Editor

In the fourth of a series of articles to mark Churchfields Infants’ and Junior School’s 150th anniversary, former pupil Susan Douse (class of 1991) offers her thanks to the schools which shaped the person she is today

I attended Churchfields (CFS) from the age of three to 11 (1982 to 1991). Charlie’s Fish Shop, as we lovingly called it, taught me about love, life and friendship. It helped me through some bad times (the death of my grandfather who lived with us) and was there for some great times. It started me on a journey of learning and discovery and encouraged a thirst for knowledge.

Mr Hill, Ms Law, Mrs Papworth, Mrs Hurst, Mrs Hayden and Mrs Hayes are just some of the names of great teachers who taught me at the school. I remember making salt dough fruit with Mrs Papworth and singing about fluffy cauliflowers and green cabbages in the school hall.

I loved doing the annual shows, playing the mirror in Snow White. I was the narrator in another show about a fizzy pop maker who was being pushed out of business by the big companies!

One year, whilst I was in the junior school, I remember there was a bomb scare and we were all evacuated to the field to play. Our minds playing tricks on us and telling us we could see smoke when it was just a figment of our imagination. 

I have two older brothers and a younger sister who also went to Churchfields. Mrs Ware (the dinner lady) was convinced I was one of my brothers at one time (to be fair we did look similar, with just three years between us) and told me off instead of him! He loved it; me, not so much!

The school has completely changed now. It’s very modern and up to date, but when I was in the final two years, our classroom was a portacabin out by the hall. I liked being out there. It was a bit chilly in the winter and a sweatbox in the summer but it was nice to be able to see the greenery outside and hear the rain on the roof. 

The food at lunch was quite nice but I did have to stay away from the fish fingers as they made me ill for some reason. The puddings were the best and I must admit I loved the custard!

I attended Churchfields nursery, infants and junior school and I wouldn’t change that for a moment. The friends I made and still have from there, the memories made and the things I learnt shaped me to be the human being I am today. When I look back on my time there, I am filled with happiness. I remember the excitement and how learning was made fun by the teachers. 

For the memories and everything you taught me, I thank you, Churchfields.

For more information on Churchfields Infants’ School and Churchfields Junior School, visit swvg.co.uk/churchfields

Joshua Abbott is crowdfunding to publish the book Modernism Beyond Metro-land. In the second of a series of extracts, the spotlight is on the Odeon. Photo by Geoff Wilkinson

The 1920s and 1930s saw hundreds of cinemas open around Britain, as the various cinema chains such as Odeon, Gaumont, ABC, Granada and Essoldo, competed for audiences in the growing suburbs. Each company sought to create a unique experience for its customers, producing cinemas with various exotic themes, such as Egyptian, Moorish and Oriental, a style that came to be known as ‘Atmospheric’. Art deco was also arriving in Britain from Europe and the United States, allowing architects to produce spectacular designs with curved frontages, colourful decoration and spacious interiors. 

The Majestic Cinema opened on the High Road in South Woodford on 5 November 1934. The Majestic chain was small compared to the aforementioned companies, with just five cinemas in the South East of England. It was designed by locally born architect Samuel JB Pritlove, who also designed cinemas in Staines, Mitcham and High Wycombe (all now demolished), as well as Holland Park synagogue. The cinema has a fairly straightforward art deco facade with a group of vertical windows with curtain-like faience tiling at the top. The cinema could seat nearly 1,750 patrons in a mixture of stalls and dress circle seats. They were entertained by a Compton theatre organ and the building was also home to a restaurant and ballroom. 

The cinema was officially opened by Winston Churchill, at the time in his “Wilderness Years” and the Member of Parliament for Epping (which included South Woodford at the time). The cinema was only part of the Majestic chain for nine months before it was taken over by Associated British Cinemas. The cinema was upgraded to three screens in 1973 and then taken over by the Cannon chain and had further screens added from 1986. Odeon later took over the cinema and, unlike many cinemas of its era, is still open and showing films, now with seven screens. Until recently, next door was a car showroom with a partially glazed staircase tower. It was home to the Harvey Hudson dealership for many years, followed by Land Rover, which vacated the site several months ago.

