February 2016 by LoveEast Magazine

LOVEEAST M

February 2016

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FREE award-winning magazine

ISSUE 24

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The Gentle Author

Meet the Spitalfields Life blogger, plus art in the making at an East End foundry

Your East London – What's on – Food – People

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Welcome to your local magazine Dear neighbours This month it's my privilege to feature the Gentle Author (p4). Some of you may have heard of him and if you haven't, then I'm very pleased to introduce him to you. He's been writing his blog Spitalfields Life for several years now, writing daily stories about the many fascinating people who live in the East End. He doesn't write about celebrities. HIs interest from the start was to uncover the many interesting but "invisible" people who live in this part of London. His work is an antedote to our celebrity culture, and we're much richer for it. We've discovered two more great East London charities, one provides fruit & veg vouchers for people on low incomes (p12), and the other is gathering volunteers to continue its great work inspiring children to read. If you fancy getting involved take a look at p25. Christine Preisig continues our East London makers series, visiting a local foundry where some of the world's greatest art is cast (p8). There are our regular features on food, history, fitness, legal matters and wellness, as well as our comprehensive what's on guide. Have a great February everyone, and don't get hung up on Valentine's Day. Take a leaf out of Sophie Parkin's book instead (p14).

Julie

CONTENTS

Meet the Gentle Author, creator of Spitalfields Life

The foundry casting the work of our most celebrated artists

Spread the love like Sophie Parkin

All you need is love: this month's great reads for all ages

Julie Daniels T: 07752 288405 E: julie@nutshellpublications.co.uk www.nutshellpublications.co.uk

Be a Beanstalk volunteer and inspire kids to read

Facebook: facebook.com/LoveEastMag Twitter: @LoveEastMag To advertise in LoveEast please call 07752 288405 or email julie@nutshellpublications.co.uk for further information. Deadline for March edition is 5 February (please allow an extra two days if design is required). Nutshell Publications cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions, or endorse companies, products or services that appear in this magazine. ©LoveEast all rights reserved. Magazine design, www.ilkadickens.com. No reproduction can be made without permission. Please recycle.

LOVEEAST FEBRUARY 2016 3

Illustration: Lucinda Rogers

East life

The Gentle Author, writer and creator of Spitalfields Life, talks to Christine Preisig and Julie Daniels For more than seven years, and without missing a single day, the Gentle Author – for that is the name he prefers – has written a daily story on his blog Spitalfields Life about the people and culture of the East End. There, he describes his "harebrained" promise to write 10,000 stories about Spitalfields, which has grown to cover a much wider area of the East End. He affectionately depicts local people and places, and by doing so has become a celebrated diarist and cultural historian of our time. The project has a deeply personal motivation. After his father died, the Gentle Author moved 4 LOVEEAST

back to his childhood home in Devon to look after his mother who suffered from dementia. During the six years he lived with her until her death he was rarely able to leave the house. He couldn’t have done this, he says, without the help of some amazing people. It was something that altered his view of life and made him realise just how extraordinary it is to be in the world. He had had a successful career as a writer, but from that point on he wanted to write in a different way. For one thing, he wished to express himself in an unmediated way, with no gatekeeper between him and the reader.

East life He also wanted to write stories that nobody else was writing – about the ordinary and, to other eyes, invisible people that surrounded him. He moved back to Spitalfields in 2009 (his first job was there in 1981) and began writing his now famous Spitalfields Life. He started without much purpose beyond trying to take the idea of a blog as a literary form quite seriously. Very quickly he noticed that the more ambitious the stories, the quicker the readership grew. Besides writing his daily stories, he publishes books, teaches writing courses, leads political campaigns and writes articles for magazines and newspapers. By way of writing Spitalfields Life, the Gentle Author found out that his family actually came from the East End. When he published some letters his grandmother had written to his father (she was an unmarried mother who had to give him away as a child), two genealogists who read his blog got in touch with him. Together they were able to uncover his own ancestry.

