Editor

A South Woodford resident has completed a nine-year challenge of walking the full length of all 11 London Underground lines.

“I started on 10 August 2016 with the Central Line, which took almost 24 hours, and finished with the Piccadilly Line on 31 August this year, which took just over 29 hours,” said Janiv Patel, who completed each walk without sleep, raising more than £23,000 for the British Heart Foundation in memory of his grandmother, Mrudula, and his aunt, Jyoti.

Visit swvg.co.uk/11lines

Volunteers are needed to help build a series of leaky dams across Epping Forest this winter.

“Leaky dams are a natural flood management measure. Made of wood and placed horizontally across a watercourse, they mimic the natural obstruction caused by trees and branches falling into the water,” said a City of London Corporation spokesperson. The dams are designed to reduce flood risks, protect the Forest’s carbon store and improve water quality.

Volunteer sessions will take place from November.

Visit swvg.co.uk/dams

Can you spare a few seconds to vote for us in the Redbridge Social Value Awards 2025?

Click here, fill in your name and email, scroll down and add a comment if you wish (all other info will be prefilled). Many thanks for your support.

Pupils from Oakdale and Churchfields junior schools have planted bulbs in Elmhurst Gardens.

“In excellent September weather, the children planted spring-flowering tulips and daffodils. They listened attentively while Mike Teahan talked to them about the history of the park and its trees, including a rare Ginkgo tree, which originates from Japan… One boy announced it was the ‘best school outing he had ever had!’” said a spokesperson for the Friends of Elmhurst Gardens, which hosted the event in collaboration with Vision RCL.

Redbridge Council has launched a consultation over plans to introduce three new yellow box junctions in the local area.

The three junctions in questions are:

• Chigwell Road and Albert Road.
• Hermon Hill with Orford Road.
• High Road with Grove Hill.

“This follows the completion of traffic surveys that have identified evidence of these junctions being obstructed which leads to queuing, delays and reduced visibility for road users… All feedback received to the consultation will be collated and reported for full consideration prior to any final decision being reached,” said a spokesperson.

The closing date for submitting any feedback is Sunday 26 October 2025.

Visit engage.redbridge.gov.uk/2025-yellow-box

Osteoporosis often goes unnoticed until a fall causes serious damage, but early action can help. Kim Betts shares her experiences and explains  how a local support group in Woodford is making a difference

“The leg bone is connected to the knee bone.” This old skeleton song that you may have sung in your childhood reminds us that everything within our bodies is connected. When we want to improve our bone health, we need to look at all the factors in our life that are connected and have an effect on our bones.

Osteoporosis means porous bones and describes a condition where the strength of bones to withstand impact has become poor, putting sufferers at higher risk of fractures. Half of all women and a fifth of all men over 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. As populations age all over the world, osteoporosis is second only to cardiovascular disease as a global problem burdening health services.

When I was diagnosed with osteoporosis earlier this year, it came as a shock to me because this brought about the very first long-term medicine I had ever been prescribed. However, I did not feel unwell or weak; there is no pain, in fact, I am very fit. There are no symptoms until you have a fall. A silent disease. Many people have the condition but are unaware they have it until it is too late and they fall and break a bone. This happened to my dad at the age of 80. Shortly after recovering from a hip operation after a fall, the bones in his spine started to collapse. He needed serious painkillers. He lost about five inches in height. His organs all had to fit into a smaller space. He then told me my grandmother also had osteoporosis and had broken both her hips; however, she lived past the age of 100!

After my dad was diagnosed, I asked to be tested at my doctors and was given a DEXA scan to test bone density. The most recent scan showed I was on the edge of having osteoporosis and medication was recommended. The first action I took was to read as much as I could about the condition. The Royal Osteoporosis Society is a font of knowledge. They have information videos, articles and advice and guidance. They also have a specialist nurse helpline. There is also the opportunity to connect with others through supporter and volunteer groups and events. The cost is a very reasonable £36 per year. By joining the Royal Osteoporosis Society, I was introduced to the North East London support group based in Woodford.

