Beverley Brewer was re-lected as a Labour councillor, receiving 1,464 votes. She is joined by Kallan Greybe and Monika Patel from the Green Party, who won 1,299 and 1,309 votes respectively.
South Woodford recorded one of the highest voter turnouts in the borough, with 49.67% of the electorate taking part. The average turnout across Redbridge was 42%.
Lloyd Duddridge and Guy Mansfield Williams both held onto their seats, receiving 1,808 and 1,597 votes respectively. They are joined by former Barkingside councillor Judith Garfield, who won 1,664 votes.
Overall, Labour held control of Redbridge Council, winning 43 seats out of 63. The Conservatives and Greens both won five seats, independents won nine seats, and Reform UK won one seat.
Media law is often perceived to be the preserve of the rich and famous, of celebrities, sports stars and royalty. For example, Prince Harry has been involved in high-profile litigation against several English newspaper groups. However, such a perception is misplaced. Media law plays a part in all our lives, particularly with the widespread use of social media. The main areas of media law that permeate our daily lives are defamation, privacy and harassment.
Defamation is the communication of a false statement to a third party that causes or is likely to cause serious reputational harm. If you have been the target of false allegations on Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly Twitter), for example, or if your business has suffered similar treatment, for instance, in online reviews, you may be able to use defamation laws to protect yourself. If the statement published is false, it identifies you (you do not need to be identified by name), and it has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to your reputation, then you would have an actionable claim in defamation. Although it may be distressing, it is imperative you do not delete the posts – take screenshots because this will be important evidence for your claim.
Misuse of private information is a legal cause of action that protects an individual’s right to protect their personal information. It covers the unauthorised publication of private information where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. Examples of private information include medical records, personal photographs and private correspondence. If, for instance, following the breakdown of a relationship, your former partner shares or publishes photographs of you of an intimate nature (which you may have previously exchanged consensually), that would amount to a serious misuse of your private information. This is sometimes referred to as ‘image-based abuse’, or ‘revenge porn’. Such conduct can also give rise to criminal offences.
Harassment is unwanted, unwelcome and uninvited behaviour – which can be verbal, physical or online – that violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. It involves a pattern of behaviour, or ‘course of conduct’, which causes distress, fear or alarm. Common examples of harassment include unwanted communications (such as repeated phone calls or texts), physical conduct (such as unwelcome touching) and abusive messages on social media. If you are the victim of repeated and unwanted abuse which is causing you fear or distress, you may be able to use harassment laws to protect yourself. Harassment can give rise to civil claims, and if it is of a serious nature, can also amount to a criminal offence.
Edwards Duthie Shamash is located at 149 High Street, Wanstead, E11 2RL. For more information, call 020 8514 9000 or visit edwardsduthieshamash.co.uk
The Elizabeth Line is London’s brand new railway, but before it opened, the commuter lines from East London and Essex into London Liverpool Street once looked very different. They were run with a different kind of train, known as Class 315, dating from 1981. Class 315 trains formed the basis of my childhood during the early-to-mid 2000s. On many occasions, my mum would take me and my brother on the Central Line from South Woodford to Stratford before connecting with one of those trains to take me to my grandparents’ house in Romford.
During this time, the services from Liverpool Street to Stratford, Ilford, Romford and Shenfield ran under First Great Eastern, a privatised Train Operating Company that began in 1997. Their trains, including the Class 315s, sported eye-catching livery of blue, green and grey curves. This, combined with the noise, character and even smell of the trains, is what formed my enthusiasm for transport, and without doubt, my current job on the railway.
I attended Oakdale Junior School during this time, and I was never one for following the latest trends with my classmates. But train journeys filled me with joy, and in my spare time, I used to draw the Class 315 trains in First Great Eastern livery on whatever piece of paper was available.
In 2025, after initially joining a movement to save a Class 315 from the scrapyard a few years prior, I decided to take a big step up and lead the direction of the train’s new life in preservation (owing to the legacy group suffering from financial difficulties caused by internal foul play). Merging with a friend’s similar preservation group, we co-founded a non-profit organisation called the Alternating Current Multiple Unit Society, focused on the Class 315 and other similar trains.
