Inside Magazine (Chingford and Highams Park) - May/June 2023

Welcome to the May/June edition of Inside Magazine, the local magazine for Chingford and Highams Park.

Historically, humans have always felt the need to rail against the disrespect of youth, but wisdom and experience have hitherto granted the grown-ups the upper hand.

“God, Dad, you’re so lame,” the teenage caveman would say.

“Yeah, but at least I can skin a mammoth.”

The senior alchemist knew more than the apprentice. The baker knew better than the trainee how to knead the dough. The elder engineer could teach the youngest a thing or two. But now we live in an era when the single dominant factor in our world is better understood by the young. They know more about computers and stuff than me. And they know that they know. Which means that they feel superior and get very disrespectful.

The other day I was expecting a video meeting with an old friend. I stared at the blank screen of my laptop, waiting eagerly for it to ring, or something.

”I think I’ve been stood up,” I said to my wife, who is a good two years younger than me and therefore a veritable IT genius.

“Er, hello” she said, with the smug superciliousness of (relative) youth. “I think you’re supposed to switch it on.” Ever since this, I need not add, she’s been highly disrespectful. So no change there, at least.

Editor: James McGowan

Manager: Andy Green

E4 Publishing, PO Box 64950, Chingford, London, E4 0BG

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WATKIN’S TOWER

or Trains, Towers and Turkish Baths

STORY: DAVID YOUNG IMAGES: OPEN SOURCE

Sir Edward Watkin loved a good train. He loved them so much that, after spending time in Canada and the USA, he wrote a book about the railways of that continent. I haven’t read it, (my research was never thorough) but I bet it’s a belter. Back in the UK, he eventually became a director of the GWR. And he was so good at being a director that, by 1881, he was director of nine railways.

Sir Edward Watkin loved travelling on trains, especially his own ones. I daresay that he would proudly proclaim to unsuspecting passengers, “This is my railway. Great, innit? I own this.” (No proof of this – just more incomplete research.)

Sir Edward Watkin, as director of the Metropolitan Railway, liked to make the journey from Baker Street to Harrow. There, sometime in

the 1880s, he would gaze out of the window at the lovely little villages along the way. And who amongst us has not shared in the joy of passing through Dollis Hill and Neasden, particularly as the Metropolitan doesn’t stop at them?

The village of Wembley, surrounded by green fields, appeared to him particularly pretty, yet it was in some way lacking. The thought nagged at Watkin, needling him every time that his train rattled through, until the thought struck him. “Bless me for a silly sausage,” he thought. “It needs a giant tower, that’s what it needs, a bit bigger than the one in Paris.”

You may call him a dreamer, particularly if I mention that he’d already ditched a plan for a tunnel under the Channel in 1881. He had thought that he might thus run his trains into Paris, but it never happened. But a giant tower in Wembley? – now that sounds like a very good idea indeed.

Sir Edward Watkin wanted to tempt people onto his trains, to inspire them to travel. Beyond London lay the unspoiled beauty of the countryside, out in Buckinghamshire, or nearer at hand around Willesden and Kilburn. And there was Wembley, lovely Wembley. If there could be a giant tower, then the public would be daft if they did not come.

He bought some land, and planned for an amusement park, with lakes and gardens and stalls, and there, at the heart of it, thrusting

SIR EDWARD WATKIN

THE FIRST STAGE

towards the heavens, a great big colossal tower. A station was built for the crowds that would eventually come, and was called Wembley Park in anticipation of the scheme.

As Gustave Eiffel didn’t fancy the project, a competition was held to discover a design. Fanciful ideas flew about. A spiral railway climbing the exterior of the tower. A tower that leaned - a bit like a leaning tower I guess. Amazingly, these ideas did not win the contract. That privilege went to an eight-legged 1200-foot metal tower, complete with theatres, exhibitions, and, obviously, several Turkish baths and the occasional dance hall. Finally, because this was the modern world, there would be electrical lighting.

To build it, there had to be a company, so Sir Edward Watkin made one of his own, the International Tower Construction Company. These days, to make it funkier, we might have spelt Tower without the E. An attempt to win public funding was unsuccessful, so four of the eight legs were discarded. Anyway, four legs are better than eight.

