"E7 Now and then" relaunch (& today is 133th Anniversary of the deaths of 26 Boys at Forest Gate Workhouse)

 

The Forest Gate, (Newham, London) local history site "E7-Now and then" is being relaunched after a 5 year gap. Which is really good news for people like me who live in Forest Gate and is fascinated by all history. Until I read about it in the site I had no idea that the British Union of Fascists had an office and headquarters 200m away from me nor that 26 boys had died in a fire in a workhouse nearby caused by official negligence. 

But anyone interested in history would find something to look at in this site.There is already over 200 articles. 

John Walker is the author/publisher of the site and he has also written a very moving book about the deaths of the boys in workhouse - and the pretty dreadful conditions children endured there for over 70 years. check out :-

"Out of Sight, Out of Mind - Abuse, Neglect and Fire in a London Children's Workhouse, 1854-1907 https://www.newhambooks.co.uk/ ISBN 978-1-7399142-0-2.

We had hoped to mark the anniversary today (fire took place 1 January 1890) as we did in 2021 https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2021/01/an-awful-new-year-day-calamity.html but it didn't happen but maybe next year. 

Follow the site also on twitter 

E7-NowAndThen

@e7_nowandthen

Wanstead Flats A Short Illustrated History

 

I have finally just got around to ordering myself this book as a late Crimbo present. I have lived opposite Wanstead flats (now part of Epping Forest) for over 30 years and it is an absolute joy. I went for an early run this morning around the flats, while listening to "Today" on Radio 4. My perfect start to the day. 

You can buy this book by local authors Mark Gorman & Peter Williams, from Newham Bookshop https://www.newhambooks.co.uk/request.php?ref=A422&within=home  for £10 (plus £3 postage). 

"Once part of the riverbed of the Thames, in medieval times the Flats became grazing land. Over the last two centuries the Flats has hosted funfairs and football, become a site for political protest and been a key part of London’ anti-aircraft defences in two world wars.

Wanstead Flats: A Short Illustrated History includes a number of never-before-published photos".

Launch of "Out of Sight, Out of Mind - Abuse, Neglect and Fire in a London Children's Workhouse, 1854-1907" By John Walker

Thursday evening I went to the launch at Newham Bookshop of this work by local historian, John Walker. I haven't read it yet but I know that the story of this Victorian workhouse for children (which is only 10 minutes walk from where I live) is pretty horrific. There were similar institutions at the time up and down the land. 

After signing copies of the book outside, John gave a talk about the book and what he found while investigating the achieves. He also pointed out the irony that the lodge (or gatehouse) of the workhouse was used to "allow" parents to see their children for an hours or so every three months (yes every 3 months!) which is now used by the local charity, "The Magpie Project" which supports families and children who are denied access to public funds outside institutions. The new so called "undeserving poor". 

Check out https://www.newhambooks.co.uk/ where you can also order the book (Pub 26 Aug 2021 ISBN 978-1-7399142-0-2. £12.99 from all good bookstores). 

Picture of John with our local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai, holding his signed copy of the book. 

Afterwards a number of us went to the famous East Ham pub, The Boleyn, which has recently been refurbished and carried on discussing local Labour movement history. 

"A Promised Land" by Barack Obama

 

I listened to the final episode of Barack Obama reading from his first term Presidential memoirs, "A Promised Land" today on my smart phone and headphones while trying to walk off some Christmas cheer. 

There are ten 15 minute abridged extracts on BBC Sounds (free and downloadable for another 5 weeks) here plus an interview with historian and broadcaster David Olusoga which helped to set the scene. I would suggest that you listen to this first. 

The former President eloquently tells his story about the long hard slog he had to become the Democratic candidate then become elected President (with a little help from the Republican choice for vice President, Sarah Palin, who proved to be pretty useless). 

I had forgotten that he was elected in the midst of the 2007 financial crisis and had to cope with the resulting economic downturn and grapple with continuing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The passing of the so called "Obamacare" health bill was his greatest political victory but the loss of Democratic control over Congress meant that the Republicans could frustrate and block him implementing further significant reforms. 