It turned out that his great-grandmother grew up just 50 yards from where he lives now near Brick Lane. To know that he is connected to the place through his ancestors makes him feel more comfortable writing about it. The Gentle Author's pledge to write his daily stories means he will be writing for many years to come, but seven years into the project he is still enthusiastic. "The fact that I’ve written the life stories of about 1,500 people – that’s a real personal passion.” It's very distressing to the Gentle Author to know that when people die, sometimes their life stories, along with their work, are lost for ever. This is part of the reason he writes Spitalfield Life and the stories he reveals help to immortalise the fascinating people of the East End. Last autumn, for example, he published a selection of remarkable paintings created by artist Doreen Fletcher. She had given up her art years ago because of the lack of interest in her work. When Continued overleaf...

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East life he published her paintings of the East End in Spitalfields Life it was a sensation. Several galleries became interested and a solo show is now planned. It's wonderful to hear stories like this and it shows just how influential Spitalfields Life has become and how many possibilities it has created. In all the years the Gentle Author has been writing, and to his own surprise, he has been able to keep his identity secret. Writing anonymously is not a publicity stunt but a device deliberately chosen to put the people and the culture centre stage. “I decided to step back and all I want to reveal is that my intention in doing this is benign.” We are lucky to have had the chance to meet the Gentle Author and, by way of Spitalfields Life, will continue to accompany him on his wanderings for many years to come. What makes you most proud? I suppose you could say that I’m proud that the 1838 Marquis of Lansdowne Pub is still there in Cremer Street, Hoxton. We saved that pub when the Geffrye Museum wanted to use Heritage Lottery funding to demolish it. I thought it was disgraceful, because they call themselves a "museum of the home" and in the East End the pub is an extension of the domestic space. When the director of the museum justified this by saying that the museum was "not interested in the culture of the labouring classes" it was very disappointing. But at that point I realised that we had a huge readership who could write letters of objection. It was class war. And the Hackney Planning Committee refused permission for demolition. That’s a victory you could say I'm proud of. What are you working on? Photographer John Claridge took more photographs in the East End in the fifties and sixties than anyone else. Because he was just a kid with a camera, 6 LOVEEAST

Paul Gardner in his paper bag shop

everyone was very open to him and he took many beautiful photographs, which we are now putting together into the definitive book of his work to be published this summer. Best coffee in these parts? I don’t drink coffee but my favourite places for a cup of tea are Pellicci’s in Bethnal Green, Leila’s Café in Shoreditch and the Town House in Spitalfields. Those are the places I like to go. Where do you eat out? I like St. John Bread & Wine in Spitalfields – it’s my regular and it never disappoints. What do you do at weekends? I don’t really have weekends, but I do love to go to the market.

East life Occasionally, it’s been possible to have guest writers take over sometimes, but the irony is that when I do get a few days off it is to finish a book or to tidy the house. Anything you would change? In Spitalfields, there’s now a vacant lot where they demolished the London Fruit & Wool Exchange. There were more than a 100 small businesses in there and Tower Hamlets Council voted unanimously to save the building but Boris Johnson overruled them in favour of the developers. It’s going to become chain stores and headquarters for an international law firm. Boris wants to do the same thing in Norton Folgate. Tower Hamlets refused the developers but he is going to overturn that. And then there is the Bishopsgate Goods Yard... With over 40,000 on the housing list, Hackney and Tower Hamlets object to a luxury development of tower blocks of flats that will put the Boundary Estate into permanent shadow. There will be no benefit for local people and it will blight the East End for generations to come. Boris Johnson is able to overrule local democracy and do all this. If I could change one thing it would be to take that power away from him. The area’s best-kept secret? Well, I’d say it is Paul Gardner’s paper bag shop (see picture, above left). I’ve written about it a lot. It’s just up the road at 149 Commercial Street. It was opened by James Gardner in 1870 and then his son Bertie took over, and then his son Ray

