Wansteadium is very sorry to hear of the tragic death of true Wanstead character Jill Stock, who died in a road traffic collision at the end of last month. An inquest into her death is being held.

Jill was one of the most community-minded people we have ever come across. A regular commenter on these pages (always reasonable and constructive), she was one of the area’s coordinators for Neighbourhood Watch, actively running a WhatsApp group through which she encouraged residents to look out for each other and for vulnerable residents. She also made a point of personally getting to know as many people as she could.

She was a nurse for 46 years and used her retirement to the full. Each year she would organise a street party for residents of Cranbourne Avenue and surrounding roads. She so loved Wanstead – where she lived for 44 years – that some years ago she made a collage jigsaw of photos of residents and sites from years gone by, which she would sell at a farmers’ market stall.

Jill’s funeral is to be held at the City of London Crematorium on Monday 24 June at 3.30pm.  The dress code will be ‘bright and cheerful’, which was just like Jill. Anyone wishing to make donations is being asked by her family to consider giving to the RNLI, which she supported, and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, which flew her when injured to hospital in Bristol so she could get the best care.

Jill’s daughter Kate said: “Mum felt passionate about bringing people together so it will be a fitting tribute bringing together her family, friends and the wider community to celebrate her life.”

 

Clive Fenner, a Wanstead stalwart, as well as a musician, artist, teacher and jazz impressario, has died after a long illness. 

Clive was a consistently engaging conversationalist, a regular at the Larder and around Wanstead, and the moving force behind the East Side Jazz Club in Leytonstone. Each summer he would lead a jazz school in France, and had recently been doing the same in Cuba. 

His funeral will be held in the North Chapel of the City of London Crematorium on Thursday 23 May at 3.15pm. Here is a clip of the man in action. He will be sadly  missed. 

Barrel Boulangerie, the cafe/restaurant which has taken the spot previously occupied by the Currant, has opened for a bustling first day.

Wansteadium’s monitor on the spot, Lucy, reports that it now has lots more tables than the Currant had and definitely has its focus on food. “Ciabattas, pizzas (proper pizza oven), crepes, open sandwiches; decent coffee; nice looking cakes. Felt busy and bustling, and a bit crazed! But then, it was the first lunchtime….,” she writes.

So it sounds like a very promising start – though in a move which will upset Currant regulars, dogs are now not allowed.  Reviews from early customers are welcome here, and as is the Wansteadium tradition, we wish the new owners and workers the best of luck in their venture. Also it has a very smart floor.

Menus are:

• The list of Wanstead traders with francophone nomenclature grows to eight… Le Voyage, Beauté Parfaite, Click Beautique, Provender, Café Brasserie, Jo Jo Maman Bébé, et Le Marmiton.

The elegant Gothic – or some might say barbaric – spikes on the top of the old brick wall surrounding the old Wanstead Hospital grounds on Hermon Hill are slowly on their way out.

The wall has been gradually collapsing because of a combination of age and tree roots, and three sections have recently been rebuilt. In due course the whole wall will need replacing – but the original spikes, which would never pass inspection today, are not surviving the transition.

A couple of lucky souvenir hunters have bagged some of them. But for passers-by there is still a bit of street art to enjoy: an unexplained but lovingly installed collection of multi-coloured wires twisted around the spikes. What are they and why are they there? And if no one knows, would someone please make up an urban myth about them?

Remember last year’s Wanstead Fringe? Hundreds – if not thousands – of people attended events which included the Secret Garden, comedy, the Jumble Trail, the Wanstead Kinema, talks and demonstrations and more.

Planning is now under way for Wanstead Fringe 2019 – which will take place between 7 and 14 September. We would find it very useful for anyone who attended any events to take this short survey – just eight questions.

As in previous years, Wansteadium will be featuring every twist and turn of the Fringe, so keep in touch by getting our e-mail newsletter.

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We’re back!

Our lengthy two-month silence has been the result of an uncharacteristic period of reflection and a temporary vow of silence. Matters under contemplation were: the effect on society of social media; the future of democracy and community; civility; hedgehogs.

Apologies for our impromptu sabbatical, and especially for people who contacted us with tips for news items – we’ll be picking up on some of them now. (You can always contact us at info@wansteadium.com) And thank you to those of you who asked about our health.

If you have events you want listed in the calendar, you can do that here.