Work began in 1892, and, nearby, boating lakes and cricket pitches were prepared. The first stage was well under way in 1894 when the public were first allowed to visit. It was very successful. By 1895, the tower had squirmed its way to a height of 154 feet. That’s about 2 trees, for those that prefer their heights measured in

trees. Or 24 fridges. It was behind schedule. Sir Edward Watkin was in poor health. Worse was to come. The decision to go with four legs had rendered the structure unstable. The company went into liquidation, maybe because they left the E in Tower, Sir Edward Watkin died, the tower was closed to the public and, in 1907, was demolished with dynamite. The Wembley dream did not vanish with the unfinished tower, or Towr, or ‘stump’ as I prefer to call it. Sports clubs flourished, housing developments sprung up, and, in 1924, the British Empire Exhibition brought further life to the area. There was even a huge sports stadium built, whose name I failed to research, though I think that it had ‘Wembley’ in its name. It may still be there, for all that I know, but it’s probably called Wmbly.

DESIGNS FOR THE TOWER

DRIVEN BY A PASSION TO HELP OTHERS

At Radfield Home Care Chingford & Loughton, we are helping people to age well by remaining connected to the things that matter most in life. Our journey started with our founder, Adam Simons, who has very personal motivations for setting up a business that supports his local community.

As lockdown struck, to help combat some personal issues in his life, Adam began volunteering. Initially as a Meals on Wheels driver, then he became a telephone befriender and over two years ago he joined the Samaritans as a listening volunteer. To this day he still continues his voluntary work.

Adam said: "Setting up this homecare business is an extension of the voluntary work I already do. My voluntary work has given me so much it’s empowering, humbling, incredibly rewarding and gives me a real sense of purpose. There is no better feeling than to help others."

Inspired by Adam’s passion, we are dedicated to

providing quality private home care services and understand that exceptional care starts with exceptional people. That is why we are committed to supporting and empowering our brilliant Care Professionals.

Demonstrating that commitment, we acquired Real Living Wage Accreditation, meaning we pay our staff a fair, independently calculated wage, based on the actual cost of living.

For our clients and their families, we are dedicated to providing the highest level of home care services so that they may remain connected to what matters most.

For more on Radfield Home Care Chingford & Loughton, speak with the friendly team at your local office at 02081 541 781.

For more on our services and career opportunities, visit: www.radfieldhomecare.co.uk/094/about-us Please follow and like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php? id=100090419418357

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Located close to wonderful beaches on the sun-drenched Costa Blanca just an hour from Alicante Airport, in the Moraira region, and about £200 per week cheaper than comparable properties. (Even cheaper than a cottage in Cornwall)

The story so far...

We bought the villa in late 2018 after battling months of red tape. We didn’t buy it to get rich, but wanted to create something that would be truly special for us, our friends, and for local people to enjoy (I live in Buckhurst Hill), making best use of our retirement pot.

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SUDOKU

How to Play

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9, with no repetition!

That's all there is to it.

You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic - there’s no maths involved and no adding up.

It's fun. It's challenging. It's addictive!

Solution on page 26

CROSSWORD

Solution on page 26

Down

1. Female pantomime character (4)

2. Cinnamon-yielding tree (6)

3. Official who is expected to ensure fair play (7)

4. Method of producing designs on cloth by covering with wax, then dyeing (5)

5. Equipment for taking pictures (6)

6. Outer casing of a marine organism (8)

Across

3. Chest bone (3)

7. Ceremonial procession (6)

8. Plant similar to the rhododendron (6)

9. Transparent optical device (4)

10. Disorder of the central nervous system characterised by convulsions (8)

11. Fortress (7)

13. ___ Cagney, Hollywood star who died in 1986 (5)

15. Steeple (5)

17. Gelatinous container with medicine inside (7)

21. Equestrian display (8)

22. Long arduous journey (4)

24. Large military unit (6)

25. Insect with large pincers at the rear of the abdomen (6)

26. Earth's nearest star (3)

9. Resinous substance used to make varnish, sealing wax, dyes, etc (3)

12. Merchant who brings goods into the country from abroad (8)

14. Troglodytes (7)

16. Countrified (6)

18. Surgical stitch (6)

19. Northern deer with very large antlers (3)

20. Public announcement of a proposed marriage (5)

23. Independent ruler or chieftain (4) DIGITAL

(answers on page 26)

SOLUTIONS

Crossword page 14

Across:

3 Rib, 7 Parade, 8 Azalea, 9 Lens, 10

Epilepsy, 11 Citadel, 13 James, 15

Spire, 17 Capsule, 21 Dressage, 22

Trek, 24 Legion, 25 Earwig, 26 Sun.

