Wansteadium

An extra pint of admiration for Wanstead’s celeb milkman Steve Hayden, who was all over the media on Thursday after being given the Freedom of the City of London, an honour which is a recognition of contribution to public life. Steve, who is 68, has been delivering milk in Wanstead for more than four decades.

In its report on the award, the BBC said that in 1970, 99% of UK milk was delivered to people’s front doors – but that figure is now just 3%. If you want to join the number of Wanstead houses which maintain this honourable and deeply satisfying tradition, you can sign up with Parker Dairies for deliveries either from Steve who covers central parts of Wanstead and Aldersbrook, or Dave (pictured, but not yet recognised by the City fathers) who covers the rest of Wanstead.

Parker Dairies are here.

Wansteadium was not heart-broken to see the closure of the health food shop on Wanstead high street – too many conspiracy theory posters in the window for its liking – but it does not know what to make of the new occupant of the site. We wish them good luck.

Incidentally – does anyone know what happened to the plan to demolish the shop along with the Wanstead Barber shop next to it to fill in the gap (pictured). We reported on it last year here, but there don’t seem to have been any developments. Someone might need a property consultant.

Vanguard Properties write: Our team features a RIBA-certified architect and an MCIOB-qualified building surveyor. All certification documentation is on display at our office and fully verifiable with the RIBA and CIOB governing bodies. We invite anyone with questions or concerns to pop into our office anytime—we’d be happy to chat and introduce ourselves!

It was nice while it lasted, but the days of Wanstead Fish seem well and truly over. Thanks to Kevin the Fish and his successors for bringing us a fish shop while they did.

The new book from Wanstead’s celebrated writer Geraldine Roberts has been published to critical acclaim and to interest from both sides of the Atlantic, and is being properly launched in Wanstead next week.

Roberts, the author of the epic Angel and the Cad, which told the tragic story of Catherine, William and Wanstead House, has for her new book turned her attention to other members of the family.

The Rebel and the Peacemaker tells the true story of Mary and Charles Bagot whose marriage was at one stage the toast of Regency England but whose reputation became tainted with adultery and gossip. The pair fled to Washington DC, where they became the first British ambassadors to the new United States — and actually helped define the role of modern diplomacy.

Anyone who knows the Angel and Cad will know that Roberts writes meticulously researched history but somehow tells the story with compelling drama.

A launch event is to be held at the George & Dragon on Saturday 20 June where some of the descendants of the characters will also be in attendance. Everyone is welcome from 4pm, and books will be on sale there (or order in advance here from Wanstead Bookshop and pick up on the day).

A couple of Wanstead’s favourite cafés had a moment in the sun, as witnessed here:

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We predicted this would happen. When Redbridge was overruled on its rejection of digital advert boards on Wanstead High Street, we wondered what could stop the whole place getting littered with them.

Well BT has applied to replace its eyesore phone box (which is so filthy you’d have to be absolutely desperate to use) with, you guessed it, digital advert boards. Though obviously following a lot of consideration it’s referring to them as “Global Street Hubs” and its application says it will:

provide a sleek and modern answer to the demands of a digitally connected society… The Street Hub will help future proof the high street making them smarter, safer, and more sustainable

One might conclude this is colossal hogwash. One hopes our planning officials asks specific questions about how the boards will make the high street smarter, safer or more sustainable? Or what difference they can possibly make to a digitally connected society.

The site will be about 20m away from the existing board oustide the Lighthouse chip shop, directly outside City Place Coffee. Will Redbridge have the ability to refuse the application, even if it wants to? We shall see. Application number 0283/26 at Redbridge Planning site.