hackneytoday THE PAPER FOR ALL HACKNEY PEOPLE Circulated to 108,000 homes and businesses in Hackney Issue 189 04 August 2008 inside 4 Pictures by Gary Manhine Surf’s up for Wet Sounds at the Lido 5 Borough’s best Hackney in bloom buildings The garden in St Joseph’s Hospice, Mare Street, won the best business premises category 9 Bloom was the biggest and competition. The high of. There was stiff competition For more beautiful pictures By Gracia Douglas the best yet, with a record standard of colourful entries in categories ranging from and a full run down of all the number of gardeners entering once again proved the best front garden to best finalists turn to pages 6 & 7 THIS year’s Hackney In the Council-organised borough has much to be proud estate and pub. Lifetime’s change for Tony Robinson OLYMPIC CITY 15 It marks the culmination determined Hackney will ensure the media centres, There will be something of years of hard work to be a better place as a result. built for the Games, are for everyone during the By secure the Games and the “We have already transformed into a new Hackney Handover Emma Britton moment when London secured better public regional hub for the media celebrations, which are officially becomes the host transport links and are and creative industries, happening during the ISTORY will be city for the 2012 Olympics working with partners to with the potential to annual Shoreditch Festival. made when the and Paralympics. generate around 8,000 Hackney is one of five What’s On listings - Olympic flag is Jules Pipe, Mayor of jobs. The centres will sit at London boroughs to host four-page pullout Hhanded to London Hackney, said: “Hackney is the heart of a thriving new the 2012 Games and a at the closing ceremony of at the heart of where the “ neighbourhood in Hackney wealth of entertainment the Beijing Games on Games will happen in just Hackney is in the Wick, improving an area has been lined up to Sunday, 24 August. four years’ time, and we are heart of where badly in need of celebrate. 16 And everyone in making the most of this by the Olympics will investment. WIN Continues on page 3 Tickets to the Hackney is invited to join working hard to secure the happen in just “The Council is working in the celebrations as the best possible benefits for hard, but there is still a four years’ time Keep the four page pullout Hackney Empire borough welcomes the residents. great deal to do in the run inside for a full programme of Games to the capital with “The bid was won on the up to 2012 and beyond. We events taking place to mark the free events in Hoxton strength of regenerating are seizing this golden 2012 handover, including Tour Street and Shoreditch Park. East London and we are ” opportunity.” de Hackney 29 Host borough for 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Jobs www.hackney.gov.uk get your next out 25 Aug 2 4 August 2008 hackneynews HACKNEY TODAY HACKNEY TODAY HACKNEY TODAY HACKNEY TODAY Message from the Mayor HACKNEY TODAY ODAY Summer of Up in lights pedals and medals ON 8 August, the 2008 Olympic Games begin in Beijing. The Paralympics follow four weeks later. I’d like to wish the best of luck to all the British team, but especially to Hackney athletes, triple jumper Phillips Idowu and Paralympic swimmer Dervis Konuralp. When the Beijing Olympics finish on 24 August, the flag will be handed to London as we become the official host city for the 2012 Games. There will be events across London to mark the occasion, and in Hackney we will be celebrating in our own way, with lots going on in and around Shoreditch Park. (See our four From left to right: Ella Brown, 13; Clive Harber from Hackney Homes; Alice Nicholas, drama co-ordinator; Simon Drew, filmmaker; Bianca Dorsett, 14; Michael Jones, CityZEN Youth Worker; Tania de St Croix, from Elevate page pull-out programme inside) These celebrations also mark the end of the Shoreditch movie, which they also had Tania de St Croix, Elevate Festival, an eight day series of events run by Shoreditch By Olaide Oyekanmi acting parts in. Youth Outreach Worker, Trust and supported by the Council. It was great It tells a story of how said: “It was really great to A highlight will be the first ever Tour de Hackney on 17 “to see the young VERYONE loves a young people work together see the young people’s work August which includes a ride around the borough’s trip to the cinema, people’s work to tackle fears and ignorance on the big screen. I was very green spaces. but for a group of around teenage pregnancy. proud of how they showed Hackney is a great place to be a cyclist – we have on the big young people from a It also touches on street great commitment by previously been named Best Bike Borough – and