Editor

Local gardeners have adopted a patch of neglected space in Snaresbrook Station car park.

“We have taken over a long, thin strip in the car park, which was offered to us by the area manager of NCP. We are getting rid of decades worth of rubbish so that we can seed, plant bulbs and put in plants. The soil is very good, and we hope to have lots of tall flowers in bloom later this year. It should be a delight to commuters and, of course, insects,” said Marian Temple of the Wanstead Community Gardeners.

South Woodford’s inaugural Christmas lights switch-on was attended by over 200 people and will become an annual fixture in the community calendar.

“It was an enormous success! The Mayor of Redbridge and Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP welcomed the throng and posed for photos. Everyone enjoyed the Redbridge Drama Centre panto characters, the Christmas presents on roller skates and the beautiful Snow Queens on stilts – and joined in the festive singalong with gusto, accompanied by Brook Brass and Redbridge Music Lounge, buoyed by churros and mulled wine!” said a spokesperson for the South Woodford Society, which organised the event.

“We had so much positive feedback and suggestions for making it even better next year. South Woodford’s annual Christmas lights switch-on has begun!”

South Woodford resident Debbie Pearson is a tour guide for the City of London and the City of Westminster. During lockdown, she took the opportunity to learn more about the local area, including South Woodford’s cinema history

We are fortunate in South Woodford to have our own cinema – the Odeon at 60–64 High Road. With its five large windows, clean lines and symmetrical aspect, it looks every inch the 1930s building.

After a long period of closure, cinemas are open again for business. The Odeon has been a feature of the South Woodford neighbourhood since 1934, but it has not always been known by this name, and it was not the first cinema in town.

The cinema on the High Road was designed by the architect SB Pritlove in the Art Deco style. It was opened in 1934 by Winston Churchill, the local Member of Parliament, and was called the Majestic. It had a capacity of 1,724 seats, included a ballroom and restaurant, and featured a theatre organ.

In 1935, ABC took it over, and in 1972, it was converted to three screens. In 1986, it was renamed Cannon. The ballroom was repurposed, creating the space for more screens. Nowadays, known as the Odeon, it has seven screens and a capacity of over 1,000.

The first cinema in the area was the South Woodford Cinema. It opened in 1913 at 170 George Lane – now the site of Boots. Following a refurbishment in the Art Deco style, it opened as the Plaza, also in 1934. This cinema was later renamed the Empire. It suffered a fire and closed in 1977.

Odeon Cinemas is the largest cinema chain in the UK. It was founded in 1928 by Oscar Deutsch. The name Odeon comes from the Greek for ‘place for singing’, but it is sometimes claimed that it stands for ‘Oscar Deutsch Entertains Our Nation’. Their flagship cinema is the Odeon Leicester Square, a prestigious venue for many red carpet film premieres.

As well as screening films, some cinemas, including the Odeon South Woodford, also show live events from major venues across the UK and overseas. These include theatre, opera, music, dance, sport and even the Glastonbury Festival. In 2020, as part of their festive programme, some Odeon cinemas showed the pantomime Cinderella, featuring live action combined with interactive projections.

Odeon Cinemas has asked its customers to list their favourite Christmas films. The top two places were taken by Elf and Home Alone. Rather surprisingly, the third favourite was Die Hard. The Muppet Christmas Carol and Love Actually were fourth and fifth, with the black and white tearjerker It’s a Wonderful Life reaching number seven.

Nowadays, cinemas face a lot of competition – from films on television, streaming services, social media and live events. But nothing quite matches the shared experience of watching a film on the big screen in a comfortable cinema. Popcorn optional.

For more information, follow Debbie on Twitter @debbieguide. With thanks to Ken Roe of cinematreasures.org for historical information.

Some South Woodford scribbles from DD, our resident diarist, commentator and observer of all things local

My partner, David, reported yesterday morning that he had been riding around New York on a bicycle trying to track down the hall where a friend was giving a lecture. He did find it, but was late. Worse than that: he didn’t recognise the speaker at all. He hadn’t a clue who he was. It seems we can’t have much influence over our dreams!