If being elected was tough then being President was even tougher with long hours, constantly making stressful decisions and much personal abuse. He was an early US champion on climate change, an improbable Nobel Peace Prize winner (bizarrely nominated after only 2 weeks in office despite being the "Commander in Chief" of American forces fighting two wars) but will always be remembered as the First African American President of the United States America.  

A decent, thoughtful and pragmatic man, who I sense wanted to do much more but was constrained by the very deep political polarisation in American society. I look forward to reading his book (check out Newham Bookshop) and the next one on his second term.  

School Cuts (92% of schools will have their funding cut in England); Book Launch & Demo

Check out the http://www.schoolcuts.org.uk website and enter your postcode and you will see the schools around you that face savage Government cuts in funding. Incredibly 92% of schools face cuts, an average primary school will face £96,000 cut and average Secondary £290,000.

Locally there is a Newham bookshop/NUT book launch this Thursday called "Standing up for Education".

with Christine Blower, Louise Regan,
Victoria Baskerville and Mark Holding

“There is a crisis in our schools now. Children are facing rising class sizes,
there is a shortage of teachers and parents already face a crisis in finding school places.”
— Jeremy Corbyn at the National Union of Teachers Conference 2016.

What is education for? What should be taught? Who should control schools? How should educational progress be measured? What are the real barriers to learning? How much testing is too much testing? Are schools being privatised? Should schools be privatised? Do academy schools work?

These are just a few of the questions at the heart of a major debate over the future of education and schools. Many of the issues in this debate are long-standing concerns that have found new relevance in new circumstances. Some of the issues are new but demand an urgent and forceful answer.

Standing Up for Education offers a wide-ranging intervention into the education debate with contributions from teachers, politicians and students themselves. Its overall message is clear: current government policy is not fit for purpose and is failing teachers and students alike.

There are alternatives to over-testing, teacher shortages, demoralisation and privatisation. Standing Up for Education shows the way.

The panel

Christine Blower is international secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) after being general secretary from 2009 to 2016; Louise Reganis senior vice-president of the NUT; Victoria Baskerville is a parent and is active in the Redbridge Against Academisation campaign; and Mark Holding is an assistant general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), and is a founder member of Our Community – Our Schools and a parent governor.

and to continue the "Education, Education, Education" theme there will be (supported by UNISON)  Saturday 19 November the NUS and UCU have called a national demonstration under the banner of ‘United for Education’. It looks set to be the biggest demonstration in defence of education in many years. Students and staff will march together through central London, assembling at Park Lane at 12 noon.

Ken Livingstone Memoirs "You can't say that" Book signing at Newham

On Sunday 20 November Ken Livingstone is coming to Stratford Circus in Newham for a "talk and book signing".  

He is publishing his memoirs "You can't say that". I haven't read the book yet but no doubt, being Ken the book will be
meek, mild and completely uncontroversal.

:)

Check out here my favourite photo of Ken in Newham during the last GLA campaign.

"The Spirit Level" - Newham Fabian Event Friday 12 Feb

Tonight I received this email from Ellie the Secretary of Newham Fabians “Just letting you know about an event you may be interested in, organised by Newham Bookshop and Newham Fabian Society, I hope you can make it
On Friday 12th February at 7pm Richard Wilkinson is coming to Wanstead Library to promote his book, The Spirit Level. Wilkinson explores how economic inequality in developed societies affects social cohesion, health, crime, education levels, etc. It is highly influential and easy to read. It is a good weapon for those fighting for a more equal society.

For the Guardian's review and the official website, please follow these links-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/mar/13/the-spirit-level

http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resource/the-spirit-level

The event will be chaired by a fellow Newham Fabian, Kevin Mansell. Tickets are £5 but Newham Fabians can get them for a reduced rate of £3 :)

Please call Vivian at the bookshop to get your ticket on 020 8552 9993

Looking forward to an interesting, lively discussion, see you then"

Then I got this link to the YouTube video featured above via a Facebook group message from The Equality Trust.

The key message is that “we do better when we're equal”.

I haven’t read the book yet but from the reviews it seems to make sense. All those who consider themselves to be progressive will probably agree with its findings. But of course we tend to disagree on how we bring about a more equal society. Trade union education courses use to teach trainee stewards about PIP – “Problem, Information and Plan”. If this book helps us agree on the “problem” and provides the “information” then hopefully the plan should follow.

Fingers crossed (and toes).