thestarISSUE 10 2009 FREE Star walks – listed

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Welcome Contents

After a busy Summer I’m pleased to bring you the best issue yet. I’m delighted 4 Letters to welcome our new writer Dave Hayes, bringing a comedic injection for your enjoyment. If you have any comments, suggestions or something you would 6 News like to share, get in touch. 8 Guest writer Cath Arakelian discusses I would like to once again reassure some of our Star Magazine readers that we the future of care are in no way associated with any council, authority or government body. The 11 Brian Hopson writes… Star enjoys editorial freedom and we are committed to continue to deliver an independent focused publication. 12 Star walks – listed Leytonstone

Lara Geary 15 Curry club Editor 16 Tucker’s law – domestic violence against men The Star Photographic Competition 17 Joan Straw looks back on the wheatfields of Essex and the fruits of Enter the Star Photographic or you can email it to the land Competition and be in with the [email protected] chance of seeing your image on the Copyright ownership: The photographer 19 Dave Hayes reminisces … cover of the next issue of the Star. must be the sole author and owner of the copyright of photos entered in to the 21 Star fashion – Autumn trends Theme: Leytonstone in Winter competition. The copyright remains with the photographer, although by entering the Prize: Cover of issue 11 Nick Tiratsoo - The BNI Blues competition you authorise The Star a non 25 Closing Date: 15 October 2009 exclusive royalty free usage of your photo Send your entries and contact details to: in the promotion and use of this 26 Blueprint for Regeneration The Editor,The Star magazine competition for a maximum period of three 6 Gainsborough Road, London E11 1HT years with credit to the photographer. 28 Diary

30 Competition and classifieds The Star magazine Contributors 6 Gainsborough Road, London E11 1HT Bill Hodgson T 020 8558 4050 Brian Hopson www.thestarmagazineuk.com Jeanne Holland Published by The Star magazine Joan Straw Cath Arakelian Editor Lara Geary [email protected] Dave Hayes Advertising Lesley Phillips 020 8558 4050 Jane Duran or email [email protected] Nick Tiratsoo Design, production The Lightside 020 8558 4050 Cover image: ©Rob Osman www.thelightside.net | [email protected] Public Relations A big thank you to all of you who have Holland Young Associates When you have finished with this contributed articles, photographs and advice. 020 8989 1244 | [email protected] magazine please recycle it. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All dates and credits are accurate at time of going to press but are subject to change. The Star does not accept any responsibility for the content of advertisements supplied by external organisations. The views expressed within this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 3 The Star is printed on pape r from environmentally sustainable sources using vegetable based inks. Letters

Send your letters to: The Star magazine, 6 Gainsborough Road, Leytonstone, London E11 1HT

Email [email protected]

Please supply your name and postal address. Please note that letters may be edited.

Dear Editor

On the border of Snaresbrook, next to the forest, Upper used to be a nice place to live. This was until the bus came. These are small residential roads and yet we have a DOUBLE DECKER bus. This bus replaced the single decker bus that was the original extension to the 230 route. Residents were never consulted regarding the new double decker. It lurches up and down hills on these little residential roads knocking into cars on occasion, causing bottle necks and tailbacks and it tries to pass the commuter traffic. And it's almost ALWAYS EMPTY.

Why extend the route we asked when it travels all the way from Wood Green and by the time it arrives it's empty? told us people couldn't get on in Wood Green through lack of space, they did a consultation (Council, users but not residents). We have a double decker in Walthamstow because of overcrowding in Wood Green. Every suggestion we put forward was turned down. In fact Transport for London actually told us they were increasing the buses to coincide with train times - but it's still empty. It's noisy, smelly, dirty and dangerous and empty and it's about time TfL started listening to us.

Sat 19 September8pm Any Wheeler Fri 25 September 8pm Upper Walthamstow Sat 26 September3pm & 8pm Welsh Church Hall High Road Leytonstone E11 BOX OFFICE 020 8504 3872 www.woodhouseplayers.co.uk

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Green light for redevelopment ”This is a major development for us but one that will allow our services to cope with increasing demand from the local community,” said estates director Whipps Cross Hospital has been awarded £23 million to redevelop its Accident Douglas Ward. ”Over the last two years we have been working very hard to and Emergency Department. improve emergency services. The new build with all of its modern facilities is The scheme will see the department re-housed in a new building which will another important part of this process. Allowing us to go ahead with this include an extension to the existing Emergency Medicine Centre and an increase development is such a huge vote of confidence. Emergency care is core to the of bed capacity to 70. hospital’s day-to-day activity and the services we provide to the community as a whole”. Whipps Cross has one of the busiest A&E departments in London with more than 100,000 attendances each year. Construction is due to begin by the end of the year for completion in 2011.

Cows come home? Cows could soon be a familiar sight again in Leytonstone if the City of London restores grazing rights to . In the 18th century cattle markets were regularly held in Leytonstone and ’commoners’ had the right to graze livestock in the local forest. Cows could be spotted wandering in the Hollow Ponds area until as late as 1996 when Britain was hit by the BSE crisis and all grazing was suspended. A recent consultation by the Conservators of Epping Forest found that local residents missed their bovine neighbours and felt they had added something unique to the area. The City of London authority (which has responsibility for the forest land) is currently planning major improvements across Epping Forest after being awarded £5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The reintroduction of local grazing rights is now being actively considered. City of London of City

2000 trees for Olympic Park hazel, cherry, poplar and lime. be developed to provide space for riverside gardens, markets, cafes and bars. The northern area will be a ”We are cleaning up former industrial land to create 2000 semi-mature British trees have been more open, ecological landscape of wetlands and the largest urban park in the UK for over a century, ” handpicked for the Olympic Park as part of the woodlands providing habitats for rare species said Olympics chairman John Armitt. ”We are not largest individual planting project ever undertaken including kingfishers and otters. only planting trees that will look fantastic and in the capital. reflect the traditions of great British parks but also Newham Council is currently pressing for the The trees were grown in Hampshire for the 100 create habitats for wildlife and help reduce the Olympic Park to become East London’s first Royal hectare park which will provide the backdrop to the impact of climate change on the park and Park as its opening will coincide with the Queen’s 2012 Games and later be a public green space. The surrounding communities.” Diamond Jubilee. tree planting will commence this winter and consists After 2012, the southern section of the parkland will For more information visit www.london2012.com of predominantly native species such as ash, willow,

Cinema church in fresh controversy said Brazil is now considering filing formal requests with several countries where UCKG operates to help investigate the church’s financial dealings. The church The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), owners of Walthamstow’s denies any wrongdoing. EMD cinema, has been rocked by allegations of an international money The scandal has thrown fresh doubts on UCKG’s plans to convert Walthamstow’s laundering scandal. EMD cinema into a church. A planning application seeking council approval for According to worldwide press reports and the Associated Press agency, a the scheme is currently being considered. Councillor Terry Wheeler, the council’s Brazilian judge has accepted charges that senior figures within the UCKG, cabinet member for regeneration, declared his support for its plan earlier this including founder Edir Macedo, have committed international fraud by siphoning year. off billions of dollars in donations from mostly poor followers to buy jewellery, The McGuffin Film Society has campaigned to reopen the cinema since its TV stations and other businesses. The prosecutor’s statement said ”There is proof closure in 2003 when it was purchased by the UCKG. A spokesman said ”It that the money from the donations was used to attend to the personal interests wouldn’t be appropriate to comment on an ongoing criminal investigation but of those being accused”. this obviously raises questions about the judgement of those councillors who The Brazil-based church allegedly used fake companies to launder the money, have engaged in secret negotiations with such a controversial organisation moving the assets abroad and then returning them in the form of loans used by while completely ignoring the opinions of local people”. Macedo and his accomplices to buy further businesses. The public prosecutor Information about the cinema campaign can be found at www.mcguffin.info

Gants Hill revamp Return of The Art Trail Redbridge Council and Transport for London have begun work on a new £7.2 The fifth annual E17 Art Trail will be held around Walthamstow in September. million scheme to regenerate the area around Gants Hill underground station. Around 300 independent local artists are expected to participate in the event with A new-look roundabout will be built with improved pedestrian crossings, lighting a variety of unusual spaces being deployed for exhibitions including pubs, gardens, and CCTV along with a landscaped grassed area and new shopping facilities. shops, cafes, windows, lampposts and trees. A wide range of art forms will be on display including traditional painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and ”The scheme aims to bring 800 new homes and more shops to the area and ceramics. Participating venues include Wood Street Market, Walthamstow Register establish a thriving night time economy,” said local councillor Ruth Clark. ”As we Office, The Mall shopping centre, Rose and Crown pub, Waltham Forest Town Hall, are making the area safer, it will also be more pedestrian friendly and assist in Changing Room Gallery, Strettons estate agents and the Quaker Meeting House. making Gants Hill a vibrant and safe place to work”. The E17 Art Trail runs 5 - 13 September. Work is expected to be completed by Spring 2010. For full details visit www.E17arttrail.co.uk Contact [email protected] for further details.

6 THE STAR ISSUE 10 2009 Tell us your news at [email protected]

Back down to earth for Arcade site St. Modwen eventually backed away from the scheme amidst fears it would not be financially viable. In response, controversial plans were made to borrow £35 Walthamstow’s former Arcade site has been opened up as a public walkway million to bankroll the development. The proposal split the council’s Labour- following the collapse of council plans to regenerate the area. Liberal coalition and sparked further protests from residents. However, it quickly The original 1960s shopping arcade was demolished in 2003 to make way for an became clear the plan contravened European Union laws and was finally ambitious state-of-the-art public library and fitness centre. Unfortunately this abandoned. initial scheme collapsed when the council’s partner, Henry Boot Developments, The site has now been levelled and a multi-purpose hard surface introduced to walked away from the deal. accommodate a range of activities. Plans were then announced for an alternative development to include a 10- In a statement, new council leader Chris Robbins said ”While residents will be screen cinema, a two-storey Primark clothing shop, a range of food outlets and glad to see the site tidied and opened up, what’s even more exciting is the a 20-storey tower block for housing. Property speculators St. Modwen were thought of what could take place there over the next 18 months or so. We engaged to work on the project with building set to commence in the spring of could have specialist markets, sports events or even a temporary ice rink in the this year. winter ”. The proposed scheme proved deeply unpopular with local residents and No further work is expected at the site until after 2014 although a public provoked a number of protests and rumours of a legal challenge. consultation will be held to consider residents’ views of future uses for the land.