I couldn’t compete with David’s risky Stateside escapade, but I did also have a dream to recount. A more modest adventure, but quirky all the same: I was being driven around Ilford town centre in a horse-drawn carriage; more of a cart really, like Steptoe and Son’s. Definitely not anything on the Downton Abbey scale.

I browsed the web. Evidently, “dreams are an enduring source of mystery for scientists and psychological doctors”. I’m not surprised. On a much lighter note, someone had offered this captivating comment:”Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.”

Is South Woodford full of dreamers? Has Covid affected our dreams? I joined a couple outside the Tipi Coffee Company. Posed that question. “Yes indeed,” said the husband. “I’ve dreamt recently about school and college days I hadn’t thought about for years. The good old days, I suppose you might call them.” His wife joined the chat: “I keep dreaming about what were once the familiar situations in my life. The daily routine of going to work. Travelling on the bus. I’m back in a place where I feel I have control over things. Unlike now!”

A friend of mine from Manor Court Lodge was trundling her trolley back from Waitrose when I met her. “Yes,” she said, “I’ve been dreaming much more than usual and always about friends long dead. Is it because death dominates the news these days?” Caroline, strolling with her mum: “I have surreal dreams every night. Full of extreme emotions. Almost as if they were part of my training to be a counsellor, when I will be helping people deal with powerful feelings.” Amira, outside M&S Food, chatting while her toddler slept, surprised me by explaining that often her dreams predicted something that was soon to happen. But she didn’t claim to be in the same league as Joseph in his technicolour dreamcoat. Further down the road, Elaine was enjoying a coffee in the warm autumn sunshine. Her dreams were often a sort of problem-solving session, with her brain trying to sort out thoughts and ideas from the day before.

I soon found that the contents of night dreams and daydreams can sometimes overlap. Sehmi, behind the till in The Children’s Society charity shop, didn’t hesitate to describe his vivid dreams of travelling, with Kenya and India topping the list of destinations he visited in the night. I suspected (and I was right) that he didn’t actually have to be asleep to transport himself into these exotic places! They inhabited his daydreams as well.

The residents of our friendly suburb may not see themselves as being in the same league as Martin Luther King, who dared to shout his hopes aloud: “I have a dream!” But I found no shortage of thinkers and philosophers on George Lane, “dreaming dreams”, pondering hopes and aspirations during this unique phase in our lives. “Live each day to the full, when the future can’t be taken for granted,” was Pam’s advice from her position in the queue at Woods Fish Bar. Bernard, outside Boots, introduced himself as a lifelong champion of natural healing. Promoting ways of monitoring our stress levels. “Breathe in optimism and enthusiasm. Breathe out negativity.”

Four gorgeous girls, sixth formers from Woodbridge High School, were enjoying their lunch break together. What were their dreams? Out they poured: “A long healthy life! To be successful. For my parents to be proud of me. To become financially independent. To travel the world. I’ll be a fashion journalist. A teacher. Something in senior management. No more racism. No more prejudice. No more homophobia. No more Islamophobia.”

It’s true, isn’t it? Some dreams have helped to shape our town. John James Sainsbury and his wife Mary Ann began with a small rented store in Drury Lane in 1869. Michael Marks and Tom Spencer started out in 1894 with a market stall in Leeds. “Everything a penny.” But what about our attractive local independent businesses?

Sue is the founder of Sid & Evie’s. What a feast for the eyes is the interior of her little shop, named after her children. “I’ve always been in retail, but when I had the children, I knew I wanted to go in for children’s clothes and shoes and crafts and wooden toys. I wanted to source from smaller companies, making things that were different and lovely but affordable.”

Tim designed his Creative Biscuit Ceramic Café. We could have talked all day: “I was making corporate videos. Horrifically boring. I was despondent. I saw this place. I dreamt of something more community and family-based. More fun and still creative. Work I can really enjoy. Out of the rat race. We’re serving several schools. Training the kids in pottery-making. We’re at Haven House working with the children there. Such genuinely important stuff.”

I encountered the same sort of passion and dedication from sisters Sez and Dila, who have quickly established themselves at the Luna café after only five months. “We’re outgoing girls. We put a lot of thought into everything. We want people to feel at home. Happy vibes. Our top priority is quality of service. Customers used not to come over the bridge. Now, a new customer comes every day.” Why South Woodford? “There is everything here: the shopping, the cinema, beauty parlours, cosmetics, a variety of restaurants. We love it.”