For more information on Modernism Beyond Metro-land and to support the crowdfunder, visit swvg.co.uk/mbml

Daveena Seepaul, Head of Residential Property at local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash, takes a look at some of the many pitfalls and problems that can arise from residential purchase transactions 

Having dealt with a range of residential purchase transactions, our team has seen many pitfalls and problems that can arise. Most issues can be resolved; however, some can derail the transaction. Many of these pitfalls can be spotted early on so your solicitor can take appropriate steps to minimise risk.

Building regulations
Missing permissions for planning and building regulation approvals could mean that works already carried out are unauthorised and may even be unsafe. Purchasing a property with missing permissions may also result in a loss of value. You may even have to pay to reverse the works so they are brought to current building regulation standards. An indemnity policy is a possible solution, but it does not confirm the quality of the work that has been done.

Potential developments
When a Local Authority Search is carried out, it is specific to that property. Information is not always provided on neighbouring properties. To some degree, your solicitor will obtain information from the seller’s solicitors regarding any information their client holds regarding neighbouring properties. In addition, you can check with the relevant council departments for information.

Trees and shrubs
Some trees in the UK are legally protected, which means you will need the council’s permission to lop, prune or remove them. The local search results obtained by your solicitor should show if there are any Tree Preservation Orders in place.

Lease term
If you are buying a flat or other leasehold property, the unexpired length of the term of the lease needs to be carefully checked. If the term drops below 80 years, this can cause problems and affect your mortgage offer. Some lenders even require a minimum lease term of 95 years. A shorter term could also cause difficulties in selling the property in the future. 

Service charge demands
If you are buying a flat or maisonette, enquiries need to be raised regarding anticipated service charges that you will be required to pay. There could be major works to the block that could include roof repairs or refurbishments that could run into thousands of pounds. The cost of these works can be on top of your usual annual service charge, especially if there is no sinking fund held by the management company or landlord.

There are a variety of complex issues that can arise in property transactions and the above are only a few examples you may encounter. A skilled property solicitor will navigate you through your transaction.

Edwards Duthie Shamash is located at 149 High Street, Wanstead, E11 2RL. For more information, call 020 8514 9000 or visit edwardsduthieshamash.co.uk

Having lived in multiple countries before settling in Woodford, artist Nataly Kenny reflects on the connection she now has with the local environment

I was born in Yerevan, Armenia, where I fell in love with drawing and painting during my secondary school years. Family life and moving countries a number of times in my twenties and thirties, however, meant I did not have the opportunity or head-space to touch a pencil or a brush again for around 38 years.

I eventually settled in England and now live in Woodford with my family. I fell in love with the local area the moment we walked down Snakes Lane East towards our new home 17 years ago. My emotional connection to the area has only grown stronger over the years, having experienced the nature on our doorstep not only through my own eyes and heart but through those of my now late mother, my beloved husband, my daughter and my grandchildren.

I began to paint again after my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The pain of watching her rapidly deteriorate was too strong and I needed to release it somehow, so I tentatively started to experiment with drawing and painting.

The one silver lining of my mother’s disease was that she loved going for walks around the local area, and the one thing she did not rapidly lose was her love of nature. Those walks with my mother kept me relatively sane during those difficult times and also opened my eyes to the beauty of our local park – Ray Park – and the path that runs along the River Roding behind it. And since my grandchildren were born, the local parks and wilder pockets of Epping Forest, including Wanstead Park, have been like a second home to my whole family! 

Every flower, creature and scene in the local parks and along the river and forest paths – their vibrant colours and textures – have inspired me greatly and shaped me as an artist.

At first, I was a lone wolf, but over time, as I slowly recovered from losing my mother to Alzheimer’s, I longed to join the local artistic and wider community. So, in 2023, I joined Art Group Wanstead and Essex Art Club and have since formed friendships with some wonderful artists. We have exhibited together and supported each other during exhibitions in Wanstead Park and Wanstead House, Hawkey Hall, Epping Forest Visitor Centre and, most recently, a fayre at Eton Manor RFC. I love the welcoming atmosphere of these events and getting to know the local community. 

It is a blessing and a privilege to live on the doorstep of Epping Forest and I love painting it! The beauty of it is everywhere; we just need to look up and see it.

To view more of Nataly’s artwork, visit, natalykennyfineart.com

Redbridge Council is seeking feedback on leisure and culture offerings in the borough.