A new town centre for East London Gone to the dogs East London is set to host one of the UK’s largest regeneration schemes with A new exhibition exploring the history of Walthamstow’s world famous dog the construction of a £500 million new town centre in Newham. track will be held in the Autumn. 500 jobs are expected to be created to help deliver the project which will see Walthamstow Stadium in Road was London’s home of dog racing for 1100 new homes plus offices, shops and leisure facilities developed on a more than seven decades before its closure last year. Over the years it attracted brownfield site opposite Canning Town station. many famous punters including Winston Churchill and Amy Johnson and a roll call of pop stars including Madonna, Damon Albarn, Suggs, Chris Difford and Ian ”The City of London continues to expand east” said Newham Mayor Robin Wales. Dury. ”This project is a once in a lifetime opportunity to turn around the prospects of this area and sends out a powerful signal that East London means business”. The site was sold to London and Quadrant Housing Association and a planning application for new homes is expected later this year. The project will be managed by a joint partnership including Newham Council, Bouygues Developments, the One Housing Group and the Thames Gateway The staff of are calling on local residents to help locate Development Corporation. Work is expected to commence next year. photos and memorabilia of the venue to be displayed as part of the forthcoming exhibition. To assist with the exhibition call 020 8496 3000.

Looking for the next Mr. Hitchcock... ”Film is incredibly important to London’s economy as well as its cultural life,” said Boris Johnson. ”It is vital that we nurture talent and find ways to open up London Mayor Boris Johnson and Film London have teamed up to provide opportunities for Londoners wanting to get into the industry. We hope this funding for the capital’s budding filmmakers. brilliant scheme will help discover the next Hitchcock or Spielberg and ensure An Eastern Edge Film Fund has been established which is aimed specifically at London retains its position as one of the key centres for film”. filmmakers resident in the London boroughs of Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Successful participants will also be given the opportunity to submit their work Barking and Dagenham. The fund aims to support people aged over 16 who are to Film London’s annual ’Bob’ awards which recognises the capital’s best short taking their first steps into filmmaking. It will provide grants of up to £1000 films. plus access to office space, training, editing facilities and mentoring from a For further details visit www.filmlondon.org.uk/boroughfilmfunds professional producer.

Travel updates EAT 17 London’s first new tube train of the 21st century is now running on the Victoria A new website has been launched to provide an independent guide to the line. restaurants and pubs of Walthamstow and the surrounding area. It is the first of nearly 50 new trains for the Walthamstow-Brixton route which E17 Food and Drink features reviews by residents and customers and a lively will help to increase capacity by 20 per cent. The new vehicles are taller and news section which keeps readers up to date with the latest developments at benefit from in-carriage CCTV and improved ventilation as well as wheelchair their favourite local haunts. The site is currently being expanded to include access. coverage of the area’s ever growing range of cafes and coffee shops. The guide can be found at www.E17foodanddrink.co.uk ”The new trains are a fantastic state of the art addition to the tube network which will transform the journeys of those using the Victoria line, ” said the Mayor’s transport spokesman Kulveer Ranger. New police team for Redbridge The Victoria line is one of the busiest on the network and carries more than 630,000 passengers each day. The current overhaul of the line means it will A new police team has been established to tackle crime in Ilford town centre. remain out of service most weekends until early November. Elsewhere in the A team sergeant and three constables will form a rapid response unit working borough, Central line services from Leytonstone to Liverpool Street will also be 12-hour shifts from 8am. The team is partly financed by members of the area’s suspended on most Sundays in October. Business Improvement District (BID) which includes many local shop owners. Meanwhile the Barking-Gospel Oak overground route which crosses through The unit was set up following a survey which found that less than half of the Waltham Forest and Redbridge will continue to suffer weekend disruption until area’s shoppers felt secure in the town centre. November. The line is currently being upgraded to provide improved tracks and signalling and more comfortable platforms. The work will allow trains to run Meanwhile, Redbridge police recently announced a £230,000 budget cut from more frequently in time for the 2012 Olympics. next year. Support workers will face job losses while overtime for police officers may be reduced.

ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 7 Shaping the future of care together by Cath Arakelian

population are those people aged 80 years Islam teaches respect for the elderly Do we have to provide for and over who make up 4.5 per cent of the whether they are parents, relatives or our mums and dads or population. That is nearly 2.7 million people strangers. The Qur’an teaches that, whatever in total, and because of patterns of physical or mental frailty an older person is should we expect them immigration since the war, the majority are experiencing, Muslims should respect them. white British people. In Surah Al-Isra’ (Night Journey), Allah to have saved for their says: Working people worry about how a welfare old age? state once dedicated to all the population’s “... and that you be kind to parents. Where basic needs, ”from cradle to grave ”, can pay one or both of them attain old age in your Is it more dignified to allow older people to for more people living longer on state life, say not to them a word of contempt, stay in their own homes rather than expect pensions plus the predicted heavy health nor repel them, but address them in terms them to move in with adult children? When, and care burden, out of reducing tax of honour. [17:23]” if ever, should people move into a revenues as fewer young people enter the residential home? What about the ill or workforce. This is why the government One Hadith reflects the idea of an frail? How much should the state provide issued its discussion paper in July called intergenerational contract sanctioned by through our taxes and how much you and Shaping the Future of Care Together. Allah. me through private arrangements? How ”Being old ” means very different things in ”Any young person who is kind to an elder about single people without families near because of his age, Allah will send him by? How should the government take into different cultures. In ancient Confucian Chinese culture a man’s fiftieth birthday was someone who will be kind to him when he account different cultural attitudes to becomes old. ” [Tarmazi] getting old? The government is asking marked with great ritual and reverence. people to give their views on a proposed Maturity brought you closer to the family In developing societies where there is little National Care Service – and how should it be ancestors and so to wisdom. As the family welfare provision and no state pensions paid for. unit was viewed as the world in miniature it there is often a filial obligation between the followed that all family members owed generations in a family – a sort of In Waltham Forest we live in a wonderfully obedience to the oldest man. On the other intergenerational contract. The parents look diverse society. Waltham Forest has a hand, Western classical thinkers such as the after the young people and give them the population of 222,300. It has the 11th Roman Seneca, believed that ”senectus best start in life – often sacrificing their largest non-white minority ethnic morbidus est ” which sadly translates as own health and wealth to educate and then population in the UK. Just over half the ”Old age is a disease. ” Another Roman set up a child in business. In return the people in this area (53%) identified disagreed. Cicero wrote that years of children look after the parents as they themselves as White British in the 2001 experience and accumulated wisdom should become too weak to work. In such families, census. The largest single minority ethnic make up for physical frailty. ”It is not by my the parents live in or near the home of their group are Pakistanis who number over muscle, speed and physical dexterity that adult children and continue to help in the 17,000. Afro-Caribbeans and Africans great things are achieved but by reflection, house, or watch the grandchildren or mind together make up a population of 30,300 force of character and judgement... ” in the shop. There is a place and purpose for people. We all live alongside people of Irish Should our families look after us when we each older person in the family economic origin, Sikhs, Chinese, Somalians and many unit. others. get old? In the bible the Fifth Commandment demands not only respect for You can see this approach in Pakistani and Until the 1940s the number of old people in elders but also that children should be Indian families in Waltham Forest who, over the UK was a small proportion of the whole punished if they disobey their parents. the years, have bought houses close to each population. That has all changed in the last Biblical men such as Noah, Moses, Abraham, other. Where families live with or near each 60 years. Couples had fewer children and Gideon are rewarded for their other there can be a great deal of contact through the 1970s and 1980s and so now faithfulness to God with a good old age and many networks of mutual assistance. people over 60 outnumber the under-16s. running into hundreds of years. This is often seen as a characteristic of The fastest growing age group in the UK Asian families, where the obligation is 8 THE STAR ISSUE 10 2009 almost mandatory, but was also common in working class families In Africa and parts of Asia women head the domestic family unit. throughout the UK. One researcher suggests that people think about Daughters-in-law live with their husband’s family. They are often their long term support relationships like putting money in a savings separated from their own mothers and in most arrangements around bank. They will make a withdrawal later when they in turn need the world, these women are the primary care givers for both children support. and the elderly. If a problem arises, such as a woman falling sick, it is not unusual to find female neighbours compensating by sharing The amount of local charitable help for old people without families the load. Institutions or residential care homes rarely exist. In the was small in the UK. Until the welfare society took over UK women are more likely to be participating in the workforce and a responsibility in the 20th century to prevent destitution in the old, full-time to commitment to caring, even if desired, can be family members were always the first line of defence in situations of economically difficult to achieve. More than eight percent of people old age dependency. How this is managed now in English families in Waltham Forest are unpaid carers. This is a growing number of varies enormously. In Western Europe and America the idea that the people, often elderly themselves, who fall into poverty because the head of the household, usually a man, will wish to remain costs of caring are rising. How should these women be compensated independent for as long as possible has prevailed so that many for their unpaid work? family homes empty until just one or two people are living in them. Afro-Caribbean families seem to show different patterns of care for This ”family home” becomes viewed as an economic asset, and their older relatives. Many view the ”intergenerational contract ” in becomes the primary source for funding the costs of care, if a health more of a voluntary spirit. Where there is not much money, working crisis forces an elderly householder to pay for residential or nursing people may be reluctant to spend resources on anything that does care (between £550 and £750 per week at the lower end of the not bring tangible or promised returns. Similarly, in households of scale). Some research in the 1980s indicated that older English African origin, adult children may not be willing, simply out of duty, people expected less care from their family members than their to offer support to elderly parents Where the parents are judged to family members actually were willing to provide. Some people prefer have been ”good parents ” then there is a sense of indebtedness. to have personal and nursing care provided outside the family by Where the parents have been considered to be neglectful, or they did strangers, as they see this as less intrusive on their privacy and less not do everything they could to support their offspring, then the of a burden on their children. bond is weaker or non-existent. There are concerns about the Attitudes to spending the family’s savings on elder care vary across number of fathers of African origin who may find themselves the world. A family member in the UK may resent the sale of a house unsupported by family members in their old age. which they see as a family legacy, being spent on care at the end of Working out who should provide and pay for care for our older life. Nursing home fees are the biggest cost incurred by families in all relatives – the family or the state - is full of paradox and developed countries. In a study in Taiwan on the willingness of contradiction in a multi-cultural society such as in Waltham Forest. relatives to pay for nursing home care, interviewees indicated they How do you feel about it? Let the government know by writing to were willing to pay at least 50% of the monthly family income. In them or by joining one of my Social Care Green Paper open the US this figure was 37.5%. In both cases wealthy families discussion events around Waltham Forest in September and October. preferred to pay for help at home to look after a frail relative for as long as they could. Cath Arakelian is a dementia care trainer.

