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In the second of a series of articles to mark Churchfields Infants’ and Junior School’s 150th anniversary, former pupil Carol Elsbury (class of 1972) reflects on her memories of Miss Francis and Mr Baker  

People often say schooldays are the best days of your lives. I felt a sense of security and happiness at Churchfields, which was a testament to the staff. We had recently moved from Swindon and starting a new school was terrifying. At the end of the first day, the school phoned my parents to congratulate them on my grasp of English, which confused my mum until she realised they thought I had come from Sweden, not Swindon!

I have hazy memories of the infants, where Miss Hollis presided over us one day in the playground, dividing our class into birthdays. We had no idea this would mean some of our friends would ‘disappear’ and our class would be altered going forward. We soon adjusted and my real memories begin clearly when we went into the junior school.

Our classroom was one of the huts built at the rear of the school, near the large field, to cater for the ever-growing student body. I can remember that hut as being so colourful, with paintings on all the walls, a large nature table on the right-hand side of the room and mobiles hanging from the ceiling. The tiny tables faced the blackboard and to the rear was the reading area. The teacher was Sheila Francis; she was one of two cherished teachers at that school who did so much for me.  

I was okay until someone raised their voice; then I was scared. When Miss Francis would admonish someone, I would be upset but try not to show it. Finally, my mum spoke to Miss Francis, who came up with a simple but very kind plan. If she was going to raise her voice, she would walk over to me, hold both my hands and smile, and then tell someone off over her shoulder! It might seem silly now, but to me, it made all the difference in the world. 

In my last year at juniors, we were supposed to have our first male teacher, Mr Baker. However, when we came in on that first morning, we were greeted by an elderly teacher, who I think was Mrs Mangham. She explained Mr Baker had been on holiday and had tragically lost his son in an accident. She taught us for a few weeks and said it was essential we did not say anything to Mr Baker about the accident and that we must be well-behaved upon his return. And we were. I found Mr Baker an encouraging and positive person, which was extraordinary given what he must have been suffering. He developed my love of reading and writing and my last report said I had a very “chatty” style! 

I think the greatest sadness for pupils of our era is that when we return for the reunion in June, the buildings we remember will no longer be there. I can close my eyes and see the high windows, the painted bricks, the classroom doors surrounding the hall and the gigantic TV stand, which was ceremoniously wheeled out. But mostly, I remember a feeling of happiness, and for that, I am truly grateful.

A school reunion will take place on 8 June from 11am. For more information and to register, visit swvg.co.uk/c150

Redbridge Council’s enforcement team have urged residents to report fly-tipping.

It follows issues with rubbish dumped by the bus stop at the junction of St Alban’s Road and High Road.

“We are monitoring this location as part of our patrols and have issued a number of penalties for fly-tipping. I would request residents use the council’s ‘report it’ function to report such instances so this can be passed to the correct team to be investigated quickly and action taken before evidence is lost,” said a spokesperson.

Visit swvg.co.uk/reportit

South Woodford resident Kim Rix became a gemologist to fully indulge her passion for gemstones. Ahead of a gemstone discovery tour to Tanzania this summer, she offers some insight into her work 

I’ve always loved gemstones. There’s just something magical about wearing a mineral that was created by Mother Nature over millions of years. In my forties, my passion was so intense, I became addicted to buying jewellery just so I could take a closer look! In 2017, after naively buying a glass ‘ruby’ on holiday, I took my hobby further and qualified as a gemologist with the world-renowned Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

What is a gemologist? I hear you ask. Gemology is the identification of gemstones. It involves testing a gemstone with specialist equipment, which eventually gives you the necessary clues to make an identification. A gemologist can also assess synthetic versus natural gemstones. 

At its most basic, the rule of thumb is this: the rarer, the bigger and the more naturally beautiful a gemstone is, the more it will be worth. The problem is you cannot properly analyse a stone with the naked eye or gemologist’s loupe (magnifying glass). This is where the gem labs come in. In a laboratory, experts using high-tech equipment will be able to give you definitive information. 