took over and now Paul Gardner is there. It is the oldest-established business here and it’s the cheapest paper bag shop in London. It also sells balls of strings and tags… anything you could need to do with market trading. And it’s a wonderful place because Paul is a very charismatic man and all the customers love him. His shop is like a pub where people stand around and tell stories, an incredible institution and the hub of Spitalfields. The whole meaning of Spitalfields is bound up with that place. If the East End were human? It would be Nicholas Culpeper, a physician in the 17th century. He believed it was wrong that the Royal College of Physicians could set the price of what it cost to see a doctor because it meant that most people could never see one. He worked and lived in Spitalfields and was the first to put forward the idea that healthcare ought be free as a human right. He treated 40 people a day for free and translated medical books from Latin into English so that anyone could read them. His generous and radical spirit embodies the best of the East End. East End in a word? Resourcefulness.

spitalfieldslife.com

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East London makers out of its mould (see picture, below). Despite the foundry's glittering clientele, which reads like a Who's Who of the world's most celebrated artists (Tracy Emin, Anish Kapoor, Antony Gormley to name a few), Jerry Hughes, the foundry’s manager, is refreshingly down to earth. He has run the place with Henry Abercrombie, the foundry's MD, since 1992 and is unfazed by the artworks that surround him. Jerry introduces us to bronze casting – a craft that dates back thousands of years – and in particular “lost wax casting”. Once the artist's idea has materialised into a model, a mould is made from its shape. The inside of the mould is then covered with molten wax, and once cooled and hardened, the wax copy of the original model is removed from the mould (see below). Gary Hume's snowman

Christine Preisig takes a tour of the AB Fine Art Foundry The corridors of this beautiful Victorian warehouse and former dog biscuit factory, are lined with bizarrely shaped moulds. In one huge room Gary Hume's shiny silver snowman sits forlornly in a dusty corner awaiting restoration. Pieces of an enormous pumpkin by Yayoi 8 LOVEEAST

Kusama are ready to be welded together, and Gavin Turk's Self Portrait bronze statue is draped in cloth, restoration complete, waiting to be collected. In another room, American filmmaker and artist Philip Haas watches as his double-faced Francis Bacon wax cast is taken

Wax copy of Philip Haas's Francis Bacon sculpture

East London makers Next, a system of wax tubes, which provide ducts for pouring the metal during casting, are attached to the outside of the wax copy. The copy with its tubes is then dipped into a slurry of silica and covered with a sand-like crystalline silica. When heated in the kiln, the wax copy melts. More heat is added and the combination of slurry and grit transforms into a ceramic material that withstands the heat and pressure of molten metal. The molten metal – bronze mostly – is then heated and poured into the ceramic shell, filling the space left by the wax (hence “lost wax casting”). The next day, the cast is released and the sculpture receives the finishing touches.

Every step in the process requires a great deal of skill, and that's evident in the 20 or so employees who work there. Some are artists themselves and most of them have been to art school. It was great to see so many skilled people at work, and there was a warm, family-like atmosphere at the foundry. But there was also a bit of magic in the air. It was a privilege to witness the skill that brings great sculptures to life, and to see the finished artworks in all their glory. abfineart.com

Gavin Turk's Self-Portrait

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What's on in February MON

TUES

WEDS

THURS

Weekly 8.10pm: Hatha yoga, Victoria Park Community Centre, Gore Road, E9. Nadia missbocheva@gmail. com

Weekly Ballet for children at Hackney Forge. Call Mafalda on 07550 722 693 for details.

Weekly Vinyasa Flow with Zoe. Text 07972 367663.

Weekly 10.30am. Mini Builders at Shoreditch Library for under 5s and their parents. Free.

11am-6pm Whitechapel Gallery's Electronic Superhighway exhibition. £11.95.

Aromatherapy, manicures and more. VP Community Centre. £5. Email Christine for appointment chrchaffin@hotmail.com

10am-12.30pm. Bird Box-making for kids, Victoria Park. Book: joelle.copeland@ towerhamlets.gov.uk

7-11pm. Dancing Years play at the Moth Club. £8 adv. mothclub.co.uk

12pm-11pm. London Beer Week, Old Truman Brewery. £10. designmynight.com

1pm. Take part in the world's biggest youth music festival. Rich Mix. Details: mfy.org.uk 10 LOVEEAST

10am-11.30am. Storytime for under 5s at Victoria Park Community Centre, Gore Road, E9. Except 29th. Free.