You can contact Cath Arakelian through the Star Magazine.

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ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 9 STOP SMOKING SERVICE scoops half a million HS Waltham Forest’s Stop begun working to repeat their success for Smoking Service helped nearly the coming year.” N 2,000 residents quit in the last NHS Waltham Forest’s Stop Smoking year, scooping a half million pound Service is working with the Noor Ul Islam ‘reward grant’ for the borough’s health mosque in to support smokers to services in the process. kick the habit during the holy month of The team was set the stiff task of Ramadan. A stall set up outside the seeing 1,800 smokers declared ‘smoke mosque on Leyton High Road attracted a free’ in order to reach their target, but crowd of worshippers and passers-by eager beat this through its work with support to join the rush to sign up, with 16 smokers groups, drop-in to quit clinics and a requesting support from the Service ‘Stop before the Op’ health drive at straight away. Whipps Cross hospital. “Stopping smoking is the single most The final figure was recently revealed important thing you can do to improve as a massive 1,890 quitters – meaning your health,” says Public Health Pro- hundreds of smokers, and their families, gramme manager, Stella Bailey. “You will be better off financially and enjoy double your chances of stopping smoking the health benefits of a smoke free life. for good if you do it with free NHS “This was a fantastic achievement,” support.” says Afzal Akram, Chair of NHS NCall the Waltham Forest Stop Smoking Waltham Forest. “The target of 1800 Service on 020 8430 7443, text quit to quitters was a stiff one, but the Stop 07919 544683 or email stopsmoking. Smoking team managed to exceed it [email protected] for free and friendly and win the grant. They have already advice.

Akram. “The fun and games in the NHS marquee gave us a captive audience and allowed us to get the serious messages across to parents and youngsters about eating well, moving more and living longer.”

What can I do? Just a few small changes to your diet and the amount of time you spend being active can make all the at the Mela difference and help you live longer. Eat more fruit he recent Waltham Forest Mela saw of healthy living advice from and vegetables – NHS Waltham Forest at the centre of the local Health Improve- try and eat 5 A attention thanks to our all-action, ment team. T DAY. Change4Life roadshow. Residents who have been Get active – kids Festival goers queued outside the bright working hard to lead healthier need to do 60 yellow marquee to enjoy a virtual bike lifestyles also had their ‘blogs’ minutes of physical race, fun on the dance mats, interactive on display on the interactive activity a day to prevent screens featuring healthy living advice for screens – including Lorraine and them storing excess fat in the families, and free, freshly made fruit Charles Hathaway and Patrick Johnson. body. Adults should do a minimum of 30 kebabs. Patrick lost 48kg in six months by eating minutes a day of moderate exercise – Kids also had the chance to have a free better and exercising more. walking, swimming, climbing stairs, ‘end of the pier’ photo shoot at the To round off a successful, healthy Mela, walking the dog, housework; it all counts. Change 4 Life gallery in exchange for one lucky Walthamstow family walked There’s lots more information about making a simple health pledge. away at the end of the day with a Ninten- Change4Life The Stop Smoking team was on hand to do Wii fit and console in our free draw. online at: www.nhs.uk/change4life offer advice and encourage smokers to sign “The Mela gave us a great opportunity up for help quitting their habit, along with to get the Change4Life message across to NFor advice on diet call the community blood pressure checks and a whole range lots of families,” says NHS Chair, Afzal dieticians on 0208 430 8090.

The star.indd 1 2/9/09 17:01:54 Way to go… Brian Hopson writes...

Last April I broke a couple of bones in my The BBC recently broadcast a report, which The second thing, which my enforced time foot. It was painful and a nuisance but included film of what looked like an aircraft on crutches has made me realise, is just how being brave and uncomplaining (as my wife hanger in Los Angeles. It contained line hard it is for the disabled in our society. will confirm), I coped. I spent five weeks on after line of people, queuing. Some were Now you may think that you know this crutches and in place of the expected sitting in wheelchairs, others were lying on already – I would certainly have said that I plaster cast. I wore a kind of inflatable boot, makeshift beds, others were just standing did. But in fact, think back to when you which made me look a little like a listlessly, waiting. What they were waiting were last irritated in the queue at Tesco Transformer. for was to be seen by a doctor or a when someone ahead of you was slow to get paramedic because they were poor people out his or her cash or cards to pay the bill. The story above isn’t at all unusual, I’m who had no health insurance and who had Or what about when you were waiting for sure. But it has served to highlight a few no formal access, therefore, to healthcare in the bus and someone was blocking the things. the richest country in the world. The entrance? Or when you were trying to dash My treatment was routine for the health service, I was proud to see, was run not by home after work and someone was dawdling experts at Whipps Cross. They looked after an American but by a Brit. along ahead of you, making everybody move me cheerfully and efficiently, asking me if I at their pace? Perhaps they were being It is this state of affairs that many of the bloody-minded or thoughtless. But perhaps had a history of falling over. I said no: I was influential members of the US Senate and in a crowd of people, hadn’t seen that there they were doing as well as they could. House of Representatives are fighting to Perhaps they suffered from a disability, and was a kerb and had slipped off the preserve. As someone said, they can’t all be pavement. “Oh good”, they said, “so the disability can take many forms, some more making money from the health insurance obvious than others. So next time it reason for the accident was male stupidity business, so why? Are they trying to pull up (guess the sex of the doctor….) rather than happens, do what I (now) do – take a deep the drawbridge on those less fortunate than breath and give them the benefit of the a genuine problem….”. She made it sound themselves? I can only hope that much more friendly than it looks on the doubt. Don’t harass them, don’t get angry – commonsense breaks out among the many it’s not that important. page. kind and compassionate Americans who This was followed by a couple of voted for change earlier this year. The third thing my temporary disability appointments with a consultant, who was brought home to me was just how kind most clear and helpful. My crutches and the boot Leytonstone people are. Strangers stood have now been returned to Whipps Cross aside to let me stagger past on my crutches. Hospital and I’ve been checked out to They were solicitous. They offered to help. ensure that my bones haven’t become wafer My friends and neighbours drove me around thin in old age (they haven’t, thank (thank you Terry, Steve and John). And old goodness). I’m told that my foot will be ladies helped me cross the street (I made completely back to normal by the beginning that last one up). of October. Hooray! The kindness of others almost made the The National Health Service remains a “my temporary injury worthwhile – almost, but not quite. I shining star in the UK’s crown. I’ve been shall now try to keep my eyes on the kerb, watching the debate in the USA about not the heavens, and reduce the burdens Barack Obama’s planned healthcare reforms disability placed on the NHS. If I fail, however, and with increasing incredulity. Many on the tumble down the terraces in excitement American right have been holding up the brought home when Leyton Orient gain promotion at the NHS as an example of what would happen in end of the season, I shall be secure in the America if reforms to their Medicare knowledge that I will be in the hands of the programme were made. They liken the NHS to me was just NHS rather than having to queue up in the to an arm of a socialist state (socialist? hope of attention in an aircraft hanger on Post-Blair?!) and, to indicate their the other side of America. consistency of thought, to the kind of how kind most system which a Nazi government might introduce. Well, it’s well known how Leytonstone concerned Hitler and his friends were about public health… people are”

ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 11 1 2 3 4 Star walks: listed Leytonstone

A walk around Leytonstone exploring a selection of the area's historic buildings which are easily accessible from the High Road and town centre. Words and pictures by Bill Hodgson.

Leytonstone sprang to life in the second half The High Stone Junction Hollybush Hill, E11. of the 19th century following the expansion This unimposing monument is believed to be a direct descendant of of the steam railway from central London. the 'stone' from which Leytonstone is named. The original country village of 'Leyton-atte-Stone' (meaning 'Leyton at the Stone') can be Where once there had been a small traced back to the 14th century and a similar monument has appeared on maps since at least the 1700s. It was almost certainly picturesque rural settlement popular as a used as a signpost or milestone for those travelling to and from London but in earlier times may even have served as a Roman retreat for affluent City businesspeople, a military marker. The current obelisk is made from Portland stone and new community was forged which would dates back to the 19th century although its base is much older and more likely to be related to the original. Directions and distances to soon become a lively London suburb. Epping and Ongar are chiseled into its side. Following the expansion of the A12 roadway in the 1990s, the High Stone was moved to its current site and ironically now resides within the Redbridge boundary.