I can tell you there is something I have never dreamt! That I would be writing this diary for the 50th time. Thank you for reading it.

Elaine Atkins and Rena Pathak start the countdown for the South Woodford Society’s local festive plans

As the winter nights draw in and we are all working so hard, I think it’s fair to say that this Christmas is a time we are all really looking forward to.

The pandemic has hit us all hard in so many ways, and last year, it felt that Christmas was, essentially, cancelled. We all want to celebrate this year, but maybe not all of us are prepared to go shopping in town or deal with large crowds or the busy Tube. Luckily, we have a wonderful opportunity to do our Christmas shopping and to meet up with family and friends right here in South Woodford.

South Woodford ‘town centre’ has a fascinating spread and it’s well worth exploring the shops, cafes and restaurants in each of its George Lane, Woodford High Road and Hermon Hill and Chigwell Road areas. You’ll also see historical buildings and trees – and don’t forget to look up, as there are remnants of painted and embossed signage that will take you back to earlier times. It will give you a good walk too!

Our exciting news is that we’ll be extending our usual monthly market into a festive Christmas market, to be held on Sunday 19 December, from 11am to 4pm. It will be a family-friendly, joyful event, with an emphasis on bringing the community together, shopping local, keeping safe and bringing in that much-needed festive cheer.

The Christmas market and our local businesses will have something for everyone, with lots of gift ideas, decorative items and, of course, delicious food for all the family to enjoy. We are organising a music pavilion, showcasing local musical talent who will be singing carols and entertaining us with live music throughout the day. And watch this space, as we may, just may, have a very special visit from a gentleman who lives in the North Pole, so we are getting a Grotto ready, just in case.

In addition to the live music, festive stalls and food, we are aiming to create lots of activities for children to play, make and do, so the whole family can spend the day together enjoying the festivities. And do get in touch if you want to be involved with a stall on the day or have an idea for an activity at the event.

But what would Christmas be without festive lights? As we write this, we are working with the officers at Redbridge Council to create a well-lit, festive street scene for George Lane this winter. And we’re planning to hold a special ceremony to switch on our Christmas lights in early December.

Merry Christmas and see you soon!

The South Woodford Christmas market will take place on George Lane on 19 December from 11am to 4pm. For more information, visit swvg.co.uk/market

For more information on the South Woodford Society and their festive plans, visit swvg.co.uk/sws

Geoffrey Williams from local solicitors Wiseman Lee talks about lease extensions and explains why a government proposal that would reduce the cost of extending shorter leases may not come to fruition

If you own a flat or are thinking of buying one, you must check how many years are left on your lease. Why? Because as the remaining term – the number of years left to run – shortens, the value of the flat will fall.

If the remaining term is about 125 years, this isn’t too serious. If it’s around 90 years, you should do something about it.

Fortunately, if you have owned the flat for two years, you have a legal right to extend the term by 90 years, but you have to pay compensation to the landlord. How much you have to pay depends mainly on the value of the flat and the remaining term, so the shorter the remaining term, the more you will have to pay.

You would need to get a surveyor to advise how much you may have to pay. Don’t forget, if you do claim a lease extension, you will have to pay most of your landlord’s costs as well as your own. You can get a rough idea of how much you may have to pay by visiting the Leasehold Advisory Service website (lease-advice.org), where you will find a premium calculator.

There is an unpleasant surprise in store if your remaining term is less than 80 years. The amount to pay suddenly increases. This is because you then have to pay something called marriage value. There is a hidden value in the flat that neither the landlord nor the tenant can individually access. It can only be unlocked by uniting – marrying – the landlord’s and the tenant’s interests in the flat. Extending your lease does just that.

The rule is the landlord gets none of the marriage value if the remaining term is more than 80 years when the tenant makes the claim. If there are less than 80 years left, the landlord gets half of the marriage value.

The government announced last January that they intend to abolish completely the marriage value element of the compensation paid to the landlord. If this happens, there will be a big reduction in the amount tenants have to pay to extend shorter leases.

