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Redbridge Town Hall will host the borough’s second annual Pride event on 11 July.

“We’ll be celebrating our lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer community, as well as our families, friends and allies. There will be activities and entertainment for all ages, information, market stalls and more,” said a spokesperson for Redbridge Rainbow Community. The free event (donations welcome) will run from 12.30pm to 6pm.

A short film documenting last year’s first-ever Redbridge Pride is available to view online.

Visit swvg.co.uk/pride26

Following a visit by Loughton Astronomical Society, local Scout leader Irina Blagoeva is calling on more members of the community to share their skills and passions to help inspire young people

One of the most vivid memories from my childhood is gazing up at the clear sky on long summer nights. I was utterly fascinated by the sheer sight of the stars scattered across the Milky Way like musical notes, playing a tune of one day ending and another in the making.

As kids, we would count the stars, guess the constellations and even try to predict the next day’s weather by the number of stars. According to old wives’ tales, the more stars, the warmer the day. Was it true? I have no clue, but what matters is that the experience stayed with me. Fast forward to today: I still catch myself looking up at the sky, wondering what the next day may bring. It is that same special sense of wonder I hope every child gets to experience; just looking up, letting their minds pause and allowing their imaginations to take over.

As a recently appointed Scout leader at 36th Epping Forest South Sea Scouts (based in Woodford Green), I have been on a mission to find people who could introduce the scouts to the wonders of the night sky. After a quick search, I contacted the Loughton Astronomical Society, which runs a dedicated club for kids and weekly adult meetings. They accepted my invitation instantly. Following a month of planning and some warm-up discussions about space, Brian Morton, with three fellow members, arrived fully prepared, delivered a presentation and allowed each Scout to use the team’s personal telescopes for observation.

Ironically, it turned out to be an observation of the wall clock rather than the dazzling stars, as the weather was not on our side (despite carefully selecting the date to maximise visibility). Perhaps we should have followed that old wives’ tale and counted the stars the night before instead of trusting the forecast!

The Scouts, of course, had fun anyway; it was informative, hands-on and different to their usual routine. In fact, it inspired the leaders too, and we are now determined to incorporate stargazing into future camps.

Following the success of this event, I am keen to involve more people in real-life learning experiences for the Scouts. So, if you’ve got a skill, hobby or subject you are passionate about, know inside out and would be happy to share with others, please get in touch. Scouting has always been about more than just badges and meetings. It is about opening doors, sparking curiosity and giving young people opportunities they might not otherwise have.

If you would like to share your skills with the Scouts, visit swvg.co.uk/36th

For more information on Loughton Astronomical Society, visit swvg.co.uk/las

Councillor Bert Jones has been elected as the new Mayor of Redbridge for the 2026–2027 municipal year, taking over the ceremonial role from South Woodford councillor Beverley Brewer.

“I was born in Mexico, but came to the UK as a child. After doing a degree at the University of Manchester, I came to Redbridge and have lived and worked here ever since,” said Councillor Jones, who has selected Haven House Children’s Hospice in Woodford Green as one of three charities to support during his term in office.

Local men’s mental health advocate Simon Matthews shares his journey of trauma and recovery while campaigning for greater suicide prevention funding through his Simon Says It’s OK support group

I’m a firm believer that hurt people can hurt people, as they have untreated trauma. And healed people can heal people because they have worked with the tools given to them by professionals that make them understand how to control emotions.

My name is Simon Matthews and I’m a local advocate for men’s mental health. I also aim to create awareness around suicide prevention and misandry. I first started Simon Says It’s OK during the covid pandemic. I was homeless. I lost my job because I refused to have the vaccine for personal reasons. I was alone a lot of the time and didn’t have the support I needed, so I turned to social media to promote the fact we need more awareness and funding across the UK for NHS mental health services.

I have been diagnosed with complex PTSD, ADHD, EUPD and traits of bipolar. I’ve since completed three years of talking therapy, which includes CBT and DBT. I’m currently waiting on ADHD treatment, which is around 12 months away. There are over two million people on waiting lists for treatment for mental health conditions on the NHS nationwide. It’s taken me around half my life to get onto the correct medication to keep me stable. Currently, the UK has funding of around £5m per year for suicide prevention. What they fail to mention is men are up to four times more likely to take their lives than women, and it’s the number one cause of death for men under the age of 50 worldwide.

I’ve been in and out of the NHS mental health services since my early twenties, and I’m now 40. The process is long, repetitive and sometimes feels like you’re being forgotten. What I have noticed is you have to be patient and keep fighting. Unfortunately for some people, this is not the case. For some, there is only one way out. This is why I’ve started the first petition in history to bring awareness and attention to the fact we have a suicide crisis on our hands; around 80 men a week are just not here anymore, and the government must increase nationwide funding immediately to around £20m per year. So, please take a few minutes of your day to sign my petition if you believe everyone deserves help. I am also accepting donations to help promote this petition via online advertisements.

I’m also considering putting on some local awareness events next year and I’m looking for like-minded people to join me and help in any way possible. If I can prevent anyone from ending their life, then I will have achieved something huge, and I believe I can do this with your help. Thank you all for your support.