It’s good to talk to other local people with the same problem; we can compare notes and discuss what is concerning us. We endeavour to make others aware of the condition so help can be given at an early stage instead of having a fall first. We bring in specialists to talk to us about medication, diet, exercise, keeping your home fall-safe and mindfulness.

The next meeting of the Royal Osteoporosis Society’s North East London support group will take place at Woodford Memorial Hall on 23 October from 1pm to 3pm. For more information, email nelondonvolunteers@theros.org.uk

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

We have a word ‘sight-seeing’. Why isn’t there a word ‘sound-hearing?’ What are the sounds of South Woodford? My list would include the warnings to ‘mind the gap’ and ‘stand behind the yellow lines’ as the next train to West Ruislip approaches; the celebratory Sunday morning bells of St Mary’s; the shrieks of excited laughter from the children in Elmhurst Gardens.

Moving further afield and even back in time, some of you I met in George Lane helped me begin to amass a whole heap of memorable sounds: the sea lapping over pebbles on the beach, the wind rattling through the rigging of yachts in a boatyard, the thrill of rolling thunder, the lawnmower in a summer garden, the solemn ‘Remembrance music’ at the Cenotaph. Some of you recalled sounds you will never ever, ever, forget: the air-raid warning siren and the all-clear.

“What is your favourite sound?” I asked Joseph, fresh from his shopping. “The sound of silence!” he replied without hesitation. “London is full of noise from helicopters and traffic of all kinds.” His partner, Maeve, admitted she found seriously loud noise overstimulated her, made her anxious. Sarah, interestingly, came up with very contradictory sounds: “I love listening to the birdsong in my garden. And I love loud music, rock, pop, RnB, dance, the louder the better.” Her partner, John, was equally responsive: “I hate beeping car horns, train journeys with people speaking loudly on their phones, organ music and, even worse, the sound of bagpipes!” (One of my absolute favourites, in fact). Ann also liked to play music all the time, a companionable background to her daily routine. Music from her teenage years in the 80s and 90s. Her ‘bugbear’, she said, was all the pinging in the kitchen, the dishwasher, the clothes washer, all reminding her that she had a job to do. Stacking the crockery and cutlery away, getting out the ironing board.

Janet and Denise were enjoying an afternoon tea at Bread and Oregano. “Oh, I love the sound of peace and quiet. I love Radio 4; I’m only too happy to go to Ambridge with the Archers. I love the sound of the Sunday cricket match on Woodford Green, the ball on bat, the occasional polite ripple of applause.” They certainly both agreed: “There’s nothing to match the sound of the cork popping out of the prosecco!”

Mia quite surprised me. She loved the sound of rivers in the Peak District, but when she was at university and studying hard, she would find the noisiest place available, the sound of lots of chatting, “chaotic energy” she called it. It was there that she could concentrate best of all. Her friend Montbretia (her mother was passionate about flowers) had some “obnoxious sounds” to share: “It’s cars being deliberately revved, typically by men! Oh, and by the way, cutlery scraping on a plate makes my skin crawl.”

Four teenage boys, obviously pals. Would they want to play ball? How could I have doubted? Answers toppled out: “The distant echoey sound of the train approaching from Woodford. The rustling of the wind in the trees. Even their various branded sports shoes evidently had their own individual sound. One found the screaming alarm of a speeding police car quite threatening. Another felt it made him feel more secure. One felt the urgent blaring of an ambulance disturbing, another that it conveyed a sense of hope. Things got more personal: they all enjoyed the sound of their laughter when teasing each other, their string of jokes and anecdotes, their confidings about girl friends and parents. Really, I suppose, the sounds of a long-term, cherished friendship.

My own treasury of sounds spans decades, from the signature tune for Dick Barton, Special Agent, to dear, helpful satnav. From “Climb every mountain,” to Rachmaninov’s second piano concerto. And as always, reliable Big Ben. But roughly 10 years ago – I can’t remember if I ever told you this – I realised I was going deaf. I felt less confident. Less connected. Let’s cut a long story short: I placed myself under the regular and expert and welcoming and ongoing care of Whipps Cross Audiology Department. Don’t dare talk to me about the horror, the stigma even, of hearing aids! No one minds wearing glasses when their eyes need help! I won’t ever forget the day I emerged from the hospital all geared up for the first time. I had to stop myself from skipping with joy, not to mention laughing aloud when I could hear everybody’s secrets on the bus.

