Editor

A leading authority on ancient and medieval paganism will be discussing attitudes towards human remains at the West Essex Archaeological Group’s free public lecture on 13 May.

“Traditionally, one of the most consecrated kinds of space is a grave… However, the contents of graves also represent one of the most valuable sources of information concerning ancient societies,” said Professor Ronald Hutton, whose presentation at Woodford Country High School is titled ‘How Sacred are the Dead?’

Visit weag.org.uk

Drivers can now use PayPoint locations to pay for parking in Redbridge.

“The PayPoint scheme gives people the opportunity to pay for a range of goods and services at local retailers signed up as a PayPoint site. More than 100 sites already exist across the borough, and since the start of March, they have been activated to accept payment for parking, including by cash,” said a council spokesperson.

The PayPoint scheme is offered in addition to the existing RingGo parking payment service.

Visit swvg.co.uk/paypoint

Open-air theatre company Illyria will return to Wanstead Park this summer with three family-friendly performances.

The new season begins on 21 July with Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, followed by The Hound of the Baskervilles on 13 August and Doctor Dolittle on 24 August. The South Woodford Village Gazette is offering a pair of tickets as the prize for this issue’s crossword competition.

Visit swvg.co.uk/wp24

A Principal Inspection is to be carried out on the George Lane Viaduct as part of Redbridge Council’s structures inspection and maintenance programme.

It will follow work to replace the expansion joints on the bridge, which began in April.

“We are continuing at pace with the works and are aiming to finish ahead of schedule. We will update the parking suspension signage once contractors complete a full side of the joint renewals. This will allow some parking on The Viaduct whilst the work continues,” said a spokesperson.

A jumble trail in aid of Haven House Children’s Hospice will take place across South Woodford on 19 May.

“This exciting event will bring together local residents who will be selling pre-loved items on their doorsteps. Come along and explore the local streets to discover hidden treasures. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, it’s a fantastic opportunity to find bargains and make new friends,” said a spokesperson. Stallholders must register by 17 May (£5).

The event is being supported by Stow Brothers (no commercial stalls are permitted).

A trail map is available online.

To register a stall, click here.

Barts Health Trust has raised doubts over the continuation of bed-based end-of-life care facilities in the new Whipps Cross Hospital.

“At this time, the analysis of data does not support re-providing the current bed-based services of the Margaret Centre in the new facility.”

The statement also highlights that it is “too soon to make firm recommendations” and a decision on the Margaret Centre’s future is pending. The first phase of construction of the new hospital is expected to begin this summer.

Visit swvg.co.uk/mcfuture

Snaresbrook station car park has closed ahead of the construction of two blocks of flats on part of the site.

“This will allow work to deliver 74 new affordable homes to commence. Due to the complexities of the construction work, there will be limited access to Blue Badge spaces, but we will work to keep these spaces available as much as possible during construction,” said a spokesperson for Places for London, TfL’s commercial property company.

A smaller car park with 22 spaces is expected to reopen in spring 2026.

The first annual Blossom Day celebration took place at the South Woodford Community Orchard last weekend.

“This is our new annual event to enjoy the fruit trees, flowers and buzzing pollinators. Our team of fabulous volunteers celebrated in style with a hands-on gardening session. Everything is growing brilliantly at the moment, including the weeds, so most of the session was spent weeding the central bed where we planted raspberries a couple of months ago,” said a spokesperson for the South Woodford Society, which established the orchard in 2021.

And the site – located on the corner of Primrose Road and Mulberry Way – is set to undergo more development this summer, with plans to lay woodchip paths for better access around the plants. “Our next volunteer day will be held on 19 May from 11am; everyone of all ages is welcome!”

Email e18society@gmail.com

A Woodford Green resident has completed his 25th consecutive London Marathon, raising money for Samaritans while dressed in his iconic running telephone costume.

“Every step I take and pound raised could help train more volunteers, answer more calls for help and, ultimately, save lives,” said Dave Lock, who lost his brother Steven to suicide last year. The veteran runner – who completed the 26.2-mile course with his daughter Isabella in seven hours and 26 minutes – has raised over £50,000 for the charity.

Visit swvg.co.uk/lock

Maintenance work is to be carried out on the George Lane Viaduct in South Woodford for up to 12 weeks.

“We will be replacing the expansion joints on the Viaduct as part of our routine maintenance schedule,” said a Redbridge Council spokesperson.

The work will begin on 2 April, with the Viaduct closed in both directions that night between 9pm and 6am (local diversions, including for buses, will be in place).

After the night works of 2 April 2024, the Viaduct will be open to traffic but the road width will be reduced to accommodate the replacement of the joints. This work will take up to 12 weeks to complete.

“There may be restrictions on parking on the viaduct to ensure traffic can pass safely past the works. The council will also be undertaking a Principal Inspection of the structure over the coming weeks and months as part of its routine structures inspections programme. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the closures and the part lane closure, which are essential for these works.”

