VIDEO: John Rogers on how this bit of London has changed

Just as a treat for Wansteadium, E11’s favourite psychogeographer John Rogers explains what’s behind his new book.

And for a limited time you can buy signed copies of Welcome to the New London here from Wanstead Bookshop.

Battle goes on in last-minute bid to keep Wanstead Youth Centre open

Campaigners fighting the planned closure of Wanstead Youth Centre at the end of this week have stepped up their activities, including an all-night vigil outside the Town Hall in Ilford.

The council announced new plans last month for the Elmcroft Avenue building to transfer from Vision to become an education hub, with space still available for hiring activities. However it announced the building would close for its normal activities while a survey took place before refurbishment.

The campaigners, who welcomed the decision for the building to remain in public hands, are calling for the building to remain open while the review takes place. Their vigil is calling for the council to meet them and discuss matters. In a letter to the council leader, they say:

Dear Councillor Athwal, 

SOWYC are still waiting to meet with you. We kindly request that you do not close Wanstead Youth Centre (WYC) from 15 October. You have alleged that the closure is “so surveying works can begin”. However, no date has been given and due processes have not been followed to date.

We believe to close WYC would be premature. To leave it empty risks vandalism, crime and further irreversible decay. We cannot understand why the Council would do this when it could continue to be used to generate income for the Council. 

We request that users who have nowhere to go are allowed to continue using WYC. This is as it will take months, probably a year or more, to meaningfully consult with the residents of Redbridge, draw up a business case, organise contractors and complete the building works and so forth.

Many young people, marginalised and elderly groups, use WYC for mental, physical and psychological well-being. WYC gives young people a safe place to go – off the streets – and encourages multiculturalism and community cohesion. During this cost of living crisis it also provides a warm space.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said on BBC London news ” *Loss of youth clubs : Must be reversed* …” and we wholeheartedly agree with this. 

We urge you to listen to the voices of people, including those that voted for you, and keep WYC open.

Yours sincerely, 

Save Our Wanstead Youth Centre www.sowyc.com

Update 1830: A spokesman for Redbridge Council said:

“Proposals for the future of Wanstead Youth Centre have been through significant engagement with the public, and with the people and community groups who currently hire the building and facilities.  As well as completing an online survey, with open text answers, the campaign group have attended several Council committee meetings, including Full Council and Cabinet meetings, to raise questions and make statements about the future of the site.  Council officers have also met members of the campaign group to answer their questions and share information.

“The democratic process has seen us take this through scrutiny and full council, and we have spoken directly with Ms Martin and community groups, in private meetings and at formal council meetings, the most recent one having been held on ​14th September, when many of her questions were answered directly.

“We understand and share the frustration at having to temporarily close the building for works to take place, but we cannot carry out these works, ensure the safety of the building and the people who use it, and keep it open throughout.

“The proposal is for the building to be converted and reopened as an Education and Youth Hub, providing alternative education provision, a tuition centre and early years play and development, whilst continuing to offer community use at the evenings and weekends.

“The Council will continue to consult the community and potential users of the site, as part of finalising the full business case. We continue to engage with Ms Martin as we all want the same result in a thriving Education and Youth Hub in Wanstead, for all the community to enjoy.”

Full beer line-up announced

The drinks list is now out for the Wanstead Beer Festival, which is taking place this weekend. One of the organisers, Paul Donovan, recommends the following:

“Among the highlights are, East London Breweries’ Walthamstow Green Hopped Pale Ale, created annually from hops grown by local enthusiasts. Also, Cowcatcher from ELA, a timely drink, coinciding with the long horn cattle being released into Wanstead Park, this year.

Then there is the award winning Harvey’s Best Bitter from the renowned Sussex brewer. And the excellent Walthamstow-based, Beerblefish’s Lee Valley lager – or if you fancy something a bit stronger Infinite Improbability from the same brewer.

Don’t miss out on Pretty Decent’s cryptically named ‘I could get better in Tesco’s for a quid’.

There’s a good supply of Solar Pale Ale from north London’s Redemption brewery. And pPlenty of beers from Brentwood, Elephant and Billericay breweries. Hammers fans will be keen to try out Pride of Prague – brewed to mark the famous Europa Conference final victory in June.

On the ciders, there are three from Devon based Farmer Jim, including the always popular Rhubarb Bob. Get in quickly for this one.”

Tickets for the festival are very nearly sold out – quite some achievement for an event like this in its first year. Cheers to all taking part. More details at: www.Wansteadbeerfestival.co.uk

Uncertain times for Wiseman Lee customers

Wiseman Lee, one of the most prominent and longstanding law firms in Wanstead, has been closed with immediate effect by the Solicitors Regulation Authority following its parent company going into administration.

The offices on Cambridge Park have been closed and all documents, papers and money held by the firm – including clients’ money – have been seized by the authority. Another solicitors’ firm has been appointed to deal with cases which were being handled by Wiseman Lee.

In a statement, the SRA said it had “intervened” into the parent company, Axion Ince, at various addresses.

