Inky secrets

Apologies for the delay in posting this video, but here is the Wanstead Social Distance Club conversation with printing ace Russell Frost who runs the wonderful Hooksmith Press. It was a joy to hear from Russell and we hope to repeat the event during the Wanstead Fringe, if that takes place this year (TBC).

Excellent rubbish news

Recycling and gardening waste collections are resuming across Redbridge after a break of several weeks caused by the coronavirus lockdown.

Fortnightly green bag garden waste collections are resuming today, Monday 11 May, while separate recycling collections will begin again next week on Monday 18 May.

Both stopped because there were not enough staff available to make the collections while following social distancing. Regular refuse collections were also brought forward, meaning residents had to place their rubbish at the edge of their property by 5am (incidentally supporting the local fox population).

Redbridge Council has also announced that the Chigwell Road tip has reopened; the area is bracing itself for long queues. Deposits are restricted to domestic waste only.

Calling font geeks

Font geeks, typography addicts and ink-heads should all make sure they take part in the Wanstead Social Distance Club Zoom meeting at 1pm today (Wednesday) to hear from Russell Frost, the genius behind the Hooksmith Press.

Russell’s type-based prints can be seen all round Wanstead – particularly in Bare Brew where a few are normally on display. At the meeting he will talk about how he creates his prints from old print blocks, and what brought him to this unusual trade.

All Wansteadium readers are welcome to join the meeting at 1pm through this Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83206560593?pwd=TmRKT1h5Q01HeG0vMGh0bmJlWFdqUT09

One more picture

Andrew Mutter, whose pictures of NHS workers we published yesterday, adds a further image.

“I was asked to do this picture by three plastic surgeons who work at St Thomas’ hospital. They volunteer in the spare time to turn patients on the COVID-19 ward. I’ve found out that its now going to be made into a large Perspex panel and will be hung at the hospital.”

Victoria and her poems

Here’s the video of Wanstead author and poet Victoria Richards reciting some of her work for last week’s Wanstead Social Distance Club, in case you missed it. The poems are somewhat mature in nature and not suitable for young ears.

The next meeting of the Wanstead Social Distance Club will be held on Wednesday at 1pm when Russell Frost will be our guest. Russell runs the Hooksmith Press through which he makes art prints from old letterpress blocks. He will be talking about how he makes his prints, and what brought him to reviving such old skills.

One of Russell’s prints, from https://www.hooksmith.com

You can join the meeting at 1pm on Wednesday through this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83206560593?pwd=TmRKT1h5Q01HeG0vMGh0bmJlWFdqUT09