If you have a shorter lease, you may think you will be better off waiting until the law changes. You might be wrong, though. There is no timetable yet for changing the law. Also, the change may well be challenged by big freeholders, as it will slash the value of their property, so the law change may never happen. If it doesn’t and you delay extending your lease, the amount you will have to pay is almost certain to go up.

Wiseman Lee is located at 9–13 Cambridge Park, Wanstead, E11 2PU. For more information, call 020 8215 1000

Streets Apart – run by the charity Living Streets – arranges weekly walks for the over-65s. Project coordinator Tricia Edeam introduces the tri-borough initiative and urges Woodford residents to get involved

We are Living Streets, a charity for everyday walking, and we are working with older adults around the UK to reconnect them with their communities and improve their streets. Our work aims to support those with accessibility needs, providing safe, friendly spaces for organised group walks.

Building on the successful two-year Streets Apart project in Redbridge, the City Bridge Trust has once more invested in walking as a solution to loneliness and inactivity. But this time, extending across three London boroughs: Redbridge, Havering and Barking and Dagenham.

The focus of the Streets Apart programme is to reconnect older people with their community; reducing isolation, improving physical fitness and mental well-being. Walking and talking is easy and free with huge all-round benefits.

Our new three-year project involves led walks with older adults, training walk leaders to leave a walking legacy in the boroughs, street route audits to assess the walking environment and audit reports to suggest improvements to local councils.

Our walks are designed to help older adults stay independent. Rebuilding confidence in the simple act of walking can give the confidence to go out to the shops, attend a doctor’s appointments, attend local events, or visit friends or family. At present, our walks are in Barkingside, Clayhall and Ilford, but we are looking to introduce new walks in other parts of the borough. We are particularly interested in Wanstead and Woodford and are looking for participants to take advantage of this service. To be able to attend, you must be over 65 and be able to walk a short distance. Living Streets staff will discuss your needs with you and match you with a group close to your home. At the end of the walks, the groups visit cafés to allow for the opportunity to sit together and have a tea or coffee and a chat. For many attendees, this is the highlight of the walk as they get to spend time socialising and getting to know each other.

“I feel better, and it was nice to have someone to talk to. I enjoyed both the walk and walk leader, who has given me new information about where I live,” said one participant.

The led walks are set at a slow pace, designed to cater for all abilities and all are welcome to join. Walk leaders are all fully trained, DBS checked and live within the local community themselves.

To join a Streets Apart walking group, refer a friend or volunteer with Living Streets, call 07714 616 599 or email Patricia.Edeam@livingstreets.org.uk

For more information on Living Streets, visit swvg.co.uk/livingstreets

Redbridge Council’s Work Redbridge service will be hosting a one-hour virtual interview workshop on 17 November from 10am.

“This session is dedicated to supporting individuals perform in virtual and pre-recorded interviews. This includes guidance and suggestions on preparing effectively, using technology, building rapport and delivering a confident interview,” said a spokesperson. The council’s free Work Redbridge service is open to all residents aged 18 and over, regardless of circumstances.

Visit swvg.co.uk/wrk

Woodford resident Andy Newman provides a consultancy service to the licensed leisure trade. Here, the former police inspector offers his advice to those going out and those operating venues this festive season

Whether you are going out to enjoy yourselves, organising an event or you’re an operator running your own hospitality venue, there are some dos and don’ts to make for a safe, social and superb night (or day) out. Woodford and Wanstead have some excellent venues. But do remember this: pretty poor planning prevents pretty poor performance.

Those going out
For those going out, do ensure you check out your intended venue beforehand. Don’t go by one thing alone. What are the reviews like? What is the hygiene rating? How does it feel inside and outside? Is it clean? Are the toilets kept clean? Are the staff smart and friendly? Do they appear to know what they are doing? Do you like the ambiance? Is there good signage?

Do book early. You won’t be happy if you can’t find anywhere to go! Do also be polite, respectful and patient with staff, as skills and people have been lost during the pandemic.

Do ensure you or someone you trust always has an eye on your drink. There are too many cases of drinks being spiked (drugged) – don’t let this happen to you. Do engage positively with staff, especially if you are on your own. Venues have a responsibility towards vulnerable people, which is why you want to choose your venue wisely.

