West Ham and Manor Park Street Surgery

 

Last Saturday I joined my West Hammer comrades John & Varghese for our ward street surgery. We went to the historic heart of the ward - Church Street. 

As a local Councillor, I picked up case work on housing repairs - individual and communal, rubbish collection and bin sheds, planning issues (see middle top) and street homelessness. The reaction to us calling was all pretty positive and it was good to see again, local community activists and Labour Party members and chat about issues. The top left picture was us in the front of a very welcome Council new build development. 

This morning I joined Manor Park comrades, local Councillor Salim and Hassan. We knocked up the Wanstead flats side of the ward. The recent grass fire on the flats had obviously caused concern. While there was some polite push back from known opponents, it was overall very solid Labour. It is clear that some Labour supporters are very concerned with local and national Party issues but are still giving us the opportunity to earn their trust. 

As Chair of Newham Labour Group, I will be joining all Newham wards in their future street surgeries. 

Out for a run (aka slow jog)

 

Out for a run just before dusk tonight around Wanstead flats and enjoyed lovely skyline from near Alexandra Lake. 

"Wanstead Flats at War: An illustrated talk" - Sat 11 May, 5pm

 

Takes Place: 11th May 2024

Time: 4pm

Venue: St Gabriel’s Church, Park Road, Aldersbrook, London E12 5HH

Description: To mark Local and Community History Month the Friends of St Gabriel's invite you to an illustrated talk by Mark Gorman and Peter Williams. The event features the launch of the Aldersbrook and Lake House Heritage Scheme Doors open at 4pm with refreshments available to purchase and the chance to browse history stalls and view the newly catalogued church archive. Talk starts at 5pm

How to book: https://st-gabriels-church.sumupstore.com/product/wanstead-flats-at-war-talk

Price: £5

Email: g.brewis@ucl.ac.uk

Website: https://st-gabriels-church.sumupstore.com/product/wanstead-flats-at-war-talk

Organiser: Friends of St Gabriel's

Lecturer: Mark Gorman and Peter Williams

(Will definitely go if I can. Think photo is back drop of what is now called Jubilee pond)

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".

Winter Dawn in Wanstead Flats

 

This picture was taken during a run around Wanstead Flats on Thursday. It was very cold but I had on multiple layers, tights, hat and gloves as well as running shoes with studs because of the ice. A great way to start the day but I had to drag myself out of bed to do it. It was lovely but roll on Winter Solstice on Wednesday. 

Getting ready for UNISON NHS strikes - 21.12.22

 

Picture from yesterday in Wanstead flats, East London, after the heaviest snowfall for many years alongside a potential picket, who will be supporting the UNISON NHS strike next week (Wednesday 21 December) against massive real term pay cuts for our health workers. 

Wanstead Flats Sunset

 

This evening I went out for a run (aka slow jog) around Wanstead Flats (aka wrongly by local estate agents as "Wanstead Heath" - sounds posher and more expensive). 

It was a beautiful sunset over Alexander Lake. Tomorrow is due to be sunny but cold. A "shepherd's delight" sunset (hopefully no estate agents are reading this). 

E7 to Valentines Park Circular Walk (& the "Tottenham Outrage")

 

Off message but this morning I was deciding on where Gill and I would go for our weekend Covid exercise/walk and I did consider walking up via Epping Forest trail to Walthamstow and then back via the River Lea  and Stratford. It was too long a walk for this time of year, so we decided instead to walk to Valentines Park in Ilford. 

We walked across Wanstead flats then through Alderbrook, past the allotments and stables, along Cycle route 6, across the pedestrian bridge over the A406 into Cranbrook and then followed signs to Valentines Park. 

The Park is huge and lovely. I think I have only been once before in the park (for a ice cream?) and was amazed how large it is and how many lakes and canals. We had a takeaway cream tea in the park café then after a tour of the park walked home after stopping off at Marks and Spencer for provisions. We walked along Romford Road for 10 minutes then turned right along the Roding Way path. Turned left at the City of London cemetery along the railway track into Manor Park, then back to starting point along Wanstead Flats. A great walk which was 8.02 miles and took us just under 4 hours (including stops and shopping)

When I got home I realised courtesy of the excellent local history museum for Walthamstow @VestryHouse that today was the 112th anniversary of the so called "Tottenham Outrage". When 2 armed robbers were chased for 6 miles from Tottenham to Walthamstow by largely unarmed police officers and civilians. The robbers fired some 400 rounds and killed one police officer and a ten year old child (no doubt unintentionally) as well as wounding many others. They were chased on foot, on trams and even by pony and cart. By coincidence the route they took was somewhat similar to what I was originally planning to walk today. 