You can’t help hearing loudly delivered conversations at a nearby table in a restaurant. Recently, at the Wood Oven, a foursome awaiting their starters were ‘at it, hammer and tongs’: “Janet, you knew I wanted you to lead a club! But you didn’t. I knew you had one.” “How was I supposed to know, John?” “You don’t seem to understand each other very well!” (a third voice). “Come off it, Mary. Of course, it was obvious from his play.” “Possibly to you, Matthew, not to me.” Janet huffed and puffed a bit, then picked up the drinks menu: “You lot are far too clever for me!”

Returning home on the W12 last week I eavesdropped shamelessly: what a tale this young man had to tell: “I was on holiday in Crete last week and this young chap comes up to me and asks me to take a photo of him with his girlfriend. ‘Fine,’ I said. Then he whispers in my ear: ‘Actually, it’s a video I need. The thing is, I’m just going to propose to her’. Wow! Somehow, I managed to avoid the shakes. The drama unfolded: he was down on his knee, gazing up at her, opening the little box, presenting the ring. She was so excited. It was definitely a ‘Yes!’ They hugged to seal the bargain. My video was a huge success.”

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

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, unless there is a dispute underlying the estate and the will! Kavita Rana from local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash explains

When a person dies, their estate is administered in accordance with their wishes in the will. If the deceased does not have a will and dies intestate, the intestacy rules govern the distribution of the estate. So, where does this leave you?

Contesting a will
There are a number of grounds to contest a will. It may be that the deceased did not have the relevant mental capacity to understand their decisions at the time the will was signed. A failure to satisfy this test could result in the will being invalid.

It is important that any lawyer advising on the will checks whether the person making it understands the consequences of their actions and is of sound mind. This could lead to a claim if not.

A will can also be overturned for undue influence. For example, if the deceased was pressured, forced or coerced into making the will or the content of it, this may give rise to an action to declare the will invalid.

What if an individual feels they have been inadequately provided for in a will?
This might lead to a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The law allows dependents to apply to the courts for reasonable financial provision from the estate where there is inadequate provision in the will. The court’s award will depend very much on the individual facts surrounding dependency.

What if the deceased made a promise to provide property for an individual, but the will fails to make the bequest? 
If an individual relied on the deceased’s assurance of property and acted to his detriment as a result, the courts have jurisdiction to enforce the promise and order that the property be transferred from the estate to the individual, even if the will does not provide for this. For example, in the case of Gee vs Gee (2018), the court found in favour of a son who was cut out of a promised inheritance of farmland after his father transferred the asset to his other son.

How was the will signed?
There are grounds to challenge a will depending on how the will was signed. This depends on who the witnesses to the will were, how many witnesses were present for the will signing and who was present when the will was signed (to name but a few crucial grounds). If the will was not executed properly, this could be an automatic ground to declare the will invalid.

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

Chess has come a long way recently but there is still a missing piece, says 18-year-old Jay Demetriou, whose membership of Wanstead and Woodford Chess Club has helped him connect with the community

With social media providing us all with quick-fix entertainment with little need for thought, it could have been assumed that thought-provoking pastimes like chess would fade into irrelevance. Instead, chess is more popular than ever before; chess.com now has more than 4.5 million active UK users. Many of these new players come from the younger generation, and at Wanstead High, I’ve watched this phenomenon first-hand.

More and more young people are playing chess! Chess has flourished, not because it is so different from other activities, but because it has moved with the times and adapted for the modern world. Chess can be played online, like a video game. The game-mode Bullet Chess (where each player has one minute to make moves) has proved particularly popular in an entertainment landscape which prioritises quick dopamine hits. Streaming series like The Queen’s Gambit have also breathed new life into the game. The boom is great for chess, turning what was once seen as unfashionable into a game for everyone.