Do let people know where you are going and plan your route home, avoiding alleyways, poorly lit areas and suspicious characters where possible. Do have your phone charged and do take positive action. Walk confidently. Be aware of your surroundings and cross the road to avoid unsavoury characters. Be alert to your nearest places of safety. This includes well-run venues that tend to have CCTV and door staff, especially at night. Don’t carelessly flash your phone, money or jewellery around, especially at stations and crowded venues.

Operators running a venue
For those who run their own venues, do submit your Temporary Event Notices (TENS) early. Do ensure all four licensing objectives are being promoted (the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm). Check your staff know and comply with your conditions, especially around CCTV, dispersal and respecting neighbours.

Do the right thing and seek professional help (quickly) should you fall foul of the authorities. An expedited review of your licence could close your business. Do remember the authorities always implement joint Enforcement Operations for the winter festivities. Expect visits; don’t get caught out.

Andy is the founder and director of Andy Newman Consultancy Ltd. For more information, call 07717 834 798 or visit andynewman.co.uk

Now is the time to find out what we can all do to help reverse climate change, says Louise Burgess of the South Woodford Society, which has launched its Greening South Woodford project

As we start to consider the outcomes of the UN Climate Change conference (COP26), combined with the recent struggles over fuel distribution and worries about heating costs, it is now time to find out what we can all do to help reduce greenhouse emissions and reverse climate change.

The above issues, the biodiversity of our local area and the need to increase the amount of green spaces for wildlife (and humans!) are very important to the South Woodford Society. To that end, we recently held a Green Day at the community orchard (which, unfortunately, was also a very wet day) to showcase some greening initiatives.

We tasted some delicious old varieties of apples, learnt how to make and use waxed bowl covers (to reduce single-use plastic), created a wonderful bug hotel from an old beehive and made our own small ones to take home from recycled cans and twigs. We heard about the new soft plastic recycling from the Co-op (such as crisp bags and bread bags) and there was a chance to chat to Peter Desner, the owner of the new electric bike shop in The Galleria, and try out the electric bikes that had been cycled down to the orchard. There was also a stand from the Party Kit Network, which hires out reusable party kits, so you don’t have to use throwaway plates and cups ever again.

Councillor Jo Blackman (Cabinet Member for Environment and Civic Pride) and Councillor Beverley Brewer both braved the downpour and gave their full support to our Greening South Woodford project, which will transform the patch of green at the corner of Eastwood Road with biodiverse planting, herbs and spaces to sit and relax. We are also planning more work at the orchard and hope to install benches and a much-needed storage container for both gardening and litter-picking equipment.

To reduce your own carbon footprint, the main things to try – as well as the five Rs of refuse, reduce, reuse/repair, recycle and rot – are to eat less meat and dairy and use your car (and fly) less often. You’ll be pleased to know that first-class flights take up to at least three times as much carbon as economy flights, so you shouldn’t be envious of those who turn left! One thing that might not occur to many people is the impact of internet use. While it may only be a few grams of carbon dioxide emitted from the energy needed to run your devices and power wireless networks, even more energy intensive are the data centres and vast servers needed to store the content we access. So, do consider if those Facebook updates are really necessary!

We’ll be adding to the environment pages on our website over the coming months, so please have a look for a selection of hints and tips you can follow at home.

To find out more about the South Woodford Society’s sustainability projects, visit swvg.co.uk/sws

Amateur dramatics company Wanstead Players has relaunched itself as WP Drama, with a new home in South Woodford. Lindsey Sculfor explains the changes ahead of their first post-COVID performance

Wanstead Players is reputed to be the oldest amateur drama group in east London and Essex. After successfully performing at the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford for 43 years, the company is moving to a new venue at the Redbridge Drama Centre in South Woodford. We have marked this revitalising new venture by rebranding ourselves as WP Drama (not having been based in Wanstead for some time).

Wanstead Players has always been noted for producing high-quality, wide-ranging tragedies, comedies, dramas and musicals by such authors as Wilde, Dickens, Ibsen, Priestley, Shaw, Godber, Shakespeare and Coward. Members of the company have even written their own plays.