“As we develop a new leisure and culture strategy, we want to ensure Redbridge continues to offer opportunities that meet the evolving needs of our residents and visitors… We would appreciate your participation in our survey to help us plan for the next 10 years,” said a spokesperson. The consultation closes on 20 October. A new swimming pool in Wanstead Leisure Centre is scheduled to open in summer 2025.

Visit swvg.co.uk/leisure

Rev Abi Todd of Holy Trinity South Woodford explains the plans behind Project Arclight, which will see redevelopment of the church site and new community facilities

Having been the vicar at Holy Trinity South Woodford for four and a half years and counting, I have come to love the local area and its people. SoWo is a special place! I loved the recent South Woodford Summer Festival and today was thinking ahead to the Christmas lights switch-on and the fun we will have. There seems to be a growing sense of community, brought about by many individuals and various groups. 

As a church, our vision is to grow in our depth of spiritual life as we become deeply rooted in our faith, and to be a source of blessing to those around us here in South Woodford. 

I am really excited about Project Arclight, the church’s mission-driven transformation project that will see the redevelopment of the church site and new resources provided for the church and community. The heart of the scheme is to provide: 

A public playground, which is really needed in South Woodford. The trek to Christ Church Green in Wanstead is worth it, but a bit of a distance! There is a shortage of play spaces in South Woodford, reflecting a national shortage. We’re so looking forward to being able to invite local families and children to enjoy the open space we have.

A community café, which we are confident will be a great pairing with the playground, as well as being a friendly space for a cuppa with a friend or an hour with a laptop.

A new church hall adjoined to the church, providing toilets and facilities for church users, and being a resource that can serve both church and community, including our existing hirers and partners.

Housing, including family homes. The sale of housing is how we will fund the building of the church hall and related facilities, and we are also pleased to be able to provide good quality accommodation here.

Minor changes to the interior of the church, the most significant of which is creating a room in the corner of the church for a crèche. There will still be plenty of pews!

We have received pre-planning advice from Redbridge Council and held two community drop-in sessions in July. We are now reviewing the feedback and consulting with specialists, which will result in further design iterations. We are aiming to submit our full planning application in October.

Our heart is to worship God, honour those around us and love our community. What Arclight seeks to achieve is for the benefit of the whole community and is open to all, not only those who already have connections to Holy Trinity. I hope and pray that Arclight enables Holy Trinity to be a blessing to South Woodford for decades to come.

For more information on Project Arclight, visit swvg.co.uk/arclight

Some South Woodford scribbles from DD, our resident diarist and observer of all things local. Illustrated by Evelyn Rowland

Uncles can be very good value. If an uncle, strictly speaking, is ‘a sibling of a parent’, I suppose I only had two. But I had a procession of other ‘uncles’ when it was quite acceptable to adopt various friends and neighbours and invest them with ‘uncledom’.

Talking with Anousha and Haaris who were enjoying a spot of breakfast down George Lane, the definition expanded further. ”Family members we greatly respected were all addressed as uncles,” Haaris explained. Anousha joined in: “I grew up in Pakistan. My mum’s youngest brother, Owais, took me for rides on the back of his motorbike when I was four. There weren’t the same safety rules as here. We had guava trees in the backyard and he would dangle me upside down to reach up and pick the fruit.”

I couldn’t rival that! But I recalled fondly my ‘adopted’ Uncle Eddie, with his lovely rambling bungalow, a huge walk-in pantry, muddy wellies outside the back door and geese at the bottom of the garden. Another adoptee, Uncle Cyril, lived opposite us in Hillside Avenue. He was the first in the road to own a telly. We all crammed into his front room to watch the Queen’s coronation on a 12-inch black-and-white screen. I thought I had never seen anything so romantic as Prince Philip kneeling at his wife’s feet and pledging allegiance.

Several of those I chatted with in George Lane described uncles they loved and admired: Roy told me about his mum’s twin brother, Stephen. “He was a carpenter and decorator by trade. I was the youngest of six and Uncle Stephen was a real favourite of mine. He took me fishing, taught me to play darts and built me a fort with turrets and soldiers and a drawbridge.” Ken also reckoned he had been fortunate to have just the right sort of uncle. “We would go for a few drinks together in the pub, have a laugh, really talk and share our feelings. We built up our relationship over many years.”

