When Woodford Green resident Kelvin Bathie approached family historian Linda Gough, his aim was to find out more about his father’s Scottish background, but the outcome was something quite different and proved to be a perfect example of the fascination of family history research Kelvin knew his family came from Scotland but not much more. When he told me his father’s name was Mensley Bathie, I was intrigued by the unusual first name. Bathie proved a relatively easy name to trace through the public records. I found an agricultural background and, as one relative was an auctioneer in farmland, animals and equipment, Bathie featured in newspaper articles and adverts. The Bathie name moved to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the 1870s, where the occupations became industrial: engine fitter, electro-plater,...

Francis Castro, senior nature conservation ranger for Vision RCL, is keen to champion the Roding Valley and invites you to join him for a late summer walk through this local hidden gem. Valley photo by Anna MacLaughlin The Roding Valley is one of the hidden gems of east London, part of the area’s industrial landscape but also retaining some of its rural charm. It is a great way to explore the borough and for those looking for a more rural getaway. The Nature Conservation Ranger Team, part of the Parks Team for Vision RCL, have a walk scheduled for 7 September, which will be our longest walk yet, completing the trilogy of Roding Valley guided walks we have held throughout the year. It will take in...

Never discuss politics or religion in polite company, so the saying goes. But, keeping it polite, Councillor Stephen Adams (Conservative, Churchfields) explains why Jesus is at the centre of his politics I became a Christian at the age of 21 on a park bench in Nottingham. Here’s what I came to accept: I am a broken and imperfect individual who rejected God, deserving eternal rejection from him. But God in his love sent Jesus to be punished instead of me by dying on the cross and being raised again, proving he’d paid the price and presenting me blameless before God. Jesus went to great lengths to serve me, so in my thankfulness I should be prepared to do the same for others. Many say that...

Councillor Rosa Gomez (Labour, Churchfields) spoke from personal experience when she presented a council motion on domestic violence over the summer. Here, she discusses the work ahead Since 2015, levels of domestic abuse have been slowly increasing, meaning it is essential that action is quickly taken to bring it to an end. On average, two women a week and 30 men a year die as a result of domestic violence. It is estimated to cost the UK £23 billion annually, including costs to the criminal justice system, the health service, social care and housing. Of course, this ignores the personal costs, which cannot be quantified in pounds and pence. Domestic abuse has a personal meaning for me; as a result, it is imperative to my work as a...

Councillor Clark Vasey (Conservative, Churchfields) explains why he campaigned for 60 additional school places in Woodford, and why he continues to press the council on the issue Your child starting school is a momentous moment for any parent. However, for parents across Woodford, this sense of anticipation was replaced with worry as a failure by Redbridge Council meant Woodford had a shortage of school places, while Ilford had an excess of up to 200 places. The result of this failure meant parents across Woodford saw their children dumped in schools of more than two miles away. In some cases, the distances were more than three miles away. Two to three hours of walking a day would have ruled out walking, and the location of the...

Have you noticed the new planters at South Woodford station? Attiya Thanvi explains the culmination of the energy garden project – which was over a year in the making – and invites others to help it grow. Photography by Geoff Wilkinson In June 2018, while scrolling through Instagram, I came across #undergroundinbloom, introducing me to the NGO Repowering London, which funds greening projects across London stations. I sent a recommendation for them to run a project at South Woodford Station, and then forgot all about it. In August 2018, I received an email saying they were interested in coming to survey the station and to see if we qualified for funding.  They asked questions about how many volunteers we had. This prompted me to reach out...

The Environment Agency has announced a day of community engagement in Woodford in connection with the River Roding Project, which aims to improve local river defences. “Heavy rain has caused the River Roding to flood the area eight times in the past 100 years: 1926, 1939, 1947, 1974, 1988, 1993, 2000 and 2007… Parts of Woodford and Ilford are at high risk of flooding,” said a spokesperson. The project involves the construction of a flood storage area to hold back high flows upstream in rural Essex. Enhancements along the Roding Valley are also being explored, including riverside landscaping and re-naturalising the river. “This catchment approach will reduce the risk of flooding to more than 600 homes and businesses in the local area.” Residents are invited...

An It’s a Knockout competition organised by Woodford Green dental practice Improve Your Smile raised £6,800 for Haven House Children’s Hospice at the end of July. Team Improve Your Smile went head-to-head against six other businesses – Enigma Beauty Salon, Whistle ‘N’ Flute: Laundry Lounge, Oven Clean Chigwell, Vantage VA, Catalyst Design and The Traveller’s Friend – each part of the Haven House 100 Club, having pledged to raise £1,000 each for the hospice this year. “The day was a great opportunity for all of our businesses to get to know each other whilst having fun, and most importantly raising money for our local children’s hospice,” said Amanda Green, marketing manager at Improve Your Smile. The Whistle ‘N’ Flute team won the challenge. To donate,...

Members of Woodford Arts Group will be displaying their work at Packfords Hotel this autumn in what will be the art collective’s second exhibition at the Snakes Lane West venue. Since their inaugural exhibition in the spring – which attracted nearly 250 visitors to a private viewing – the group has welcomed new members, whose work will be included in the display. On show from 21 to 27 October, the exhibition will have a ‘reflections’ theme. “Once again, Packfords have very generously agreed to support our event, and they will be opening a pop-up art cafe for the entire week… Our artists will be exhibiting a range of media, including oils, watercolour, sculpture, ceramics, photography and ink. All the art on show will be new...

The magic of panto and storytelling will come to local libraries this autumn with a series of performances by drag queen Mama G. “Created by popular panto dame Robert Pearce, Mama G tells stories about being who you are and loving who you want, to children and their families, and anyone who’ll listen! She has spread her message all over the UK at libraries, theatres, museums and festivals, as well as making appearances in America and Canada,” said a spokesperson for Petite Pantos. The ‘storytime with a difference’ will take place in Wanstead (2 October, 2pm), Woodford Green (4 October, 10.30am) and South Woodford (8 October, 2.30pm) as part of Redbridge’s annual Fabula Festival, which celebrates the arts and libraries and their power to transform...

The Woodford and District branch of the National Trust (NT) has made a number of donations to NT properties following the death of former member Gwen Clarke, who bequeathed £107,000 to the group. The beneficiaries include Rainham Hall in Havering (£15,000), Scotney Castle in Kent (£11,000) and Peckover House in Cambridgeshire (£10,000). “Gwen worked at Whipps Cross Hospital and the London Hospital for many years as a secretary. She moved to Wanstead in 1994 and then into Harts House Care Home in Woodford… We are so grateful she gave us the chance of helping so many properties with her kindness,” said Clive Boon. The centre’s new programme of talks begins on 11 September, 2.30pm at All Saints’ Church hall with a presentation on Waddesdon Manor...

The Friends of Wanstead Parklands has commissioned Dr Hannah Armstrong – an expert in 18th-century architecture and landscape design – to write the first-ever large-scale history of Wanstead House. “In existence for just 100 years, Wanstead House was regarded as one of the most magnificent palaces in Europe and the estate originally stretched nearly as far as Woodford. Tragically, in June 1822, every item within the house was sold at auction, prior to the house being demolished,” said a group spokesperson. Due for publication in 2022 to mark the 200th anniversary of the ‘grand sale’, the book will tell the story of the house, its grounds and its larger-than-life owners, complemented by over 70 illustrations, some of which will be published for the first time....