Wiseman Lee was acquired by the much larger firm in March this year, when senior partner David Wershof said in a statement (which has aged badly): “We look forward to being part of a larger firm with the resources and dynamic growth plans that will offer further opportunities and career prospects to our team, and a wider range of services to our clients.”

The SRA statement issued on Tuesday says:

We have intervened into Axiom Ince at various addresses.

This to protect the interests of clients and former clients of the firm.

This intervention follows our previous closures of the individual practices of Pragnesh Modhwadia, Idnan Liaqat and Shyam Mistry, former directors of the firm.

An intervention means we have closed a firm with immediate effect. We will stop the firm from operating, take possession of all documents and papers held by the firm, and take possession of all money held by the firm (including clients’ money). We are not responsible towards employees or trade creditors of firms that we have intervened in.

We have appointed agents – other solicitor firms – to deal with all matters currently held by Axiom Ince. The agents will assess all on-going matters and deal with those of greatest need first. Our archive team will take control of all documents relating to closed matters held by the firm, such as copies of deeds and wills.

Clients of Axiom Ince do not need to contact either the agents or us at this time. If anyone does have an urgent query, however, then further information on who best to contact is available. Clients and former clients might find our FAQs useful before contacting either the agents or ourselves.

As there are on-going investigations related to this matter,  no further details can be disclosed. It is only if further action become necessary that any information is released into the public domain. There is no timescale for how long this work will take.

Elsewhere the SRA announced that it had appointed Gordons LLP to take on the work of the Wanstead office. Their contact details are 0113 227 0394 or axiom@gordonsllp.com.

If the system is working it would appear that client money will have been protected by the intervention, but there will inevitably be a hugely unsettling period for Wiseman Lee clients – especially for those whose legal cases or conveyances are ongoing.

It is a sad end for a firm which has been trading in Wanstead for more than 70 years. And clients aren’t the only ones affected – staff who have given quiet, faithful service for years now find themselves out of work.

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’18 things I’ll remember about the 2023 Wanstead Fringe’

This has been by far the biggest Wanstead Fringe yet, with more than 3,300 tickets sold and a massive range of cultural events being supported by the people of Wanstead, South Woodford and further afield.

Everyone who attended or took part in an event will have things they remember about it, but here are 18 from Fringe chair Giles Wilson. Add yours below.

  1. The atmosphere of dusk in St Mary’s churchyard as Patrick Marlowe – uplit against the gravestones and night sky – recounted tales to chill.
  2. The Technicolor glow of the Kinema screen, as the title music begins and an enthralled hush descends in the Christchurch Gardens.
  3. Soprano Lucy Crowe singing with her 11-year-old daughter lifting their voices in song.
  4. Ian Dunt’s verdict on Suella Braverman.
  5. Will Gompertz getting carried away talking about paintings, pulling out his own laptop and showing pictures he wanted to talk about to the audience.
  6. Jonathan Coe saying one of his inspirations for writing fiction about true events came from B. S. Johnson – “Someone has to keep the records.”
  7. Virtuoso Pete Black bringing down the house with a repertoire of guitar classics, performed with skill and joy. (His co-star Martyn Hawkes was no slouch either.)
  8. The sheer energy of  Andrew Atha, dressed up as a robot penguin.
  9. Actor Kurt Lucas, playing an Australian rugby player in Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson, haring around the stage, tripping and falling headlong but staying completely in character throughout.
  10. Realising that lots of Wanstead looks like it comes from a Ladybird Book, in a good way.(Thank you, Helen Day.)
  11. Author Paterson Joseph, asking if he might be allowed to read from his Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho, and then suddenly becoming Sancho and giving a dramatic rendition of the first few pages of the book… audience jaws dropped.
  12. Comedian Mark Silcox standing outside Eton Manor following his stand-up routine, chatting happily with the audience, never once slipping out of being Mark Silcox.
  13. Benedict Taylor and his viola extemporising the flight of the skylark up and down the aisles of St Mary’s.
  14. The deluge which hit Wanstead before Natalie Lee‘s book event – and that everyone still came out to hear her.
  15. Singer Lydia Gerrard winning her audience.
  16. Dark Isle – a piece of Scotland coming to Overton Drive.
  17. Photographer Russell Boyce saying that stopping to take a photograph gives you a different result from just taking a photograph.
  18. Eddie Nestor’s fascinating and candid fireside chat with his friend Victor leading him to wonder if he’d be fired in the morning.
  19. The simple pleasures of teamwork.

Wanstead Beer Festival is coming

After the Fringe hangover wears off, Wanstead will slide effortlessly into the Wanstead  Beer Festival, which is taking place on 14 October.

The not-for-profit event will give the opportunity to try beers from local breweries and beyond.  Brentwood, East London, Beerblefish, Pretty Decent, Redemption and Exal are among local breweries supplying beer. There will also be beers from across the nation – north, south, east and west – as well as cider, wine and food.

Tickets are £10 in advance, £12 on the day. Ticket price includes the cost of the unique first Wanstead beer festival commemorative glass.

Get tickets below.