Down:

1 Dame, 2 Cassia, 3 Referee, 4 Batik, 5

Camera, 6 Seashell, 9 Lac, 12

Importer, 14 Cavemen, 16 Rustic, 18

Suture, 19 Elk, 20 Banns, 23 Emir.

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Advertising locally works…

readership

Karl Brooks, Tack Electrical Solutions Ltd Inside

promoting your business to grow your sales

For more info on advertising in this magazine, call Andy on 0800 610 2240

e: sales@insidemagazinelocal.co.uk

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WIN £25

FIND THE HIDDEN SMILEY COMPETITION

All you have to do is find the hidden image somewhere within one of this issue's advertisements.

HOW TO ENTER

Only one entry allowed per household from the E4 postcode area. All entries to be made via email only, to; competition@e4publishing.co.uk

Closing date is 30 JUNE 2023

You must state the following details;

1) the page number and which advert featured the symbol

2) your name, full address, and contact phone number

Incomplete entries ie failing to disclose the required information in items 1 and 2 will be disqualified. One winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries, and the winner will be contacted and notified.

IMPORTANT

By entering the competition you agree to our terms as listed here, and if you win, you agree to your name and address being published on our website (www.e4publishing.co.uk/resources/competition.pdf). The winner will be announced there no later than 2 weeks after the closing date.

Your details will not be passed onto any third party and we will not use your details for any purpose other than to contact the winning entrant.

No correspondence will be entered into and the judges/ editor’s decision is final.

"I am really happy with the

and response our advert has had."

All CHINGFORD, HIGHAMS PARK AND LOCAL AREAS COVERED

COMMUNITY EVENTS

FORTHCOMING WANSTEAD VINTAGE. ANTIQUES & VINTAGE.

Everything from A to V … 1 great venue, 2 beautiful halls, 4 times a year.

Amazing indigo textiles, designer fashions from the likes of Chanel and Hermes, gorgeous jewellery from brands such as Monet and Oscar de la Renta. Stunning silver cutlery and objects d’art, fabulous furniture, iconic posters and beautiful pictures … Vinyl, haberdashery, books, lighting, kitchenalia... Everything you need for your home and wardrobe. All in one place.

Saturday 3rd June

Saturday 2nd September

Christmas Fair Saturday 16th

December

Wanstead United Reformed Church, Nightingale Lane, Wanstead E11 2HD

Wanstead or Snaresbrook tube (Central Line) - 5 minute walk

Early entry 9.30am - £4.00

Standard entry from 10.30am£2.50

Concessions for NUS and OAP from 10.30am - £1.50

Accompanied children under 14 - Free

Email: karen@wansteadvintage.com

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: wansteadvintage

Website: www.wansteadvintage.com

LONDON FOREST CHOIR

Saturday June 24th, 7.30pm. Chingford Parish Church, The Green, Chingford E4 7EN

The London Forest Choir with soloists and orchestra

Haydn: CREATION

Jonathan Rathbone, conductor

Tickets available in advance and on the door - see www.londonforestchoir.org

SOUTH WEST ESSEX CHOIR

Saturday July 1st, 7.30pm.

Chingford Parish Church, The Green, Chingford E4 7EN

South West Essex Choir

Beethoven: MASS IN C; CHORAL FANTASY; CLAM SEA AND PROSPEROUS VOYAGE

Andrew Sackett, conductor Tickets: see website www.southwestessexchoir.org. uk or available on the door

WEDNESDAYS IN SUMMER

at Chingford Parish Church, The Green, Chingford E4 7EN

More popular concerts of Lunchtime Organ Music, 1.101.50pm

July 19th – Joel Colyer (Organ Scholar, Chingford Parish Church)

July 26th – Michael Emerson (Director of Music, Chingford Parish Church)

August 2nd – Ben Markovic

(Organist: St Mary Magdalene, Enfield)

August 9th – John Rippin

August 16th – David Cook

August 23rd – Stephen King

(Organist: Brentwood Cathedral)

August 30 th – Simon Winters

(Organist: St John’s Epping)

Admission free. Collection in aid of music funds.