Assembly Row Whipps Cross Road (nos. 133, 135, 143, 153, 155 and 157), E11. Leytonstone's constantly evolving built environment has largely been In 1767, a row of 12 properties was constructed along Whipps Cross constructed over the last 100 years, sweeping away much of what Road as private housing for middle class families and country previously existed. Perhaps this explains why the district has so few residences for affluent London merchants. Known as Assembly Row, Listed Buildings compared with other parts of London, despite its the elegant properties would benefit from extensive gardens and wealth of distinctive architectural styles and curiosities. However, a close proximity to the woodlands and streams of Epping Forest. In number of notable older buildings remain scattered around the area later years Whipps Cross Road and the surrounding area would be and have been recognised by English Heritage for their historical heavily developed for housing but half of the original Assembly Row importance. properties were destined to survive into the 21st century. Although alterations are evident in all the buildings, they provide a valuable glimpse into the area's past.

12 THE STAR ISSUE 10 2009 5 6 7

Church of St. Andrew Browning Road Colworth Road, E11. E11. With substantial housing developments emerging throughout the Although Browning Road has not been listed by English Heritage, it Upper Leytonstone area, this site was earmarked for worship during is a designated conservation area in the heart of Leytonstone. the 1870s. Built on land owned by the former Bank of England governor William Cotton, it was initially intended to be named the Browning Road boasts several short terraces of picturesque cottages Cotton Memorial Church and its foundation stone was laid by the which were built as workers’ homes for rent in the mid 19th century. Lord Mayor of London in 1886. The church was designed by the It is likely their first occupants would have been the servants of eminent architect Sir Arthur Blomfield who was a close friend of the wealthy families living in the more luxurious residences around the famously atheist Victorian novelist Thomas Hardy. Blomfield was nearby forest. Browning Road was originally a public pathway chairman of London's Architectural Association and would also leading to Wanstead Park and the cottages were built close to a design churches and palaces in South America, Africa and India as well as London's Royal College of Music and Magdalen College School in Oxford.

Construction continued until 1913 and the church proved immensely popular with local residents, often attracting congregations of 1500 people. Unfortunately by the 1960s attendances had deteriorated so dramatically that it faced closure. The church nonetheless survived against the odds and continues to serve local worshippers. More recently it has also taken steps to engage with the wider local community by staging art exhibitions and other events. Part of the building is open throughout the week as a cafe serving meals and snacks. The Church of St. Andrew is sited amidst one of the borough's most attractive conservation areas.

Leytonstone House High Road/Green Man Roundabout, E11. One of the area's most elegant buildings, Leytonstone House was built around 1800 at a site then known as 'Forest Edge'.

Set amidst nine acres of grounds, it was once home to the Liberal MP Sir Edward North Buxton. In 1868 the site was purchased by the Bethnal Green Board of Guardians for £9,500 and converted into a school for orphans and illegitimate or poor children. A number of additional outbuildings and blocks were built while the house itself acted as the administration centre. The new school quickly attracted controversy when staff members were accused of child cruelty and drunkenness, a scandal which was reported in the national newspapers. Despite these early problems, the school continued until 1930 when ownership transferred to the London County Council who established Leytonstone Children's Home at the site. In later years the building would also serve as a psychiatric hospital before falling into disuse.

In the 1990s ambitious plans were made to convert the building into an arts centre for Leytonstone. Sadly, the scheme failed to attract sufficient support. Leytonstone House is now occupied by the offices of an accountancy firm. ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 13 stretch of land which had been set aside as allotments. The cottages West Ham Union Workhouse / Langthorne Hospital are a rare example of the modest dwellings from Leytonstone's rural Langthorne Road, E11. past. Two of the cottages were later converted into the North Star public house which retains many original features. The West Ham Union Workhouse was built in 1840 to provide shelter and work for over 1000 paupers, orphans and unmarried mothers as The pioneering Victorian throat surgeon Sir Morell Mackenzie was well as the infirm and mentally ill. born on Browning Road and a small plaque was erected in 1909 to mark his birthplace. Conditions were harsh and the workhouse was singled out for criticism in Parliament for overcrowding. Britain's workhouses were Georgian Terrace abolished in 1930 and the building subsequently became a care home for the chronically sick with a capacity for almost 2000 people. 694a - 698a High Road, E11. Following the foundation of the National Health Service, the building Leytonstone's least prominent listed building is an elegant Georgian was renamed Langthorne Hospital and served as a geriatric facility terrace hidden behind the High Road. for many years. A modest chapel and gatekeeper's lodge which date It was originally built in the late 18th century as a prestigious back to the early workhouse days can still be found nearby. Both housing development for affluent traders and London businesspeople. have been listed by English Heritage but are currently in a state of The imposing terrace once stood proudly amidst its own extensive some disrepair. The original workhouse building has been converted grounds and would have been one of the area's most desirable for housing. addresses. Church of St Margaret of Antioch. Today the extensive grounds are long gone and the original front Woodhouse Road, E11. gardens are occupied by a NatWest bank and various shops. The terrace itself is now almost entirely enclosed by later buildings. Erected in 1892, this impressive Gothic church was built to serve the rapidly growing communities around Wanstead Flats and Harrow Church of St. John the Baptist Green. The church was designed by the architect J. T. Newman who was responsible for many public buildings around East London in the High Road, E11. late 19th century. The Rev. Charles Henry Ridsdale served as an early This Gothic-style church has been one of Leytonstone's most vicar at the church and would go on to become the Bishop of prominent landmark buildings for almost two centuries. Colchester during the Second World War.

It was created by the famous Scottish architect Edward Blore who Following a devastating fire in 1908 which destroyed the adjoining later designed the grand facade of Buckingham Palace. Blore was a parish rooms, a new church hall was built two years later. Both the close friend of the poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott with whom he main church and hall have been listed by English Heritage and are shared a passion for historic castles which may have influenced his currently undergoing extensive refurbishment. architectural style. Built in 1833, the church is surrounded by a leafy Victorian graveyard which suffered from bombing during the Second World War. Nowadays the graveyard features a nature trail which is A complete list of Leytonstone's Listed Buildings can be open to the public throughout the year. The church regularly hosts found at www.leytonhistorysociety.org.uk concerts and recitals and is home to a bellringers’ group. Edward Blore's original designs for the church can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum at South Kensington.

1 The High Stone, Junction Hollybush Hill, E11. 5 Church of St. John the Baptist, High Road, E11. 2 Assembly Row, Whipps Cross Road 6 West Ham Union Workhouse / Langthorne Hospital, Langthorne 3 Church of St. Andrew, Colworth Road, E11. Road, E11. 4 Leytonstone House High Road/Green Man Roundabout, E11. 7 Church of St Margaret of Antioch, Woodhouse Road, E11.

WEDS & FRI ONLY TILL SEPT Vouchersarenow availableat www.harlowgreyhounds.co.uk or ring 01279 639248

14 THE STAR ISSUE 10 2009 Learn how to make SUNRISECARS Telephone delicious Indian food 020 8558 3734 020 8556 7729 The Star of India Way – Freephone Come along to Star of 0800 917 2404 24 hour radio controlled service India Curry Club All drivers fully insured Airport service Ideal as a birthday or Christmas gift – or for a special group event If you enjoy delicious food and would like to learn how to make some basic Indian dishes ‘Star of India’ style – then come along to our regular and highly successful ‘Curry Club’ lunchtime events.

Watch how the experts do it – have a go yourself – enjoy some delicious ‘Star of India’ food with a glass of wine – all for £30 per person.

Curry Club takes place from 12pm – 3pm on Wednesday and Saturday twice a month. You’ll have two hours’ tuition and practice followed by lunch with a glass of wine. Each session is limited to 10 places.

Curry Club is a great way to meet other people who enjoy food. You could also book as a birthday party, a hen or stag event with a difference, or as a business incentive or team building exercise. And with Christmas coming up, Curry Club will make an original and ideal Christmas gift for someone who enjoys cooking and eating good food. Star of India will tailor the package to suit your requirements. Plenty of dates available from September 2009 onwards. For more information on CURRY CLUB or to book a session please call: Jeanne Holland on 020 8989 1244 or email: [email protected]

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ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 15 Email your legal questions to [email protected] Tucker’s law Domestic violence against men

We are all familiar with the seaside postcard scenario of the meek In this column I’m going to raise an issue little man with the large strident wife, or of the man tiptoeing into which for many reasons is rarely talked the house in the small hours to be greeted by his wife, rolling pin in about or admitted to, but nonetheless it hand. For many men, however, the reality is not funny at all. The Home Office definition of domestic violence is: does exist. That subject is the number of Any incident or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse men who suffer domestic violence. (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or are family Domestic violence against women is an members, regardless of gender or sexuality. unpleasant subject which quite rightly is It is estimated that as many as two in five men may have suffered domestic violence at one time or the other although it is only very treated very seriously by the police and by few men who will come forward and report it (source : The Mankind the courts. This is extremely welcome. Initiative). There are various reasons for this; they feel they will not be believed, or they may feel their masculinity may be compromised However, few people realise that men can in some way. It must be said too that whilst women have networks of also be the victims of violence by their supportive friends and family, men are reluctant to admit that they are suffering. Men may be at risk of severe injury and in some cases spouses and partners. even being murdered by their partners. This clearly is very serious indeed and it is therefore vital not to suffer in silence.

Domestic violence is a crime. The effects are very far reaching, both on the victim and on other members of the family, particularly on children who may witness or hear violence. A child witnessing domestic violence by one parent against the other may be at risk of harm from witnessing violence, grow up with emotional or psychological problems, or the child may also be at risk of physical injury themselves. Violence in the home is not, and can never be, viewed as being acceptable.

Help is at hand, in the form of criminal proceedings, taken by the police, or in the form of civil injunctions under the Family Law Act 1996. Anybody who is suffering from violence within a relationship should firstly notify the police and keep a record of all incidents, of any injuries, medical treatment sought and any photographic evidence. They should also be encouraged to seek legal advice from a solicitor or legal adviser about the remedies which may be available through the Courts to protect them and any children.