A gemologist can also advise if a gemstone is imitating a more expensive gemstone. An imitation stone might be a less valuable semi-precious stone or it might simply be coloured glass. If I believe you have something valuable, I might suggest you seek further advice for insurance purposes.

Is it a good idea to buy a gemstone as an investment? There is no simple answer to this and you should bear in mind all investments involve a degree of risk. Gemstones are hard assets. Historically, they have been seen as a hedge against inflation and the breakdown of more abstract forms of investment. Prices fluctuate, but over the long term, gemstones have risen in value significantly. So has the price of gold, which recently hit an all-time high.

Caring for your gemstones and jewellery is important. Gemstones have different levels of hardness, so some can damage others if thrown together. Each piece of jewellery needs to have a separate compartment, with room for necklaces and bracelets to be fully laid out. This way you’ll avoid your favourite jewellery becoming tangled and scratched.

When it comes to cleaning, you must know exactly what each gemstone is and what treatment it has undergone. Some gemstones can be irreparably damaged by harsh cleaning agents. Diamonds, sapphires and rubies are hard enough to be cleaned at home. To do this, mix distilled water with some mild soap and use a soft toothbrush to gently remove dirt. Dry and polish your gem with a soft, lint-free cloth to prevent water stains.

For more information and to apply for Kim’s gemstone discovery tour, visit gemstonedetective.com

Iain Duncan Smith MP has launched a Central Line satisfaction survey.

“Right now, Central line services outside of Central London are only running every 15 minutes. And they’ve no idea when this will return to normal… That’s why I’m doing a satisfaction survey. I’ll collect all the responses and share them directly with the Mayor of London and the Commissioner of TfL… Please tell me how the delays and overcrowding are impacting you,” said the Chingford & Woodford Green MP.

Visit swvg.co.uk/idscl

Redbridge Council’s External Scrutiny Committee met with TfL recently in light of planned changes to local bus routes.

“We raised several concerns, including the impact of a reduced service to the Nightingale Estate and the new W14 not stopping inside Whipps Cross. TfL acknowledged the issues but reiterated points in the consultation response. We did manage to secure a commitment to review the impact after a year,” said Councillor Daniel Morgan-Thomas. The new routes take effect from September.

Visit swvg.co.uk/bus 

A Year 4 pupil and talented singer from Churchfields Junior School has been awarded a prestigious choristership at King’s College School, Cambridge.

Shashank Shivram Raghavendran has been learning music since the age of four, playing piano, violin and guitar. As a member of the London Youth Choirs, the eight-year-old has also performed at eminent venues, including the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall.

Shashank will take up his position as a chorister at King’s College School in September.

Community gardening group the Woodford Greeners has been incredibly busy over the last year after being granted access to the walled garden in Ray Park. Lydia Fraser-Ward reports. Photos by Geoff Wilkinson

Originally formed by neighbours living in Woodford Green, the Woodford Greeners was brought together in 2022 by a shared desire to see the outdoor spaces in our neighbourhood improved after being neglected for many years.

Initially, volunteers tidied up planters filled with litter and weeds in Snakes Lane East and the surrounding roads, sprucing them up with flowers and plants they bought themselves. But after adopting more than 20 public beds, we made the request to Vision RCL for space in the walled garden in Ray Park so we could grow plants from seed and then transplant them out into the community.

What started as a small, two-metre growing patch soon expanded, and we demonstrated our dedication to improving green spaces by clearing more than 180 square metres of nettles, brambles and poisonous hemlock that was filling much of the walled garden site at the time, as well as removing rubbish and scrap metal. We also raised funds for a gazebo to be installed, a water mains standpipe to be reinstated, plus a series of raised beds to be built and filled with dahlias and other perennial flowers for the public to come in and enjoy at weekends.