The robbers were political revolutionaries in exile (which resulted in a lot of racist and anti-immigrant commentary at the time) from Russia and both committed suicide when cornered and about to be captured. An amazing story and also one I had no idea it had happened a few miles away from where I live. In the summer I will definitely do this walk and follow their escape/pursuit route. 

A run around east London lakes

 

Friday I went for a fairly early morning solo run around Wanstead flats and park (Epping Forest). There was still some mist round and spots of winter sunshine which made it pretty magical. 

Wanstead flats babies (and a striking red)

Off message but main photo from Saturday run with Gill (or "very slow jog") and cute picture of Canadian Geese family alongside Alexandria Lake, in Wanstead flats.

Below is a lovely moth or butterfly, we came across when stretching outside the Golden Fleece pub.

Anyone know what it is? I have searched Google images but cannot find an exact match?

Self isolating circular walk from Forest Gate via Bush Wood & Wanstead

On Sunday Gill and I took advantage of the lovely weather to walk from home for our hour of exercise. We went via Wanstead flats (Epping Forest) past Jubilee Pond into Bush Wood then Wanstead then home. There is loads of beautiful openspaces and parkland within London.

As you can see, pretty much everyone we saw was acting appropriately and keeping to government guidelines. If we keep this up then our parks and open spaces will not have to be closed.

I note today that the French government have banned taking physical exercise between 10am to 7pm. Hopefully, if we keep to our government guidelines such drastic measure will not need to be introduced in the UK. 

Jubilee Pond run

Off message but I think a lovely picture from a run (more truthfully a very slow jog) on Saturday morning around Wanstead flats and Jubilee Pond (managed as part of Epping Forest by the City of London).

When I first moved to Forest Gate, the pond was called the Model Yacht pond and occasionally I would see model boats on it. The pond itself was apparently originally dug out to improve drainage and give work to unemployed labourers in 1905/06.

It was "redeveloped" in time for the Queen's Jubilee in 2000 (and thus renamed). There has been a number of significant problems with water leakage since then which finally seem to be resolved and it is starting to look good.

If you want to check out other photos from Saturday go to Facebook here. 

Sunday Stroll to Wanstead

Off message but picture collage from a local winters walk yesterday from Forest Gate to Wanstead and back. It was cold but lots of sunshine and blue skies. We stopped off to feed the birds at Jubilee Pond with defrosted green peas (bread makes their stomachs swell apparently but no-one has told the birds this since they were far more interested in bread than our peas).

We then walked through Bush Wood and along Overton Drive, then cut through to George Green. We checked out the Farmers Market in Wanstead and bought some Cromer Crab and a Joint for Sunday dinner. After a bite to eat at Filika Restaurant (great set lunch for £8.95) we walked back home via Wanstead Park.

Lovely little walk just under 5 miles. For the whole day I had 127 Google Fit movement minutes and 90 heart points. 

Wansted Flats WREN: History walk following summer fires

This afternoon Gill and I went on a walk organised by the local conservation and wildlife group called WREN in the "flats" (ancient heath land, part of Epping Forest, now owned and managed by the City of London) right next door to where we live.

In July this year there was a huge grass fire on the flats, which at its peak flames were 30 foot high and jumped across local roads, which took 40 London Fire Brigade (LFB) fire engines to bring under control and put out. It was the largest grass fire the LFB has tackled since it was formed in 1965.

Luckily no one was seriously hurt and there was little damage to property but interestingly the City of London were asked by the LFB to bring in a special "plough" to turn over the burnt areas of grassland so the area could be saturated with water in order to prevent "hot spots" reignating. An unintended consequence of using this "plough" was that the ploughing turned up historic remains from the past that had been buried for at least 70 years.

The purpose of the walk was to examine these remains as well as see the damage done by the fire to birds and plants in the flats, part of which has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

About 20 local residents turned up for the walk despite being rather damp and overcast with the forecast of possible heavy rain or thunder.

The walk leaders were Peter Williams and Mark Gorman, supported by other conservation activists. 

We firstly walked across the flats to a site of a World War 2 circular radar/telecommunications centre and could see pieces of electoral wiring and numerous pudding shaped pieces of concrete which could have been signal mast supports from the centre. You can still see the the shape of the centre from the air. 