There is also an organisation called Mankind who provide support and assistance to any men suffering from violence. Kennard Wells Solicitors, (www.mankind.org.uk) T 01823 334244. 718 High Road, Don’t let the perpetrators of domestic violence get away with it! London E11 3AJ

T 020 8539 8258

16 THE STAR ISSUE 10 2009 Harvest home a thing of the past? Joan Straw looks back on the wheatfields of Essex and the fruits of the land HARVEST…”All is safely gathered in” – or so it says in one of the Harvest Hymns. Churches around this time are filled with presentations of home grown fruits and vegetables and congregations lustily singing “thank the Lord for all this love” – or that’s how it used to be when I was a girl.

What was “safely gathered in” was the wheat and grain for making was before the arrival of the mighty combine harvester – it was all bread which constituted our basic diet - if there wasn’t enough – hands to the scythe! people went hungry. A good harvest was vital! My memories are of watching the harvesters at work in the fields of Essex and the Why is it so different now? We can still bake our own bread at home farmlands of the Debden Estate. The sowing and planting was hard but on the whole I guess both town and country people rely on the work and the success or otherwise of its growing depended on the grocery store. In this country we have resorted to importing all weather - a very cold spring spelled disaster and a very wet summer manner of foodstuffs to give us variety and make up for deficiencies. likewise. Even a well grown field of wheat all golden and decorated We all expect to get exactly what we want and when we want it from with wild flowers might not necessarily forecast success i.e. “being the shops – rather than when the season yields it naturally. In a safely gathered in” and stored for the next stage of milling flour and country of plenty the idea of ‘growth’ and ‘harvest’ and eating from baking bread. I can still remember how laborious the “gathering in” the land does not figure in most people’s lives. However, global warming and climate change has caused us all in the western world to become alarmed at the future prospect of obtaining food. Perhaps we might be obliged to produce what we eat in our own back gardens – as we did during World War Two! A very lively movement ‘The Organic Gardening Movement’ is now encouraging schools to teach children to grow their own vegetables and fruit to demonstrate self-sufficiency and engender a love and respect of the land. It’s wonderful to see how proud these children are of their ‘harvest’. They are also learning how to cook and enjoy their produce.

We have strayed very far from the basic skills of survival but I believe circumstances are changing. We are all now aware of how the economy can change overnight. One minute we are basking in relative prosperity – the next day we hear major banks are crashing, businesses are failing and thousands of people are losing their jobs. We are all making the best of the credit crunch – and many of us are Hall and venue for hire looking at ways of saving money through recycling and ‘growing our own’. Allotments, originally designed for the poorer people to grow The perfect venue for any occasion or event. potatoes are very much sought after now. The prospect of spending leisure time in the fresh air and in good company – and saving a bit The hall measures 20 metres by 10 metres and of money is now very appealing! It is a great joy to me when friends has capacity for 180 people. share their allotment ‘harvests’ – there is a great sense of achievement and of nature doing what she does best – and of course G G Weddings Seminars everything tastes so much better! G G Christenings Community meetings G G And what about eating the food? Harvests used to be a great Birthday parties And much more ‘gathering’ occasion when everyone would celebrate a successful year G Christmas parties and eat the fruits of the soil. These days we don’t treat mealtimes as a social occasion. In our busy lives many parents complain that they don’t have time to prepare food or take an hour out to enjoy eating Banqueting tables and chairs provided. with their children. It’s a case of microwave in seconds and eat in Kitchen available for hire. minutes. Tel: 020 8223 0707 www.theasiancentrewf.org.uk ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 17 The Asian Centre Waltham Forest 18A Orford Road, London E17 9LN The sense of community well being and welfare at harvest time is something we only see in historical films or read about in Thomas Hardy novels. I can remember back in the mid-1920s when a groundbreaking project called ‘The Peckham Experiment’ was launched in an attempt to rethink the role of health and medicine in the community. The new ‘Pioneer Health Centre was intended to help improve the health of the poorer people in South London through the availability of a gymnasium, swimming pool, nursery school and the provision of organic food grown and harvested at the Centre’s farm. A remarkable concept of growing foodstuffs, eating them and enjoying social interaction – something that was taken for granted in farming communities of the mid 1800s. I can also remember the McMillan sisters and their pioneering work for the benefit of small children in slum areas in the 1920s and 1930s. They demonstrated that fresh air, plenty of home grown vegetables, dairy produce such as milk, butter and eggs could dramatically change the physique of children, many of them badly damaged by rickets.

In my own school at Custom House, East London, I endeavoured to instil a love of the land and of the gifts of nature. We created small plots for growing vegetables and fruits and the children not only learnt about the seasons and what we could yield from them – but about the joys of sharing their harvest. © Damien GOUBEAU - Fotolia.com GOUBEAU Damien © My own harvest this season has produced an abundance of redcurrants and gooseberries which I have been busily preparing and bottling to share with friends and family. Here is my favourite sugar on top of each cake and Harvest Home cake recipes for gooseberry jam. I have also included a recipe for ‘Harvest while still warm sandwich the 4oz margarine - softened Home’ cake – kindly supplied by Mrs. Sheila Young of Enderby who two cakes together with fruit regularly produces this for harvest supper every year. 4oz caster sugar side together in middle. Leave 4oz self raising flour to cool. Can be served as a cake or as a dessert with cream. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder Gooseberry jam 2 eggs beaten 1kg (2 lbs) green gooseberries 1lb green gooseberries topped topped and tailed and tailed 450 ml (three quarters of a pint Sift flour and baking powder. of water) 14 HighRoad Leyton, E15 2BP Cream margarine and sugar 1.5 kg (3 lbs) sugar until fluffy. Add beaten eggs gently and mix. Fold in flour Put gooseberries in a pan with and baking powder. Split water. Simmer until fruit is mxture between two 7” soft. Test for pectin. When a Leyton Foot Clinic is an We provide: sandwich tins. Place firm clot is obtained add sugar established provider of foot * Professional painless treatment of gooseberries in top of each cake and stir until dissolved. Bring care in the community. The most foot disorders, including - as many as you can fit on. aim of this practice is to reduction of pain associated with to the boil and boil rapidly Bunions, Heel, Toes and Leg. Bake in moderate over for alleviate foot pain, improve until setting point is reached foot function and try to approx 35 minutes until risen stirring occasionally. Remove * Routine chiropody consisting of toe prevent future suffering and nail care, removal of hard skin and cakes spring back when any scum. Cool slightly and deformity where possible. (callous) and corns, foot care and pressed. Remove from oven and pour into hot sterilized jars. footwear advice. cool slightly. Sprinkle caster We are Chiropodists & Podiatrists, Members of the * Nail surgery Society of Chiropodists & * Reduction of thickened toenails Podiatrists (MChS) and Registered withtheHealth * Verrucae treatment Professions Council (HPC). We were formerly known as State You do not need a referral to have your feet seen to by us. It's as simple Registered Chiropodists & Harmony Hall as picking up the telephone and Podiatrists (SRCh). booking an appointment. Basichygiene and nail cutting may be Unfortunately there is no provision in Looking for a venue in Located just off Walthamstow High all that's needed to keep your feet in this area for us to offer NHS Street is Harmony Hall, a good health. But when normal feet treatments. Waltham Forest? multicultural family centre serving turn into problem feet, it's best to seek professional help. Some problems Please contact the surgery for an Then look no further. the people of central Walthamstow. are inherited; some develop from appointment or for more information It comprises two medium sized illnesses in middle age, or from the on these services halls and one large meeting room pressure of ill-fitting shoes. That's which doubles as an up-to-the where we can help. For further information minute IT suite with ten terminals. or to make a booking call Available for hire seven days a Tel: 020 8519 9447 Email: [email protected] 020 8520 7909 week, from 9am to 11pm. No bar. Fax: 020 8522 0709 www.leytonfootclinic.co.uk

18 THE STAR ISSUE 10 2009 My Mum went back to work as soon as I was old enough to be left with someone else, so every weekday morning till I started school we made the journey down the Tube from our suburban home to my Nan and Grandad’s house, where it was, apart from the black-and-white tv and the phone, still 1942.