To view Simon’s suicide prevention petition, visit swvg.co.uk/simonsays

For more information, email simonsays_itsok@hotmail.com

Gardens in South Woodford will open to the public this July, inviting visitors to explore hidden plots, wildlife havens and tranquil spaces while raising funds for charity. Fiona Grant encourages you to take a look

The National Garden Scheme (NGS) is pleased to announce that four local gardens will be opening in July, with all proceeds going to a variety of nursing and health charities.

So, what exactly is the National Garden Scheme? Well, what began as a vehicle to fund district nurses 99 years ago has grown into the UK’s most significant funder of nursing. Charities such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Parkinson’s UK, Carers’ Trust and Horatio’s Garden are all supported by the NGS. Last year alone, £3.9m was raised by some 3,300 gardens across the UK.

Alan Titchmarsh, the new NGS President, notes that the scheme is run by almost 600 volunteers. He goes on to comment that gardening is a craft that continues to amaze him, even after 60 years of earning his living from it. “Not only is it hugely important in terms of caring for the landscape and for wildlife, but also for our own mental and physical pleasure, for joy and for looking after the planet.”

I personally became involved with the NGS nearly seven years ago, when a neighbour suggested we did a joint opening. Firstly though, I had to have my garden ‘assessed’ by East London organiser Teresa Farnham. She immediately put me at ease and said local visitors often have similar sized gardens and are looking for inspiration. If you have a garden that is interesting and would appeal to visitors, I would definitely encourage you to consider opening. It certainly doesn’t have to be a massive show garden! My garden is about 80 feet long behind a Victorian semi. There’s a patio, a small pond and borders stuffed with plants.

One of the big attractions of our open garden is offering a lovely afternoon tea, and we work hard baking for days. Kind friends always donate some of their bakes, too. A wonderful little team of friends serve the teas; I literally couldn’t do the event without them. Last year, we had over 75 visitors.

This July, I’m opening again with my next-door neighbour, who has a spacious patio and child-friendly garden. Another neighbour’s garden has a tranquil white theme and offers year-round interest with shrubs and climbers. The fourth garden has a Koi pond, raised beds and cottage-style planting.

There is always something of interest at an open garden, so do come and join us for a lovely afternoon of plants and cake whilst also supporting worthwhile charities.

Local open garden dates:

5 July, 2pm to 6pm: 83 and 85 Cowslip Road, South Woodford, E18 1JN (£6).

12 July, 2pm to 5pm: 25 Mulberry Way, South Woodford, E18 1EB (£6).

19 July, 2pm to 5pm: 19 Rokeby Gardens, Woodford Green, IG8 9HT (£4).

For more information on local NGS gardens, visit swvg.co.uk/ngs or email teresa.farnham@yahoo.co.uk

At the Churchfields Ward Panel meeting in June, the police Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) presented the ward crime figures for the past three months.

“It is gratifying the figures are moving in the right direction and the team was congratulated. Total crimes in the last quarter were down by 15%. The panel was able to use these figures to review the ‘promises’ for the SNT to focus on next quarter,” said panel co-chair Elaine Atkins.

Churchfields ward residents are invited to join the next meeting on 10 September.

Visit metengage.co.uk

Calvin Bailey, MP for Leyton and Wanstead, has been appointed Minister for Veterans and People at the Ministry of Defence.

It follows a ministerial reshuffle instigated by the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey in June.

“I am proud to have been appointed alongside the new Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis. The Armed Forces have shaped my life. A sixth-form scholarship gave me my start and set me on a path that led to 24 years of service in the RAF and, ultimately, to becoming a Member of Parliament,” said Calvin.

A music festival will be held on 4 July to mark the 50th anniversary of Trinity Catholic High School in Woodford Green.

“Join us at Trinity Fest for an evening of music, food, fireworks and family fun, and help us raise funds for the school’s outdoor spaces,” said a PTA spokesperson. The event will take place at Whitbreads Sports Ground, off Durham Avenue, from 4pm to 10.30pm (tickets: £7).

The school was founded in 1976 following the amalgamation of St Paul’s and St Mary’s Grammar schools.

Visit swvg.co.uk/trinityfest

The South Woodford Business Network will host its next gathering on 13 July.

“This event is an opportunity to connect with like-minded local businesses, share ideas, forge collaborations and contribute to building a thriving business community in South Woodford,” said a spokesperson. The free event (booking required) will take place at The Woodford on George Lane from 5.30pm to 7pm.

Visit swvg.co.uk/13jul26

For more information on community crime-fighting, visit Met Engage.

South Woodford SNT
Email sntji-South-Woodford@met.police.uk or click here.

Churchfields SNT
Email sntji-Churchfields@met.police.uk or click here.

A controversial murder case will be the focus of the East of London Family History Society’s meeting on 24 June.

Percy Thompson was stabbed to death by Frederick Bywaters on 3 October 1922 in Ilford. Percy’s wife, Edith, had been in a secret affair with Frederick. Although there was no evidence that she knew her husband would be attacked, both Edith and Frederick were convicted of murder and executed in 1923.

The high-profile case will be discussed at Wanstead Library from 7.30pm (visitors welcome: £3).

Visit eolfhs.org.uk