I hope E screen. They Hackney estate it was a once culture and the way in which organising the event and this summer’s events encourage more residents to get in a lifetime experience. showed great young people living in inner making a speech in front of a cycling and take part in the many sporting opportunities Members of the Fawcett city areas fight the pressure number of other young available across Hackney. commitment Estate Youth Committee got to get involved in anti-social people and professionals.” Find out more at www.shoreditchfestival.com or see to watch a short film they behaviour. The committee is currently What’s On. made on the big screen at the premier of ‘H-Town or” Described as ‘hard hitting working on their latest Rio Cinema in Dalston. Outtatown’. and gritty’, the film was venture, producing a Their hard work and The group, aged between supported by Hackney documentary exploring the dedication was on show for 11 and 19, helped write, Homes, the Council, charity relationship between the all to see at the official direct and produce the Elevate and CityZEN. police and young people. Jules Pipe, elected Mayor of Hackney Contents Editorial: Call Jane Young on: 020 8356 3275, e-mail: [email protected]; or write to: The Editor, Wet Sounds 4 Education 19 Communications, 2 Hillman Street, E8 1FB. Advertising: Call David Roberts on: 020 8356 2416, Hackney In Bloom 6&7 Health 21 e-mail: [email protected]; or call Lee Ray on: 020 8356 3445, e-mail: [email protected] Hackney People 9 History 23 Listings: Call Beccy Smart on: 020 8356 3736, e-mail: [email protected] Green Matters 10 Travel 25 Distribution: Call Lee Ray on: 020 8356 3445, or e-mail: [email protected] Young Hackney 12 Food 27 Design: Richard Hart and Kate Gibney Published by LBH Communications on behalf of Hackney Council. What’s On 15 Jobs 29 The products and services advertised in this newspaper do not carry the endorsement Paralympic hopeful Dervis Konuralp; and Tour de Hackney logo of Hackney Today or Hackney Council. www.hackney.gov.uk 4 August 2008 3 GET SET NEWS IN BRIEF No laughing matter COMEDIAN Richard Blackwood came to Hackney to help raise awareness of the fight against knife and gun crime in London. The TV presenter was the star attraction at a day that featured catwalk shows, dance displays and a play with an anti-violence message. The event on 16 July at the Hackney Road offices of A4e, a company that helps the unemployed into work, also Streets ahead raised funds for the NSPCC. Water baby boom On your marks: Linford Christie and Darren Campbell say go in the Hackney heats of Street Athletics on 28 July THE summer holidays have seen nearly 400 Hackney youngsters improve their swimming skills. sprinters, Linford Christie excited about returning to personal development Primary school aged pupils have taken advantage of the and Darren Campbell, Hackney with Street project run by Leyton Orient Top Up Swimming scheme, run by GLL, to improve their By visited Hackney to Athletics to seek out the best Community Sports skills. The youngsters, who were all identified as being Emma Britton encourage aspiring raw talent the borough has Programme (LOCSP). unable to swim by the Hackney School Sports Partnership, Olympians in a street to offer.” Michelle Uyinmwen, Eboni can now swim a minimum of five metres unaided. This is LYMPIC fever is athletics competition. The top three boys and Ferguson and Nicole Swire, vital, when drowning is the third most common cause of sweeping the Winners of heats in girls from each age group in 19, had to fight their way accidental death in the UK’s under 16s. borough with Downs Park Road, E5, will London will go on to a through the media scrum to Pupils were awarded certificates and free family swims, in Oyoungsters spurred now compete against national final in Manchester talk to their idol however. recognition of their achievements. Marnie Collins, on by British athletics stars youngsters from nine other on 20 September. Nicole said: “We felt a bit swimming co-ordinator, said: “These young people have of the past and present. London boroughs Britain’s current Olympic out of our league as we were achieved so much in two months when you think that Gold medal on 6 September. hope, Hackney triple the youngest people there, most of them were non swimmers. Being able to swim Linford jumper Phillips but our basketball skills came independently and safely is a life saving skill.” said: “We Idowu, was also into play as we created space There are numerous swimming courses available were the star in between the media throughout Hackney during the summer, for all ages and hugely attraction at the professionals fighting for the abilities, through the London Swim School.