This online integration, however, leads to the exact problems we always hear about social media and video games: a loss of a feeling of community; a loss of true connection. While this is frequently used as a way of attacking young people, it is rarely followed by a solution. This is why local chess clubs are important, and why the social atmosphere of Wanstead and Woodford Chess Club is so valuable for us; a way to bridge the gap between the internet and true community.

Our chess club creates this atmosphere through its location, the welcoming Wanstead House, and the accessible nature of chess as a mental sport. A game for all ages. There are two sections of the club: the junior section, which runs every Tuesday from 5pm to 7pm, and the broader club session which runs from 7.30pm to 10pm. The bar is a key reason for the lively feel! From here, teas will be brought to the players during their games. When matches are over, players will often return to the bar to chat. It’s also a meet-up point for a trip to the pub for some!

For juniors, whose first experience of chess may have been from behind a phone screen, playing games over the board with their friends – learning and improving together – allows them to maintain their love for the game. The social aspect of chess should not be overlooked.

While chess is alive and well, it could be livelier if more people were to join clubs and enjoy the social aspect. Providing an answer, though not the answer, to the broader 21st-century problem of a lack of community. So, next time you think of a night-in, why not think of a knight out?

Wanstead & Woodford Chess Club meets at Wanstead House, 21 The Green. For more information, visit wnstd.com/chess

A South Woodford family is inviting people to their home on 28 September for a coffee afternoon in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

“This is our sixth year of hosting a Macmillan coffee event. In previous years, we’ve always been pleased by how generous visitors have been, which helps make a difference for people living with cancer. We look forward to sharing some of our lovely home-baked goods with you,” said Fiona Grant.

The event will take place at 83 Cowslip Road from 2pm to 5pm (£5 minimum donation).

Remember Chris Tomkins of Kistrucks Bakery on George Lane or Colin Bent of Albion Clocks on Grove Hill? At the Woodford Historical Society’s October meeting, Mike Edwards will be discussing Shelf Life E11:E4:E18, a self-published book featuring photos and stories of these and other local business owners

The idea for the book came about during a photography course I was attending at City Lit in 2008, which covered environmental portraiture, that is photos of people set in their working environment. I started by asking some shopkeepers in Wanstead to ‘pose’ for me, and found most people happily agreed.

While they were posing for their portrait, conversations began to reveal their past and how they became involved in the local community. I found the longer they had been plying their trade or vocation, the more interesting their stories became. Some thought they had nothing of interest to say, but without fail, that was never the case. Some had come from unprivileged backgrounds and made a good life for themselves. Others led intriguing lives and made the most of opportunities that came their way.

I have always been passionate about local history and appreciating the roles that people play in their communities, and decided I had to make a record of their experiences, accompanied by the photos. The idea to create a book began in 2008, and was finally published as a permanent record of 41 subjects in 2014.

For my Woodford Historical Society talk in October, I will be concentrating on the Woodford section of the book, which reveals some fascinating stories. Some highlights include: WD Chapman Butchers in Woodford Green, who traced their family business back three generations to at least 1890; Chrystalls Pharmacy in Woodford Green, whose former owner, Vic Irvine, is descended from a Native American orphan; Kistrucks Bakery in South Woodford (closed in 2017), where until as recently as the late 1950s, 26 horse-drawn carts would leave the bakery in George Lane to supply the East End; and Colin Bent the horologist, who worked from his shop Albion Clocks on Grove Hill (Colin passed away in 2013, just before the book was published).

I regard this work as a celebration of those who have dedicated a large part of their lives to their trade or vocation, invariably with passion, pride and modesty.

Mike’s presentation will take place at All Saints Church hall in Woodford Wells on 9 October from 2.30pm (visitors: £5). For more information, visit swvg.co.uk/9oct

To view more stories in Shelf Life E11:E4:E18, visit swvg.co.uk/shelflife

The Woodford and District branch of the National Trust has announced its new season of talks.

The programme begins on 24 September with a presentation about the wildlife of Epping Forest by retired biologist and photographer Peter Warne.

Future talks will include a look at the art of John Constable (15 October), the history of Walthamstow (12 November) and the restoration of Waltham Abbey Church (3 December). Events take place at All Saints’ Church hall in Woodford Wells from 2.30pm (visitors: £3).

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