Reminders of the war years were everywhere. On the ground in front of the house was a line of little black circles, all that remained of the railings which had been taken away to make munitions. Down the road was a bomb site which had been turned into an adventure playground, which I wasn’t allowed to go to because it was full of rough kids. Opposite this playground was the site of a pub, ”The Prince of Wales ”, where one Christmas Nan and Grandad were celebrating when a V2 rocket landed in the street outside. My Dad, then 16, was sitting indoors reading a book when he heard the explosion. He ran towards the devastation – Grandad had suffered minor cuts but was otherwise ok and was helping Nan out of the rubble, but 68 other people were not so fortunate, including everyone in the upstairs bar which my grandparents had left only 10 Jane Duran Jane minutes earlier, and 10 children from one family, distant cousins of ours, who lived in the house opposite. Their mother, who had been I was brought up during in the pub, went mad and was taken away to Colney Hatch. Nan and Grandad’s living room was called the kitchen. The kitchen the war, which ended was called the scullery. On the mantelpiece above the fireplace were two identical tea caddies full to the brims with Grandad’s collection 16 years before I was of silver threepenny bits, many of them the product of years of born by Dave Hayes laborious searching in trouser pockets at the industrial laundry where he worked. These were still legal dirt, often with your skin still attached. The Whenever it rang, either in the house or on tender, but none had been minted since the toilet paper was that shiny stuff which I the telly, she would immediately bring the war when they were replaced by a chunky shall not describe further as it will be only matter to the attention of the household. greeny-coloured coin of inferior metal. They too painfully familiar to older readers. ”Foam! ” she would call out. The opening had a high silver content, and if there was Where Grandad kept these treasures I never credits of The Rockford Files sent her into a ever another war and a silver shortage, did discover, but much of it ended up in our monosyllabic frenzy, like a Nan version of Grandad was prepared. Nan couldn’t read or loft, and my family were still bravely Father Jack Hackett. ”Foam! Foam! Foam! ” write but Grandad was an intellectual and I working their way through it by the time I had the run of his library, which consisted left home to go to university in 1979. Grandad used to come home at lunchtime of back numbers of the Daily Mirror kept in for his dinner, which was often a huge plate a cardboard box. I used to pore over these There was a front room where all the of stew and dumplings so hot that you had old papers, especially the 1937 Coronation furniture was covered in dust sheets and to start from the outside and gradually work week colonial edition in its special brown nobody ever went in there except to use the your way into the middle. I was taught to binding. Not many four-year-olds growing phone, pronounced ’foam’. A lady from eat everything that was put in front of me up in the Sixties knew who Godfrey Winn across the road called every day and said in with the admonition ”During the war, times was, or Pip, Squeak and Wilfred, nor were a faux genteel Cockney voice, ”Hallo Lou, were hard ”, and ”Eat the fat up, it’s the they familiar with the embarrassing may I use your foam? ” Nan would best bit ”. I was a good boy who always did adventures of Jane, the real Forces’ invariably reply in an identical posh voice as he was told with the consequence that I Sweetheart. never assumed in any other circumstances have recently been advised by my doctor to ”Yes Love, it’s threouw in the front reouwm. reduce my cholesterol and am struggling to On a hook in the scullery there hung a ” I was curious that Nan always addressed keep my weight below 18 stone. It only policeman’s whistle, issued to my Grandad this lady and referred to her as Love. One gradually dawned on me that this was a case for firewatching duty. I was warned that if I day I asked ”Nan, who is that lady? ” of ”Don’t do as I do, do as I say ” and that blew the whistle, lots of policemen would ”What, Love? ” ”Yes, what’s her name? ” Grandad in particular was an appallingly come running from all directions to tell me ”That’s Love from across the road ”. I knew fussy eater and as thin as a rake. off. I never blew the whistle. Had I done so, that couldn’t possibly be her name but the hastily assembled rozzers may well have didn’t feel able to press the matter as the They say that, if you can remember the asked about the vast quantities of wartime ways of grown-ups were strange to me. As Sixties, then you couldn’t have been there. soap and toilet paper which Grandad had indeed they remain. Well I remember them very well indeed. felt it necessary to impound, so as to Churchill, bomb sites, the Old King, silver prevent them falling into the hands of Nazi As she grew older Nan became increasingly threepenny bits, oh yes I was there all right. paratroopers. The soap bars were yellow, the immobile and afflicted with senile dementia. And there was a war on, you know. size of half a brick and twice as heavy, She never, however, lost her awareness of which were very effective at removing the the central importance of the foam. If you want it, you can have it

Fashion this Autumn is not for the faint-hearted! The Star shows you Almost as a backlash to the economic doom and gloom of summer, key looks are out to make a how and where to statement. Although this is the season to keep warm – the prevailing mood is sexy but chic. wear it well this Colours, textures and shapes take a retro stance Autumn but are updated with a 2009 design twist. We’re looking at the return of sheepskins and leather in

Left to right a big way – and if you’ve kept those thigh high Miss Selfridge grey jumpsuit £50 boots from the seventies – dig them out and wear Wallis black leather jacket £129 | Black pencil skirt £40 | Chain necklace £30 them well! Miss Selfridge brown leather jacket £110 | brown, pink, blue and gold dress £85 Dorothy Perkins red military coat £95 | colour block dress £40 | blue multi strap shoes £60 ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 21 Take a look at our STAR style file and see what’s hot this season! Leather is back in a BIG way – from Forties – going on eighties. Yes – the leather trousers, dresses, t-shirts to cropped nipped waist gets another season! Look out leather biker jackets. Leather leggings are for belted dresses, jackets and coats. also a key look. Tailoring is essential to the forties look in elegant suits and silky blouses. High heel And if you dare to wear – thigh high leather shoes and leather gloves complete the look boots are this season’s sensation – and the but if you really love the era then go for a higher the better! Go for swashbuckling, satin and feather headband. For the eighties space vixen or lace through styles! brigade this is the season for you! Power Sheepskins – but not as you remember shoulders that would shame South Fork are them! This autumn sees the arrival of out and about in dresses, jackets, blouses sheepskin capes in a variety of designs from and even cardigans. The secret is to keep cropped mini capelets to longer cloaks and the shoulders big - but slim down the rest of full capes. Leather or suede sheepskin boots your outfit. Little sequinned skirts and are also hot news. dresses look great with big fussy earring and elegant sequin clutch bag. And remember Boy talk – with oversized jackets, shirts those elastic belts? Well they’re back but and a natty tartan scarf. Remember to with a 2009 update in metallics and leather streamline your trousers and skirts to keep a cut out styles. leaner line. For the complete effect get some boyish brogues – they’re all the rage this Top right autumn. Wallis black leather jacket £129 | black pencil skirt £40 | Chain necklace £30 Bottom left 22 THE STAR ISSUE 10 2009 Hobbs cabaret sequinned dress £199 | haven clutch bag £99 RARE Military cardigan £45

French Connection Monsoon Been Dreaming Asymmetric dress Grey Originals Betsey dress £120 £160

Metallic muse – and we’re not just talking accessories! This season the metallic look moves into dresses, skirts, trousers and jackets. The idea is to shine – but not overpower. Gold peep toe shoes and shiny leather bags and belts are still hot favourites. Off the shoulder – a hot favourite this summer comes into its own again this autumn. This Every two weeks is where your party frock can really rock. Choose a slinky satin style that drapes beautifully round the body for a tantalising Grecian Goddess look. Hobbs Darcey over the Make way for grey – black knee boot moves over as grey hits the £299 headlines. Look out for the new grey in soft dove tones or sharper slate. Coats, suits, dresses, shoes and boots and accessories are all going grey for autumn.

ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 23 NOW OPEN THE STAR ALL DAY FROM LOUNGE 12 NOON

The Star Lounge is the Star ofIndia’s new contemporary Famed for its quality, space to enjoy a relaxing attention to detail and service, the Star of India drink or an Indian ‘Tapas’. also has a sumptuous lounge for diners to relax in whilst waiting for their table – The Star Lounge will open at lunch and offers a something different and attractive to make the comfortable meeting place, perfect for pre-dinner experience enjoyable drinks, or a ‘quick bite’. The Star Lounge also for everyone. benefits from an outdoor garden area, offering an Danny Cheesewright, alfresco dining experience. “”iN Magazine 2009

T 020 8989 4028 E [email protected] www.starofindiauk.com Opening hours: 12noon 11.30pm

875–877 Leytonstone High Road, London E11 1HR The BNI Blues By Nick Tiratsoo

As anyone who travels up and down its length knows full well, Waltham Forest’s many different neighbourhoods are surprisingly unequal. One statistic really brings this home. If you take men and women from leafy Chingford Green, they live on average to 75 and 83. But if you then turn to Cathall in the more deprived south of the Borough, you find that both sexes’ lives are considerably shorter – in fact by as much as two and six years respectively. The bottom line is that where you reside has a great deal of influence upon not only what chances you have in life, but also when you die.