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

I’ve never been any good at painting. I am perfectly OK when giving the garden shed an occasional coat of preservative. If it’s a nice warm day. (I favour willow green.) But a ‘still life’ or a portrait? Impossible.

I do remember drawing a square box with four windows, a door, roof and chimney, identical to what the rest of the class produced when we were five. I recall my art teacher at Woodford High with great affection, but I think she appreciated my willingness to scrub up the palettes over the butler sink rather than any skill with brush on paper. David’s dad was a fine artist and my son is very gifted. So, there might be some talent hovering around in our genes. Perhaps I had always, secretly, wanted to advance beyond the kindergarten crayons stage. Over the years, I have assembled a large collection of sketchbooks and paints and brushes from jumble sales and markets. But putting them to use always seemed to slip down the priorities on my to-do list. 

So, when an invitation to enrol in a 14-week beginners’ art course came through the door last July, I put it to one side. And later picked it up again. “Are you thinking of doing that course?” asked David. “I’ll come with you if you like.” (Newspapers do regularly feature advice on exercising the brain by learning something new, don’t they? Especially as we get older.) We started in September. Within easy walking distance too, down at the Salvation Army premises on Daisy Road. The local residents must have become accustomed to the bevy of hopeful Picassos passing by, carrying their rather promising portfolios, every Thursday afternoon. We’ve both done our share of teaching in the past; now, we’d gone back to school. As very ‘mature students’.

A sense of community soon developed. “Avoid looking at other people’s efforts,” we were advised. But “stroll round and chat and see how others are doing,” was also recommended, which led to some much-appreciated mutual encouragement. Imagine my warm glow of hope when one fellow beginner, en route to the coffee and biscuits trolley, paused to comment: “You can definitely see that’s supposed to be a fox!” As the weeks went by, the social aspect of our ‘predicament’ intensified. We talked. “I’ve been taken right out of my comfort zone,” admitted Nicole. “I’m engrossed. This blocks out everything else. Great therapy.” I asked Eric how he came to register on the course. “I’m retired now. Wanted to get out of the house”. But it was so much more: Eric had visited Venice and Rome, been stunned by the lavish murals in churches large and small. “Everywhere you looked, astounding art. I wanted to learn more.”

Diane impressed me deeply as she explained and analysed her feelings. She had been the head of a primary school. Now, she was finding this course “immensely difficult”. She felt uncomfortable, even threatened by being unable fully to grasp and carry out the set projects. But underlying this discomfort was her deepened awareness of how this had probably been what some of her young pupils experienced when the smiling teacher urged them to tackle a challenging new task. Diane did admit that she had, just minutes before, managed to complete that day’s painting. Her daughter, leaving for work that morning, had called out: “Just try and enjoy it today, Mum.” Now, perhaps, things were moving that way. 

Valerie was only too happy to chat. Appreciated a pause to sit back and gaze at her progress so far. “I’ve never drawn a partridge before! I’m trying to decide if I’ve overdone it, or underdone it. You don’t want to spoil the OK bits of your picture. But is there some tweaking that could improve it? A picture has got to grab you, hasn’t it? There’s a Madonna in the National Portrait Gallery that I always make a beeline for. So beautiful. I could take it home with me. But I’m not a religious person.” Nagma was thoughtful too: “I’m loving the course. I feel I’m getting better. But I really wish we could all paint each other. I’d love to be a portrait artist.” Janice treated me to a dollop of delightful philosophy: “I’ve worked in a high-octane career all my life. There was no time to nurture any creative gift I might have had. What happens is, you sort of stop learning. When you do that you finish expanding yourself. This course is like going back to childhood! No weight of responsibility. You can start again. You don’t know what you are capable of until you try. It’s been a joy!”

And what about us? We’ve learnt about perspective and the basics of figure drawing. (But no nudes, in case you were wondering!) We’ve tried pencil sketches and watercolour landscapes, a trio of gorgeous figs in oil pastels. Assorted subjects in acrylics: David said my ‘abstract lemons’ looked like casserole dishes. I thought his looked like a cross between bulldog clips and high-viz helmets. A pair of shoes proved unexpectedly tricky as a subject. Our tutor described mine as “caricaturistic”, which I took to be her kindly way of saying “decidedly odd”. I realised when applying my final brushstroke that both shoes were for a right foot. We’ll never be hanging in the Tate Gallery. But we have been surprised by the pleasure of the experiment and even some modest sense of achievement. Next time we pack for a holiday, sketchbooks may well be included. Certainly, we have made a small step forward in appreciating more about the skill of the great artists. And the kids have had fun posting their comments on WhatsApp. One of the most challenging classes was dedicated to painting objects made of glass. “Could you tell which of us painted which?” David asked his daughter. “Of course,” she said. “DD painted one wine bottle and two glasses. You painted two wine bottles and one glass.”

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