My own ‘uncles-in-law’ were Bert and Frank. The wedding photos of Bert and Audrey depict him in circular, wire-rimmed spectacles with thick lenses, looking taut and surprised after being required to stand stock still for 20 seconds. In later life, he became completely blind and lived serenely alone in his first-floor flat with his talking books and meals on wheels and everything in its place. Never once a hint of self-pity.

Frank was a more dramatic, flamboyant character. He belonged to the local literary society and penned a colourful account of his lifetime experiences “just for the grandchildren, you know.” He surprised me once with a visit when I was briefly in hospital for the extraction of two wisdom teeth. In he marched. “Good God!” I said. “No, so sorry to disappoint you, dear! Only Uncle Frank.” 

Other local residents I met were proud of uncles who had been through traumatic wartime experiences. Kevin’s uncle had served as a stoker on The Belfast when it was on duty protecting Arctic convoys. “He was involved in the Battle of the North Cape in 1943 and witnessed the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst. His task was to collect the autographs of the pitifully few German sailors the crew managed to rescue from the sea.” Fred’s uncle had fought in the Falklands War: “I would have liked to know more about his experiences, but he never wanted to talk about it.” Fiona had given a lot of thought to her Uncle Ken’s story. “He was amongst those troops who were dispatched to go in and liberate the occupants of the Belsen concentration camp. I may be wrong but I think he never recovered from it. What I do know is that his sisters and brothers all lived into their nineties but he died of stomach cancer when he was only 63. Perhaps, if your duties involve seeing terrible things, you can never un-see them. They leave a legacy of pain and anguish.” Fortunately, Fiona also had a happier portrait to share: “My Uncle Stewart was very much an intellectual. Very kind and gentle. He lectured on mechanical engineering at Oxford. It was all about steam power and pedal power.”

I suppose not all uncles inspire respect. Jules was pretty blunt about her uncle: “Frankly, I didn’t like him! He was born in India, the son of a colonel in the British army. He came home to England, got married and had two children, then just walked out and went back to India, ostensibly to collect his grandmother’s ashes. He never returned. My last memory of him? Sprawled in his armchair with a bottle of whisky in his hand.” I must have looked uncertain about including this story. But, “Of course, you must write about him as freely as you like!” she said. “All the people I’ve mentioned died years ago.”

As had my only two ‘proper’ uncles, of blessed memory: Hugh and Peter. Hugh lived in heaven when we were growing up: he ran a sweet shop and occupied a flat over the business. He chuckled a lot. No wonder! Surrounded as he was with sherbet lemons and aniseed twists and chocolate bars and gobstoppers. He had been in hardware before confectionary (ironing boards and washing-up bowls, spanners and saucepans). Inevitably, his aura was less magical in those days.

Peter smoked a pipe. We enjoyed watching the delicate preliminary rituals that accompany pipe-smoking, the careful insertion of fresh leaves, the neat prodding-down. He had a beautiful black cat called Maclean. One Easter weekend, when his grandchildren were visiting him, Maclean went missing for several days. Imagine their grief when a neighbour showed up carrying the lifeless black body she had discovered by the roadside. The burial service took place with tender tears. But the next day, the wanderer returned, through an open window. Goodness knows whose pet they had buried. “Of course,” said Peter, “I took the opportunity of explaining to them about the resurrection”.

To contact DD with your thoughts or feedback, email dd@swvg.co.uk

As the South Woodford Society officially rebrands to the SoWo Society, Pearl Arbenser-Simmonds reports on a busy summer of Design Code work and a new, all-encompassing website

It’s been an incredibly busy summer for us as we finalise work on the South Woodford digital Design Code, supported by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (formerly the Department for Levelling Up).

We have also revamped the Design Code and South Woodford Society websites to allow us to combine them as one. And we have taken the opportunity to rebrand the South Woodford Society as SoWo Society. We often shorten the name ourselves, so it made sense to make it official, and less of a mouthful! Alongside the usual offerings, the new website features detailed information on Neighbourhood Plan progress as well as the Design Code; listing the work done to date, a timeline as we move towards presenting our work to Redbridge Council, public consultation on a draft and eventually a public referendum on adopting the plan.

The work on creating a digital Design Code has been exciting and we believe we have managed to strike the right balance between offering tangible information to relevant professionals and developers, whilst keeping it interesting and engaging for local residents. It includes interactive models of what our two main development sites (Station Estate and Station car park) could be, displaying the relevant code related to each area. It is very important to note the models and plans are quite simply illustrations of what those sites could achieve, taking into account local residents’ preferences and stated needs. The Design Code will ensure any development that takes place is sympathetic both to our local environment and residents’ needs by prioritising accessible green space, better public spaces, improved walking and cycling infrastructure and key amenities.