And so, Project Yellow Submarine was launched, in good time for the train’s 45th birthday. Named after the Beatles’ song (because the end of the train’s cab is yellow and the interior was soaking wet from leaks), this project formed the biggest rolling series of undercover roof and bodywork repairs to the train since it entered preservation. A fundraiser brought in over £1,500 in just three days. The main work on the leading vehicle was carried out over 10 days in January 2026 at the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway in Wales. Not only was our primary objective met, a secret secondary ambition was met too: one side was repainted in First Great Eastern livery, just like I used to draw 20 years ago. It feels good to come full circle, having started as a child who just liked trains to owning the sole-surviving Class 315 and painting the vehicle exactly how I remember it. But by no means was this a solo endeavour. I want to thank everyone who helped get this preservation effort back on track.
For more information on Project Yellow Submarine, visit acmusociety.com
We came back recently from Scotland: glorious Glasgow, teeming with life, then Peebles, in The Borders, with strolls along the banks of the Tweed. Such varied and wonderful scenery. Back home to South Woodford. Clarks on hand to give us a lift home with our heavy suitcases. Key in the door. Kettle on. Home sweet home. One of our neighbours, Rajesh, was just going out, but stopped to chat. “That’s exactly how we felt when we arrived back from India last week. What is it about South Woodford? It’s such a wonderfully friendly neighbourhood. We arrived here in 1987, and we’ve moved house twice, but never considered leaving the area. I am a member of the South Woodford Business Network. A community in itself, really. The fact that most of the small shops are owned and run by local people adds to that feeling of togetherness.”
Another neighbour, Gillian, admitted: “I never walk down the road without at least one stop to catch up on news of friends. I grew up in mid-Wales. Five miles from the nearest shop. Now, there are plenty, almost on my doorstep.” Later on, I met Linda in the queue at Nationwide. “Oh, it’s the sense of community,” she said. “On warm days, it’s lovely to sit in the Shrubbery gardens and watch the world go by, or I can nip off on the 123 to visit the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow or take the Central Line to Stratford for the big chain stores. All so convenient. And what about Nationwide? NatWest, Barclays and HSBC have seen fit to abandon us. I really appreciate the personal service here.”
Tom said he’d give the matter some serious thought: “I’ve lived here for 80 years, in the same house with its own quirks: the squeaky floorboard on the landing, the roses smiling at me through the kitchen window. The road layout is familiar, the parade of shops. Some still have the same purpose: the two chemists on George Lane, the dentist in Glebelands, solicitors in the Shrubberies. The familiar smells from the chip shops and wood ovens, the same hum from the A406, the ambulance sirens heading for Whipps Cross. The same walk to the station for my daily commute into town. I was born here. It feels like home because that’s what it is, and my wife and family and friends are there to share it.”
Two delightful, contrasting but complementary encounters came next: Beth was in Boots with her two young daughters. “Oh yes, we’re happy here. We lived nearer London before, but since moving to Derby Road, we have felt a strong sense of belonging. We all chat as neighbours. There’s Diddi Dance for toddlers at the Memorial Hall on Fridays, and a welcome at the Mothers and Children group at St Mary’s. I feel supported as a young mother.” Doreen was relaxing contentedly on a seat outside Sainsbury’s. “Home Sweet Home? Certainly. Look, I’m getting on a bit and my sons say, ‘Why not sell your house, Mum, and buy a bigger one somewhere, and we could all live together?’ But I don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere! I like being independent. Really, I like being alone. In a nutshell, I like to be here! I can still walk quite a distance, but I don’t have to: I am close to the Tube, the buses, the shops, the doctor, the dentist. It suits me fine.”
Bill was happy to list some of the trips to Europe he enjoys: “On holidays abroad, yes, you feel carefree. New sights and sounds, new people. But after a while, you are pleased to come back to certainty. There’s probably a limit to how much change you can absorb. Returning to the security of home is good. The lady at number 43 lets me help myself from her rosemary bush when I’m slow-cooking lamb. The couple three doors up have a wonderful crop of Victoria plums each year and bags appear on my doorstep.” John emerged from the Post Office and joined the conversation: “For me, South Woodford is home to many cherished memories of arriving in 1970 with four small children. Taking them to the footbridge over the Central Line to coax a toot out of the drivers in response to our frantic waves. And doing the same for my grandchildren in due course.”