Our company includes members from teenagers to senior citizens, many of whom not only act but also provide backstage expertise, and we constantly welcome new members. Some of the company have been encouraged to tread more exalted boards, including Louise Jameson, Tony Robinson, Don Henderson and Ricky Groves, who started his career as Gary in Eastenders. We are now hoping that relocating to a new venue will provide an opportunity not only to broaden our audience but to attract new talent to join us as actors, directors, technical managers and crew.

Loot by Joe Orton was intended to be performed back in March 2020, but with two weeks to go, COVID intervened and we were locked down and out. Instead of giving up, it was merely moved to the back burner, and we are very happy to announce that it will now be our first show as WP Drama in our lovely new venue, a fresh start all round.

During COVID lockdown, members kept in touch by ‘cinema evenings’ organised by the director of Loot, Brian Seaton. People met in the virtual Zoom bar before the show to catch up. YouTube then provided the platform for a screening of a past Wanstead Players production; audiences reconvened in the Zoom bar afterwards to share happy memories or relive disasters. There are always a few of those!

Loot is a black, outrageous and anarchic comedy satirising the mismatch between the way society dictates people should behave in religious and secular situations, and the reality. It takes a shot at the Church, attitudes to death and bereavement and the corruption of the police force. Premiered in 1965, it reflects some of the attitudes of the day which are less acceptable to current audiences, but its themes remain relevant and topical.

We are delighted by the welcome we have received from Redbridge Drama Centre and look forward to exciting times.

WP Drama will perform Loot at Redbridge Drama Centre from Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 November (tickets: £13). Call 020 8708 8803 or visit wpdrama.co.uk

Ahead of a virtual meeting of Redbridge Council’s new climate forum, Councillor Jo Blackman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Civic Pride, outlines plans to improve greenery across the borough

The pandemic made us all realise the importance of green space in and around our neighbourhoods. The benefits of green space are extensive and well documented – for our own health and well-being as well as for the global climate, nature and biodiversity.

Redbridge Council has recently undertaken a thorough review and update of its policies for managing our green space. For the first time ever, we have a Green Urban Landscape Policy that puts nature and an equitable distribution of green space at its heart.

Nearly 500 people participated in the consultation, showing the value our residents also put on our green space – with environmental concerns and societal benefits featuring prominently in the submissions.

In line with the views received, our new strategy puts the needs of residents and nature at its heart as it sets out how the council will protect, manage and improve greenery and trees.

The action plan included in the policy sets out a number of actions the council will take over the next three years.

We aim to plant over 2,000 new highway trees in addition to several hundred replacement trees, and to replant many shrubs that have been lost from highway beds. This is in addition to thousands more trees that will be planted on other sites across the borough as we seek to support the London-wide target of a 10% increase in canopy cover by 2050.

We have trialled a number of grow zones across the borough where we left grass verges to grow to benefit biodiversity. Initial studies of these sites have revealed an incredible variety of plants and insects, with over 100 different plants identified. We therefore plan to increase these to cover 50,000 square metres across the borough, which equates to 25% of high grass verges.

Our new policy rightly recognises that we need to work with residents to promote the value of our green space, and to help us protect, manage and enhance it.

Our tree pit adoption scheme saw over 1,300 tree pits signed up for adoption this year and we are aiming to double this. Next year, we’ll also be giving away free packets of wild flower seeds to all those who adopt a tree pit. So, make sure you adopt yours – all those who have previously adopted them will need to reapply again this year.

We’re grateful to all our community groups, including the Wanstead and South Woodford Community Gardeners, Wild Wanstead and the South Woodford urban orchard, as well as those that maintain the green space around our places of worship and schools. These groups play a vital role, enhancing our natural environment and building strong communities. To support these and other groups across the borough, we’re giving away a record 50,000 bulbs this year for planting in publicly accessible sites.

We also want to encourage people to improve greenery on private land and we will soon be publishing details of our winter fruit tree giveaway.

Finally, we will be hosting an online session on 1 December to explain more about the Green Urban Landscape Policy and our plans to improve greenery and tackle climate change, and how you can get involved.

Applications to adopt a tree pit close on 30 November. Visit swvg.co.uk/adoptatreepit

To take part in the virtual meeting of Redbridge Council’s new climate forum (1 December, 6.30pm), visit swvg.co.uk/climateforum