We will also be creating QR codes to be displayed at various locations within South Woodford. This will allow anyone to directly access the website and view information specific to that location. 

In partnership with AzuKo, we have developed an interactive map documenting our community’s assets – everything from greenspaces and tree canopy cover to public seating and cycle parking. This will allow us to show changes over time and illustrate how close we are to achieving our targets for South Woodford becoming ‘London’s most liveable urban village’. We are also mapping kerb uses, kindly enabled by AppyWay. This data will allow us to understand just how sustainable our kerb spaces currently are and identify those which could be re-allocated for uses such as street trees, parklets and sustainable drainage systems. Over the coming year, we will explore ways of expanding this interactive map to include local walking and cycling routes.

The new website launches in mid-September. We look forward to seeing you online!

For more information and to view the new website, visit swvg.co.uk/sws

The South Woodford Business Network will host another networking and information event on 10 October.

It follows a successful meeting held in July, which saw more than 40 local business owners gather at Starbucks. “We strive to improve communication between businesses and provide support. If you would like to be involved in our next event, please get in touch. All businesses from the local area are welcome,” said a spokesperson.

The evening meeting will take place at a local venue to be confirmed.

Visit swvg.co.uk/swbn

Wanstead Fringe director Giles Wilson invites South Woodford to join the cultural revolution that has been going on in Wanstead for the past few years. And, like all of us, it looks like the Fringe is growing up

The Wanstead Fringe, which started just after the 2012 London Olympics with comedy and open-air cinema, is now in its second decade and has blossomed into a full arts festival with theatre, music recitals, literary events and much more. As the years have gone by it has grown and its appeal has widened to supporters throughout South Woodford and beyond.

This year’s theme takes a line from Picasso as its inspiration: “Once we grow up,” in which he wrestled with the tension between getting older without losing childlike freshness. That’s something of what we’ve been trying to do.

This year will see a dozen different plays being performed at three sites, including for the first time Shakespeare, with a production of Richard II taking place at the Wanstead Curtain, a new theatre we have created in the hall of the Wanstead Methodist Church on Hermon Hill. Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads will be staged in a High Street cafe and several new works will be performed in the upstairs room at The Bull, including several plays which are coming to us directly after the Edinburgh Fringe. The Wanstead Curtain will also be the venue for three indoor Kinema screenings, ahead of the traditional favourite open-air Kinema in the grounds of Christ Church. This year’s family film is the hit musical Wonka, featuring the talents of one of the stars of last year’s Fringe, Paterson Joseph.

There will be a range of musical styles being performed, from the Replacement Hipsters through the award-winning Redbridge Brass to top concert instrumentalists and performers. Opera star Lucy Crowe OBE and husband Joe Walters will again be bringing a beguiling mix of musical styles to their eve-of-fringe Charivari in the stunning St Mary’s Church on Overton Drive. And that will also be the venue for two performances of All Rest, an opera written by local composer Simone Spagnolo which is set in the churchyard featuring some of the former Wanstead residents who are buried there.

There will be 10 literary events during the Wanstead Book Festival, which is part of the Fringe. Among the attractions are fake history-slayer Otto English (in conversation with Lord Victor Adebowale), comedian Paul Sinha, who will be speaking about his autobiography, philosopher Julian Baggini and Daisy Goodwin, author of a heartbreaking history of the life of Maria Callas.

We are lucky in this part of London to have such a range of events in easy reach. But with the Wanstead Fringe, we are trying to build something new and local, and we’re doing it for ourselves. Our neighbours in South Woodford are, as ever, our welcome partners in this and we look forward to seeing you at events once again this September.

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit swvg.co.uk/wfringe

A new police hub on the Orchard Estate in Woodford is expected to open by the end of September.

“The hub will house at least 20 police officers, who will work in partnership with council staff to prevent antisocial behaviour and support people across the west of Redbridge,” said a council spokesperson.

Safer Neighbourhoods Teams from Wanstead Park, Wanstead Village, South Woodford, Churchfields, Bridge and Monkhams will use the hub, reducing travel time from their current base in Barkingside.