Throughout summer 2023, the community garden was host to a number of free workshops, including a food-growing programme which will be returning as a free monthly session on Saturday mornings throughout 2024.

All this activity caught the attention of local councillors, who have thrown their support behind the Woodford Greeners and agreed to clear the rest of the site of old skips and rubbish that have been stored there for more than 10 years. Over the last couple of months, contractors have been bringing in machinery to take it all away, as well as clear large amounts of brambles, freeing up more space for the community garden to expand.

We also received more good news this year after discovering we had been selected to receive a Flagship ‘Our Space Award’ of more than £18,000 from Groundwork to develop this new area of the walled garden and install more crucial resources and infrastructure for the local community to use. This funding will also enable us to run free workshops at the garden again throughout summer 2024, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements on the Woodford Greeners website for our latest events and opportunities.

For more information on the Woodford Greeners and the workshops taking place in the walled garden, visit swvg.co.uk/wg

A 100-year-old local amateur dramatics company is making a comeback this May.

Members of the Woodford Operatic and Dramatic Society (WOADS), which has been dormant since 2015, will take to the stage at Redbridge Drama Centre for a series of one-act plays and monologues entitled Laughter in One Act (or less!), performed over three days from 17 May.

“We are excited to be back just in time for our 100th birthday. Join us for an evening that will delight and amuse!” said a spokesperson.

Visit swvg.co.uk/woads

Eastwood Green, off George Lane, has become a wonderful haven for bees and butterflies as well as a pleasant space for residents. Local gardener Stephanie Derby reports. Photos by Geoff Wilkinson

Opposite the roundabout on George Lane, Eastwood Green was started by a group of volunteers in autumn 2022, with the intention of transforming an uninspiring patch of grass into a vibrant haven for people and wildlife.

What a difference a year and a half has made! The wonderful work undertaken by the South Woodford Gardeners in the local area shows how much difference green space can make to our community. However, we also wanted the area to be low maintenance. All the work here is carried out by a team of fantastic volunteers in collaboration with the South Woodford Society and funding from Redbridge Council. What we have created is essentially a meadow, which includes a diverse mix of wild flowers and bulbs. The plants were selected to be drought-tolerant, so no watering necessary. The occasional weeding is all that’s needed, but we embrace the wild aesthetic. We’re also trialling some grass alternatives, such as chamomile and thyme. These plants are an attractive, low-maintenance option for those who like a lawn but don’t have time to maintain it.

As well as creating a pleasant space for residents to enjoy, one of the main goals of the project was to increase habitat and food sources for our struggling pollinators. We have seen a catastrophic decline in flying insects, with the numbers dropping by 60% in the past 20 years! Sadly, Britain is one of the most nature-depleted countries on the planet. Some of the reasons for the decline are habitat loss, food shortage and pesticide use. It is estimated that 84% of EU crops rely on insect pollination. If this continues, we may not have enough pollinators for all the crops we need, which is a scary prospect. 

The good news is we can change this. We all have the power to help reverse this worrying trend. Research shows that London gardens take up 24% of the land cover in the capital. With more areas being developed and habitats destroyed, our gardens are vital for wildlife. Pollinators use our gardens as ‘green corridors’ to move between their nests and feeding sites. Some species, such as certain solitary bees, only travel as little as 100 metres, so it is crucial for them to have nectar sources close by. As a professional gardener and designer, my top tips for a wildlife-friendly garden would be: reduce hard landscaping; avoid artificial grass; introduce pollinator-friendly plants; and stop the use of pesticides. There are many more I could include, were it not for my word limit!

Our little project at Eastwood Green is showcasing the difference a few plants can make as we’ve seen huge increases in pollinator numbers over the past year. We’ve now installed benches, so I would encourage anyone to take a rest there and observe all the bees, butterflies and hoverflies that are enjoying the flowers we’ve provided for them.

To help with Eastwood Green gardening, email e18society@gmail.com

For more information on gardening and wildlife, follow Stephanie on Instagram @stephanietaraderby

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