For many years, such unwelcome realities almost completely lacking. Contracts with commissioned in 2006-07, for instance, none went unchallenged. But from 2003 onwards the third parties were awarded minus the were procured according to the rules, the local Council has received substantial required paperwork, and in ways that monitored, or audited, and several seemed amounts of government money in order to completely ignored the basic anti-fraud decidedly peculiar – for example, the level the playing field, the idea being to tendering rules that are specified in the £66,011 paid to a man on the Isle of Wight, improve key aspects of education, Council’s constitution. Perhaps even worse, which the Council later claimed was a employment and health in the poorest there was little or no effective monitoring misprint, and the £24-26,000 spent on a one wards, and thus help them close the gap and auditing, so that no one could be sure day conference for perhaps 50 local with their richer neighbours. what any of the money was actually teachers, fair enough if the venue had been achieving. in the Seychelles, but puzzling to say the So far, this programme – at first called least given that it was in fact at Leyton Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and more Lest this be thought an exaggeration, it is Orient! recently the Better Neighbourhoods worth looking in a little detail at a couple of Initiative or BNI - has involved no less than examples. Predictably, the Council To be fair, some of those concerned have £15.2 million of expenditure. Such a sum earmarked a good deal of the available cash now held their hands up and admitted that, could have made a lasting difference. But each year to help vulnerable youth. That in yes, this was, indeed, a highly unsavoury the sad truth is that it has not. For, as itself was sensible. But when it came to episode. And it is to his credit that the new recent stories in the Waltham Forest actually spending the money, all common chief executive has set up a high-powered Guardian have graphically revealed, money sense seems to have gone out of the inquiry to make sure there is no repeat. that should have benefited the poorest window. The Council used its education people in the Borough has all too often provider, EduAction, to deliver, yet failed to Yet few believe that the full truth has evaporated in a fiasco of mismanagement build in normal safeguards. The result was emerged. How could a local authority have and waste. chaos. Thus, one of these contracts, worth lost its way so thoroughly and completely? £340,000, apparently contained ‘terms What were the Council’s auditors up to? The sheer scale of what has gone wrong is detrimental to the Council’s position Given that several prominent Councillors quite staggering. One of the Council’s basic without adequate explanation’; allegedly appear to have known about some of the strategies was to use third parties to deliver was signed off by a single Council officer problems from a pretty early stage, why did on the ground, based upon the assumption acting on behalf of both parties; and when they wait until 2008 before doing anything that they had the specialist knowledge and later assessed, involved outputs that could effective about them? Ultimately, it was the capabilities. It is natural to assume that not be verified. Cabinet that oversaw these programmes, and such arrangements would have been closely it is the Cabinet that should now do some supervised - after all, this was a substantial Other parallel projects aimed at explaining. The MPs’ expenses scandal amount of public money. However, in fact, strengthening community cohesion suffered provides a piquant warning. supervision was the one thing that was a similar fate. Of the nine that were ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 25 Getty Images Blueprint for Regeneration Leytonstone High Road has been identified as The surrounding street layouts and junctions A major consultation exercise an important gateway to a rejuvenated could be completely redesigned to provide is running throughout the Stratford. It could be a focus for major street more direct access to Stratford City and the enhancements and landscaping initiatives Olympic Park. A further network of summer exploring including a programme of tree plantings to pedestrian bridges and cycle paths may also emphasise its relationship with the adjoining be developed in the Ruckholt Road area. opportunities for the forest land. A strategy to enhance the quality of shop fronts may be considered The introduction of new sports facilities at regeneration of Leytonstone, along with major structural and nearby Draper's Field is being examined along Stratford and Leyton. environmental upgrades to the junctions at with further housing developments along the Crownfield Road, Thatched House and northern and western edges of the site. Chobham Road. Orient Way and Dagenham Brook industrial The Northern Olympic Fringe Consultation sites could also be redeveloped for housing. aims to determine how the local area could Leytonstone High Road overground station be transformed in response to the 2012 has been highlighted as a key site for In Stratford the area surrounding Maryland Olympics and the 2011 opening of Westfield's improvement. The station could be overground station will be the focus for multimillion pound Stratford City retail redesigned to have a much greater presence regeneration. The corner of Leytonstone Road development. on the High Road with a more prominent could be completely redeveloped to provide improved residential and retail opportunities The ambitious project has been organised by entrance and ticket hall, increased lighting and a lift for disabled access. including a new area for outdoor market a coalition of partners including the London stalls. The station itself could be enclosed Development Agency, Newham and Waltham Improved bridge links over the A12 are also with housing developed above. The Forest councils, the Thames Gateway identified as a priority with the Cathall Road consultation documents also identify an Corporation and Lea Valley Regional Park in bridge singled out as being in particular need opportunity to incorporate Maryland into the association with regeneration consultants of upgrades and landscaping. London-wide Crossrail project. Urban Practitioners. The area around nearby Leyton High Road Other local transport improvements including The designated Northern Olympic Fringe area and Leyton Mills Retail Park could also be the reopening of railway station runs from on the Leyton- radically reinvented under the new proposals. and more convenient bus links to nearby Walthamstow border to Maryland Station in Research has indicated an improved forest sites are also examined in the plan. Stratford and includes the south of pedestrian environment around the Retail Leytonstone and the former Thames Water Park will be essential for the site's continued "I want to see the maximum intelligent use land inside Lea Valley Park. The current viability. The redevelopment of existing of Olympic investments to drive the consultation will assess the views of residents buildings around the immediate area in regeneration of parts of East London that on a range of proposals in preparation for a Leyton High Road is being considered in have been neglected," said London Mayor final masterplan to be published next year. order to create a new public square linking Boris Johnson. "The masterplan will aim to ensure that local the tube station and Retail Park. This would For further details visit communities benefit from the opportunities require a widening of the existing road bridge www.urbanpractitioners.co.uk/projects and new developments expected as part of and the introduction of further low rise Consultation documents can be downloaded the Olympic Legacy and Stratford City housing and retail units. The Retail Park from projects," said a spokesman for Newham layout itself could be substantially reworked www.lbwf.gov.uk/index/2012games/northern council. "Central to this aim is the need to to provide a mixture of ground level retail -olympic-fringe better connect existing residential areas to shops with high rise housing above. A new these sites". and expanded entrance and ticket hall at Leyton tube station is also under 26 THE STAR ISSUE 10 2009 consideration. This is the season for Al-fresco…

fter a colourful start since their opening, Seasons of Wanstead is finally settling Adown, and is quickly establishing itself as a top local eatery in Wanstead. Having just completed the outside seating area, diners can now enjoy eating seasonal delights al Fresco. Surrounded by the scents of Garden herbs, Proprietor Steve Cook says “it’s a nice place to watch the summer rain”. However if Al Fresco isn't your style you can sit and watch the team of chefs produce your meal in the open plan kitchen. A new lunch menu has just been introduced from their latest addition to staff; head Chef Terrance Stephen, who joins from the Royal Lancaster. As well as a full lunch menu, seasons now offer a light lunch menu ranging from a host of salads and sandwiches to light bites. A daily specials board also features heavily, introducing seasonal treats such as Fresh Cornish sardines and native Scottish lobsters. The restaurant also offers an extensive wine list that will be sure to compliment your meal. First class produce that is freshly prepared and good wines seems to be the passion that drives Seasons. Seasons of Wanstead is open everyday except Mondays, so whether you've been before or not, this venue is certainly worth another visit.

Every Wednesday and Friday Check our daily Seasonal night and Sunday lunchtime Specials and updated menu @ enjoy music from our new www.seasonsofwanstead.co.uk resident pianist.

17 High Street, Wanstead E11 2AA. Telephone: 020 8989 6478 [email protected] www.seasonsofwanstead.co.uk Theatre Royal Bar, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 100 Years of Broadway Diary Entry Free Saturday 24 October at 7.30pm www.stratfordeast.com An evening of song, dance and comedy from September across the Atlantic. Includes candlelit dinner. Free Fridays at 93 Feet East October Brick Lane Music Hall, 443 North Woolwich Road, E16 Friday 11 September at 8pm An Audience with Michael Portillo £35 The launch of a new season of live music. Thursday 1 October at 7pm Entry Featuring performances from The Agency, An evening with the former Conservative www.bricklanemusichall.co.uk Brooklyn and Miggles Christ. Free barbeque in frontbencher. The Forest Philharmonic courtyard. Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, Edmonton. Sunday 25 October from 6.30pm 93 Feet East, Brick Lane, E1 Entry £15 The acclaimed orchestra return to Waltham Forest Free Entry T 020 8807 6680 for an evening of Beethoven and Dvorak. T 020 7247 3293 Second Skin Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Forest Road, E17 £8 - £14 Call Mr. Robeson Thursday 1 October from 7pm Entry Saturday 12 September at 8pm An exhibition of photographs examining the T 01279 814 931 A celebration of the legendary actor and singer neighbourhoods of East London. Ricky Tomlinson Paul Robeson. Chat's Palace, Brooksby's Walk, E9 Sunday 25 October at 7.30pm Stratford Circus, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 Entry Free A live performance by the ‘Royle Family’ star. Entry £12.50 Broadway Theatre, Barking www.stratford-circus.com Live from the National Theatre: All's Well that Ends Well Entry £17.50 E17 Jazz Thursday 1 October at 7pm T 020 8507 5607 Thursday 17 September at 9pm. The acclaimed National Theatre production is Chingford Horticultural Society A live performance by the new local jazz shown live on the big screen. collective plus guests. Autumn Show Stratford Picturehouse, Salway Road, E15 Rose and Crown, 55 Hoe Street, E17 Saturday 31 October at 2pm Entry £10 Plant sale, exhibits and competition. Entry £5 T 0871 704 2066 Mornington Hall, Station Road, E4 T 020 8509 3880 Song Celestial Entry Free Leytonstone Car Free Day Thursday 1 October at 7.30pm www.chinghortsoc.org.uk Sunday 20 September from 11.45am A new musical work composed by Baluji Ghost Tour of Sutton House The streets of E11 are closed to traffic and Shrivastav and inspired by the Bhagavad Gita. instead play host to an afternoon of stalls, live Saturday 31 October at 8pm Rich Mix, 35 Bethnal Green Road, E1 music and community events. A ghostly Halloween night in one of East £12.00 Church Lane, E11 Entry London's oldest houses. www.richmix.org.uk Entry Free Sutton House, 2 Homerton High Street, E9 T 020 8496 3000 Kate Mosse Entry £6 www.nationaltrust.org.uk Any Colour So Long as it's Green Friday 2 October at 1.30pm The author discusses her latest novel 'The Winter 21-27 September from 12pm Ghosts'. Art exhibition organised by Waltham Forest Wanstead Library, Spratt Hall Road, E11 WANSTEAD & Friends of the Earth. Free Church Lane, E11 Entry www.newhambooks.co.uk Entry Free WOODFORD www.lbwf.gov.uk Abba Night CHESS CLUB Stan Sulzman Thursday 8 October at 7.30pm A tribute to the Swedish pop idols. Tuesday 22 September at 8.30pm Hackney Empire, Mare Street, E8 A friendly local chess club active The acclaimed saxophonist in concert. £17.50 East Side Jazz Club at the Lord Rookwood, Cann Entry in League competitions, with Hall Road, E11 T 020 8985 2424 lively internal events. Entry £4 Michael Finnissy Wanstead & Woodford Chess Club meets T 020 8989 8129 Tuesday 13 October at 7.30pm every Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm at Wanstead Melanie McGrath An intimate performance by the composer and House, E11 2TN, close to Wanstead pianist. Thursday 24 September at 1pm Underground. Wilton's Music Hall, Graces Alley, E1 An afternoon with the acclaimed East London e Club was founded in 1943 and has been writer. Entry £10 based at Wanstead House since 1947. We are Museum in Docklands, West India Quay, E14 www.wiltons.org.uk therefore an integral part of the local Entry Free Big Band Tea Dance community scene. We are a Constituent Body of Wanstead House Community Association, www.museumindocklands.org.uk Wednesday 14 October at 1.30pm. which runs a wide variety of classes and An afternoon of Big Band nostalgia. New News from Nowhere groups. We automatically enrol our members Sir James Hawkey Hall, Broomhill Road, until Sunday 27 September Woodford as members of WHCA. An exhibition inspired by the visionary work of We participate in Essex Chess League, London Entry £4 William Morris. Chess League and North Circular Chess William Morris Gallery, Forest Road, E17 Word Up, Walthamstow League and run a Club Championship and Entry Free Saturday 17 October from 8pm Club Lightning and Blitz Championships. .walthamforest.gov.uk/wmg An evening of indie music, poetry and comedy. www When Do We Meet? Comedy Extra Rose and Crown, 55 Hoe Street, E17 • Weekly - Tuesday - 7.30 pm-10.30 pm £5 Sunday 27 September from 7.30pm Entry Contact Popular comedians and emerging talent. T 020 8509 3880 David Smith, Secretary: 020 8504 0525