Further down the lane, I met Litsa and Elena. Litsa is a Greek Cypriot and Elena is from Romania. Both have made their home in South Woodford. They only arrived about four years ago, but “Everyone seems to know everyone,” they say. Both work at Creative Biscuit and love being busy with young families, having fun with paints and pencils and being, exactly as advertised, creative. Joe was walking his dog, but launched into my topic with enthusiasm. “There are lots of open spaces in South Woodford, the Churchfields playground, the Elmhurst park. There are volunteers giving their time and expertise in planting and tending the public gardens. People stop to talk. I have always felt safe here, even in the dark. In Highview Road, we have our own community WhatsApp system. We can get in touch easily. Perhaps someone needs help. Perhaps just wants to ask if, for example, someone could make use of six small terracotta flowerpots.”
We started this in Glasgow. There’s a huge poster there, greeting you as the train slows down, crossing the Clyde into Central Station. “People make Glasgow,” it reads. Proudly. But that’s just as true of South Woodford, isn’t it, and no doubt of North Acton and East Finchley and West Ruislip. I was really angry with my otherwise absolutely favourite Chambers Dictionary, which referred to suburbs as places “narrow in outlook and without the good qualities of either town or country.” Perhaps we shouldn’t brag too loudly, but we can smile smugly about one fact at least: for us, Epping Forest is just as easily accessible as Charing Cross.
To contact DD with your thoughts or feedback, email dd@swvg.co.uk
“The group is called Remotely and will benefit anyone who would welcome a bit more connection during the working week. Expect coffee meets, lunchtime walks and after-work drinks. The focus will be on friendship and helping people connect,” said group founder Haz Anwar, who works for an AI company based in San Francisco.
Meetups will take place in Wanstead and South Woodford.
Visit swvg.co.uk/remote
South Woodford Community Gardeners reported last summer that we had the opportunity to apply for funding from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL), a lifeline that could not have come at a better moment. Our volunteers (many of them retirees) had been watching climate change take a visible toll on the areas we look after, namely the flowerbeds in George Lane and outside Regency Court on the High Road and the raised ‘bridge beds’ opposite Waitrose. As the original article noted: “Last summer’s heatwave in particular had left the plants desperate for water.”
In early December 2025, we were thrilled to learn our bid had been approved in full, the first time South Woodford Community Gardeners have received any formal funding (the occasional donation from local businesses and residents notwithstanding). We went out to celebrate and began to excitedly discuss how the funds would be apportioned. The money will be spent specifically on the bridge beds and will include fresh soil, drought-tolerant plants, a compost bin (to be situated close to the allotments) and very importantly, a water trolley, as we currently have no easy access to water.
Although the good news arrived in December, the funds themselves were not released until the end of February. That didn’t slow us down. Determined to make a start, we focused on clearing and rebalancing the bridge beds, removing plants that had begun to dominate (bergenias, marigolds and vinca). Many plants were transplanted to George Lane or the Regency beds. Then, in mid-March, a consignment of specially mixed topsoil (a blend of 70% sand and 30% compost) was delivered. This was chosen to give our future drought-tolerant plants the free-draining conditions they need. It was all hands on deck as the team, along with some new volunteers, shovelled and spread the soil onto the beds, working around the tulips already in bloom.
Next comes the exciting part: planting. We’re selecting drought-tolerant plants, such as cistus, santolina, salvias, nepeta, erigeron and sedums. It’s been a real team effort, sharing ideas and shaping a planting scheme that will thrive in hotter, drier summers. The benefits will be felt immediately. Local businesses will enjoy a more attractive streetscape and our volunteers gain the physical, social and mental wellbeing that comes from working outdoors with a shared purpose – and we are always seeking new volunteers to join us!
Long-term, the impact is even greater. These improved beds will support biodiversity, offering vital microhabitats for bees and butterflies and other pollinators in an increasingly urban environment. So, over the next few weeks, why not take a stroll up to the bridge beds and see this exciting transformation for yourself?
