Heads n Tails – and will let you know. (Fingers crossed they won’t change the name… The Painted House is top name for a DIY shop.)