We also formed a line to walk across a nearby area where there was a war time anti-aircraft Rocket station looking for historical artifacts. We found pieces of shrapnel (Gill's sharp eyes) in the ground which are thought to have been debris from the rockets fired at German Bombers. It appears that these rocket stations were not successful and despite improving morale by being very noisy and apparently showing Londoners they were being defended from the enemy, they did not result in any of the German bombers being shot down. A similar station in Victoria Park is blamed for firing rockets in a training exercise and causing the panic and stampede that resulted in the Bethnal Green tube disaster in 1943 which killed 173 civilians. 

There was also remains shown of a probably 19th century ginger beer bottle with "Leytonstone" marked on it and a German bullet found locally with a made in "Nuremberg" stamp and reference number. 

Next we visited the concrete foundations of world war barracks and storage facilities from the rocket site hidden away in Long wood. 

The walk finished across Centre Road at the site of the German military Prison of War camp adjacent to Lakehouse Road. This was a holding prison for high risk Germans, suspected of being die hard Nazis.  A local fireman in his autobiography noted that following a VI explosion in nearby Lakehouse which destroyed homes and killed civilians, some prisoners were giving Nazi salutes and shouting "Sieg Heil" in celebration of the V1 attack.   

My paternal Grandfather, another John Gray, was in an anti-aircraft regiment during the second world war and may even have been stationed locally. I must find out more. 

At the end of the walk the plans currently being discussed to allow large music festivals on the flats and the possible (likely) negative impact on rare nesting birds were brought up. I hope that the City of London will "think again" about these proposals and reject them. 

Many, many thanks to the organisers of this event. 

Three Cliff Bay Walk (The stunning and beautiful Gower Peninsula)

Off message but last month Gill and I spent a week on holiday in the Mumbles, South Wales. This walk was magnificent. I have heard over the years many people praise the Gower Peninsula as a top holiday destination but have never been until now.

This walk is 9.3 miles and a mixture of classic coastline and inland valley walks. Check out Hikideas for the route but make sure you download instructions and have a decent map. You start at a National Trust car park in Pennard where there must be ancient common law rights for cattle to range at will in the car park and village. Reminds me of our own backyard in Wanstead flats, East London where cattle also used to roam freely before the onset of BSE in the 1990s.

Once you leave the amazing cliff tops and go inland the route is a little overgrown and unclear. A fair bit of up and down work but well worth the effort.

Lots of history en route including ancient green lanes and completely isolated medieval (open) churches and the remains of an early non conformist chapel. The last leg of the walk you rejoin the Welsh coastal path route and enjoy more stunning bay views.

A moderate effort but at times a breathtakingly beautiful walk. Recommended. 

Dappled Sunshine Walk in Bush Wood

Off message but on Sunday we were supposed to go on a run around Wanstead Flats and Park but it was so hot that we walked instead for a hour or so.

Picture is from Bush Wood (with a little help from Google photo assistant).

I just love the greenery and the dappled sunshine. You cannot beat natural beauty. 

Wanstead Flats Fire July 2018

Pictures taken last weekend from the top of a 308 bus showing the recent fires (from the week before). It was probably the worst fire I can remember in 30 years.

A scary time for many local residents who live adjacent to the flats and it caused massive disruption when surrounding roads were closed (my own car was trapped in Capel Road by a huge emergency water hose for a few days. A minor inconvenience in the scheme of things).

Many thanks to the London Fire Brigade and the City of London Staff.

It looks a little bit like a war zone but there has nearly always been fires every hot summer and the heath will recover and grow back.

This morning I went for a run through the flats and you could see some tiny green shoots, here and there, following the recent rain. Nature is amazing. 

Newham Radical SwimBikeRun Triathlon Club - a start

Off message but back from gentle jog around Wanstead Flats & Park, Epping Forest. I restarted cycling into work last week. A group of West Ham Councillors and Party members have been "volunteered" into a FaceBook "Radical SwimBikeRun Triathlon club".

We were talking of the "Cotswold Triathlon" in September 2017 but things have gone strangely, very quiet...

#Sportrate for BB

Distance: 5.11miles
Max Pace: 1.19min/mi
Avg Pace: 12min/mi
Avg Speed: 5mph
Calories burned: 870.0kcal
Time: 61.4min

Wanstead flats on a bright frosty January morning

A beautiful and stunning start to the day. A 30 minutes jog. You would never think that this wonderful open space is surrounded by densely populated suburbia.  

Family Picnic with Lyn Brown MP

This should be a really good event for all Labour supporters in Newham