28 THE STAR ISSUE 10 2009 Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of these listings. Jazz extravaganza Saturday 31 october 8pm Featuring, Phil Snack - alto sax, flute, clarinet, Marius Rudnick tenor sax, flute, clarinet, Chris storey trumpet, Richard Madgwick piano, Alex King double bass, Paul Canton drums. Sponsored by Grassroots. All welcome St Edmunds Centre, 464 Katherine Road, Forest Gate E7 (Junction of Halley Road) Entry £6 £5 Conc. (Includes interval wine and nibbles) T Audrie Page 020 8471 0223 November Village Acoustic Session Sunday 1 November at 7pm Showcase event for local musicians. Performers welcome. Queen’s Arms, Orford Road, E17 Entry Free E [email protected] Counterfeit Beatles Belly Dancing at the Nags Head The Soundtrack Club Saturday 7 November at 8.30pm Tuesday evenings at 7pm Saturday evenings from 8pm Popular moptop mimics. Introductory classes in belly dancing. Weekly night of electro and alternative rock with Royal Standard, 1 Blackhorse Lane, E17 The Nags Head, Orford Road, E17 guest DJs. Entry £9 T 07930 988 020 Celsius Bar, 166 Hoe Street, E17 T 020 8527 1966 Free The Nightingale Pub Quiz Entry Leytonstone Comedy Night E [email protected] Every Tuesday 8.30pm Saturday 7 November at 8.30pm. Probably the best, definitely the friendliest pub McGuffins Film and TV Quiz Night Stand-up comedy, variety and cabaret. quiz in East London. Purely for fun, a prize for First Saturday of each month from 8.30pm Heathcote Arms, 344 Grove Green Road, E11 the winning team. Regular charity quiz nights Test your knowledge of the film and TV greats at Entry £7 The Nightingale, 51 Nightingale Lane, Wanstead, this lively quiz. £75 cash prizes plus DVDs and www.theheathcoteleytonstone.co.uk E11 2EY movie memorabilia to be won. Featured in the London Paper’s ‘Top Five London Quiz Nights’. Open Mic Night Entry Free Rose and Crown, 55 Hoe Street, E17 Thursday 12 November from 8pm Coach and Horses Blues Night Entry £1 Open session for singers, poets, comedians and Wednesday evenings at 8.15pm www.mcguffin.info musicians. Weekly blues club with resident band and guest Rose and Crown, 55 Hoe Street, E17 players. Chingford Model Railway Entry Free Coach and Horses, 391 Leyton High Road, E10 Every Sunday from 2pm (until October) T 020 8509 3880 Entry £2 Rides on coal fired, electric and petrol powered T 020 8502 0351 model locomotives. Ridgeway Park, Peel Close, E4 REGULAR EVENTS CineVideo Club Entry £1 Thursday evenings from 8pm Spanish - English Intercambio www.chingford-model-engineering.com Meets every other Monday evening from 8pm Local amateur filmmakers group with regular Spanish speakers are welcome to join us for screenings. Word 4 Word Poetry Night Spanish / English conversation practice. Stafford Hall, St. Barnabas Road, E17 Sunday evenings from 7.30pm Intermediate/Advanced level. Native Spanish Entry Free Poetry readings by established writers with slots speakers especially welcome. Ven para practicar T 020 8527 8580 available for new talent. tu ingles y tu espanol. Theatre Royal Bar, Gerry Raffles Square, E15 Young People's Film Club We meet at the Eagle Pub, Snaresbrook. Entry Free Friday evenings from 6.30pm For more information, our contact details are - www.stratfordeast.com New film club for young people aged 13-19. T 01992 788311 (Malcolm) Outset Centre, 2a Grange Road, E17 Sunday Jazz Session E [email protected] Entry Free Every Sunday from 7.30pm. T 020 8496 1530 A relaxed evening of live jazz. Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, E11 The Leytonstone library Bakers’ Arms Book Group Entry Free Last Friday of the month, 7.30 - 9.30pm. www.jazzleytonstone.com playreading group May book; Blindness by Jose Seramago We are keen for young men and women Jun book; Cannery Row by John Steinbeck Quiz Night at the Victoria with a passion for theatre and a desire for Jul book; The Piano Teacher by Elfriede Jelinek Every Sunday from 8.30pm acting to join us and take part. We are a friendly and informal group. Coffee and Quizmaster Neil presides over a popular evening Our group performs a different play wine available. New members welcome. of toe-curling trivia. (comedies; thrillers; classics and dramas) The Hornbeam Centre, corner of Bakers’ Ave and Victoria Bar, 186 Hoe Street, E17 each Monday evening at 7.30pm for 38 Hoe St, E17 Entry £1.50 weeks a year at Leytonstone library. Tickets Free www.highvoltagekaraoke.com 0208 521 3696 So come along, sit in the audience and T check us out, or contact Sheila Collings on 020 8556 3684 for further information. ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 29 Computer Bits 4 Spares, repairs and upgrades 4 New PCs built to order 4 Used systems in stock 4 Laptops Visit us at: 42 Service Bay, The Stow, Harlow, Essex CM20 3AB Tel: 01279 - 420400 www.computerbits.zytrix.biz Email: [email protected]

J.S.B TREE Xpress Cars SURGERY of Leytonstone BRAD’S Tree care specialist 020 8558 0085 COFFEE BAR Felling, Pruning, hedge cutting. Hot and cold food. Site/garden clearance. Homemade cakes and pastries. Free estimates Airports Stations Patio area.Warmand friendl y service. Logs for sale Theatres West End 020 8223 1211 0800 44 88 733 FREEPHONE Brad’s Coffee Bar 07951 113 478 0800 026 7727 (opposite Goose & Granite) www.jsbtreesurgery.co.uk 80-86 St Mary Road, E17 9RE Word search, win a meal for two worth £30 Hidden in the grid are 12 words relating to this issues Star Walk. Find all the words to be in with a chance of winning a meal for two, courtesy of the Star of India restaurant. Good luck!

Congratulations to last issue’s H I S T O R I C V O winner Maureen Hopper (see below for last issue’s solution).

E C S T Y L E A G I Send your completed word search by 20 July 2009, to: The Star magazine, 6 Gainsborough Road, R T H E G D O L O E Leytonstone, London E11 1HT

I L S U B U R B T L Name ...... T I P T R Q R L H I Address

A U D O E C W K I S ......

G B A N K D H M C K ...... E X N A I G R O E G ......

Answers from issue nine: celebrate, culture, dancing, enjoy, entertain, feast, film, fun, jazz, music, party, summer

30 THE STAR ISSUE 10 2009 AENTERPRISE Retirement Way of Life AdjoiningEppingForest HOUSE

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G Friendly professional staff Enterprise House, standingin three acres of landscaped gardens, is a fully serviced apartment block forming a Contact us for a free, no obligaon, rental valuaon. community of retired people enjoyingthe many facilities of this complex, includinga shop, restaurant, club bar and a full calendar of social events. Select Estate Agents T 020 8223 1223 F 020 8223 1222 Self contained studio flats are available from £363 pm 80-86 St Mary Road, and one-bedroom flats from £535 pm E [email protected] Walthamstow includingservices plus a refundable Loan Stock. London E17 9RE W www.select-estates.co.uk Applicants should be between 60 and 75 years young. Apply: The HousingManager Housingand Community Association The Watch Shop Enterprise House, Kings Head Hill Offers a fully guaranteed Est 2001 Chingford E4 7NB Watch Repair Service Tel: 020 8524 0318 By qualified Horologist Email: [email protected] With Rolex Certification All batteries & straps fitted while u wait See you soon! Tel020 8529 1477 Unit 14 Village Arcade, 51 Station Rd DRUM TUITION North Chingford, E4 7DA G All styles G Competitive rates UnitThe 14 Village Watch Arcade, 51 Shop Station Rd North Chingford, E4 7DA G Established tutor WE BUY GOLD BEST PRICES PAID Call Steve Registered Gold 020 8559 1697 Buying Centre Dealer 07944 839 752 Photo ID Required Tel020 8529 1477

WOODSIDE LONDON LIMITED Advertise your business G Pharmacy G Perfumes Call our sales team to discuss your G Passport and ID photographs G Free prescription collection and delivery service specific advertising needs. and much, much more… Tel 020 8556 2502 T 020 8558 4050 Opening hours Mon – Fri 9.00am – 7.00pm Saturday 9.00am – 6.00pm E [email protected] 851 High Road, Leytonstone, London E11 ISSUE 10 2009 THE STAR 31 Smokefree_A4_WalthamForest 21/8/09 16:28 Page 1

rettes feeds a child The cost of a pack of ciga e week. in the developing worldnsha’Allah for a whol and donate Quit smoking this Ramadan, I. o those in need your savings t Smokefree Ramadan 2009 / 1430AH

Smoking harms you and others in your family and can cause heart disease and cancer. Make a strong intention to quit smoking this Ramadan and keep your home tobacco and second-hand smoke free.

Specialist confidential advice and support is available free of charge from our local NHS.

Allah (swt) states "Do not kill (or destroy) The Prophet (pbuh) said “Sadaqah yourselves for verily Allah (swt) has been (charity) extinguishes misdeeds just as most merciful to you" [Al-Qur'an 4:29] water extinguishes fire.” [Tirmidhi]

Waltham Forest Stop Smoking Service 020 8430 7443

[email protected] or Text QUIT to 07919 544683

Supported by: MUSLIM HEALTH NETWORK WWW.MHNONLINE.ORG

Registered Charity No. 225971