For more information, email southwoodfordgardeners@gmail.com
“This event is a great opportunity to turn pre-loved items into cash whilst supporting a wonderful local charity. We had 80 stalls last year and raised £872 for the hospice through registration fees and donations. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to meet your neighbours,” said organiser Aninder Shipgood. The event will run from 12 noon to 4pm with an online trail map (register a stall by 1 June).
Visit swvg.co.uk/swjt26
Some members of the Churchfields PTA committeeThere’s something special happening in South Woodford this summer, and it’s all about community, connection and a whole lot of fun. Churchfields PTA is bringing people together with two brilliant events designed to lift spirits, raise funds and create lasting memories for local families.
First up, on Friday 8 May, is a night guaranteed to get you singing, laughing and maybe even dancing in your seat. Drag music bingo is taking over The Woodford on George Lane, hosted by the fabulous Victoria Sponge. Forget everything you know about bingo; this is all about big tunes, throwback hits and a room full of people belting out songs together. Expect sparkle, silliness, brilliant prizes and plenty of moments that will have you laughing with friends (old and new). It’s the perfect excuse for a proper night out, whether you’re a parent, a local or just fancy something a bit different.
Every ticket sold helps fund Year 6 leavers’ celebrations and new playground equipment for the infant school, making a real difference to the children at Churchfields. The PTA is also teaming up with Improve Your Smile to support children’s dental health, because every little bit of care counts.
Then, on Saturday 13 June, the school grounds will transform into something truly special. Say hello to Churchfields Summer Fest, a reimagined version of the much-loved summer fayre, now bursting with festival energy, colour and creativity. This is a day built for families and the whole community. Children can dive into everything from creative writing workshops with local author Saba Rais to storytelling sessions, sports tournaments with Mr Joseph and football fun with Charlie Sheringham’s Football Camp. And, of course, the crowd-favourite bake off, hosted by Aimmah Dar, will be back to tempt us all. There’ll be music in the air, inflatables bouncing, carnival games in full swing and the irresistible smell of barbecue and fresh pizza drifting through the crowd. And yes, there’s a bar for the grown-ups, too. Bring your friends, your neighbours, your grandparents; everyone is welcome (tickets on the door; adults: £2; children: £1; wristband for unlimited games and inflatables: £3).
Behind the scenes, this magic only happens because of our magical community. Churchfields PTA is about people – parents, teachers and neighbours – coming together to make school life richer, brighter and more memorable for every child. The team would love to hear from local businesses interested in getting involved, whether through sponsorship, silent auction and raffle prizes or creative collaborations. If you’re looking for laughter, connection and a real sense of community this summer, you’ll find it at Churchfields.
For more information and to book drag music bingo tickets, visit swvg.co.uk/cpta or email pta.churchfields@gmail.com
Patricia (third from left) with former England lionesses at the National Football Museum in 2025. Inset: Sunday Telegraph, 1968“I was born in 1947 and grew up watching men’s football, particularly Tottenham Hotspur, but was quickly discontented by the lack of women’s representation, so I decided to take action,” said Patricia Gregory, who established women’s team White Ribbon FC in 1967. However, a 1921 FA ban denied women the chance to officially play under FA rules, and so Patricia was forced to search the country for youth men’s teams to play against. She met Arthur Hobbs, who was running women’s tournaments, and together they went on to establish the WFA in 1969, which merged with the FA in 1993.
Patricia was awarded an MBE in 2024 for services to the sport. “I have continued to push for better representation and opportunities for women in football.”
The presentation is part of an ongoing series of talks hosted by the Wanstead & Woodford U3A group (10.30am; visitors welcome; first visit free).
Visit u3a-ww.uk
©2026 Google“This is a simple yet powerful way to give back and make a tangible difference… Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. Gloves, litter pickers and bags will be supplied,” said a City of London Corporation spokesperson. The session will run from 10am to 1pm, focusing on clearing rubbish from the water as well as the surrounding forest. Meet at Snaresbrook Road car park.
Visit swvg.co.uk/9may26
“It was a huge success with over 100 people attending and all sorts of repairs undertaken, including a dress mended in time for an evening party. We were also pleased to welcome St John’s Ambulance, who helped people practice vital CPR,” said a spokesperson. The next event will take place on 25 July from 10am to 1pm at the Woodford Memorial Hall.
Email swrepairers@gmail.com