7-10pm. The Breakfast Club Hoxton host The Big Breakfast Club Quiz. £5 entry.

11am-1.30pm. Try a Cooking On A Budget workshop at St Paul's Church Hall in Stoke Newington. Contact info@bagsoftaste.org

Ping Pong fun and fitness for over 50s, Dalston CLR James Library. 4.30-5.30pm. Creative writing for children, 7-14yrs. Dalston CLR James library.

10, 17

6-9pm. Cookery classes for £75 at e5 Bakehouse. 020 8525 2890 to book. e5bakehouse.com

1pm-3pm. Knitting and natter at Victoria Park Community Centre, Gore Road, E9. Free. 6pm-9pm. Painting & throwing evenings, Wonderland Ceramics. info@ wonderlandceramics.com

6-9pm. Pop down to the Blue exhibition at the Espacio Gallery on Bethnal Green Road, open until 7 Feb. espaciogallery.com

6.30-11.30pm. Mussel Men host Lobster Tuesday. £30pp for food, drink & live music. musselmen.com

7.30pm. The 5 star Edinburgh smash Janis Joplin: Full Tilt Stratford East Theatre. £12. 10.15am Playdoh stratfordeast.com Imagined Worlds Workshop, Museum of Childhood. For kids ages 5-12yrs (w/parent). Book 10.30am-12.30pm. now, £5. vam.ac.uk/moc Free Coffee morning at Victoria Park Community Centre.

8pm. Winner of the Kevin Spacey Foundation Artists of Choice Re: Home begins its run. £12.50. theyardtheatre.co.uk

7.30pm. Junior Boys play at Oslo Hackney. oslohackney.com

10am-5pm. Half-term fun at raggedschoolmuseum. org.uk

February Half Term Forest School Holiday Club. £30 per session. fothcp.org for info.

7.30pm. Electronic pop artist Rosie Lowe plays at Oslo Hackney. Tickets £9 and available at oslohackney.com

7-10.30pm. What's Your Poison, a talk on toxicology and drinks. £20 early bird. storiesonbroadway.com Continued on page 17

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Local heroes The 'Rose Voucher' is helping to improve the health of families in need, says Rhowena MacCuish

Jonathan Pauling, Alexandra Rose Charity (left) with Wayne Campbell, Ridley Road market manager

In recent years rates of food poverty in London have skyrocketed, with huge numbers of families seeking support from the capital's food banks. At the same time, rates of childhood obesity continue to rise among the poorest communities. The Alexandra Rose Charity recognises the importance of early-age development and have set up a scheme that provides fruit and vegetable vouchers to families receiving benefits and who have children under the age of 5. The vouchers, worth £3 per child per week, or £6 if the child is under a year old, mean that hard-up parents can keep their children healthy, avoid obesity and illnesses related to poor diet, while helping their kids' development.

"The Rose Vouchers for the Fruit & Veg project is a great way to get families in Hackney eating more fresh fruit and veg," says Jonathan, "while supporting local markets who play such an important role in promoting a healthy food culture. We are proud to be working in partnership with Hackney’s children’s centres, the markets team at Hackney Council and Food Matters to deliver the scheme. Over the next year we hope to expand the project to support more families. If you want to help local families to access healthier food and avoid food poverty you can donate through our website. Most importantly, shop local to support your fantastic street markets."

“a great way to get families eating fresh fruit and veg”

Jonathan Pauling, the charity's director, has been working closely with Wayne Campbell, manager of Ridley Road market, to encourage more vendors to get on board with the scheme. As well as at Ridley Road market, the vouchers can also be redeemed at fruit and veg stalls set up through East London Food Access. Head to elfaweb.org.uk for a diary of where and when. Vouchers can be collected at local children's centres, which also provide a range of health and wellbeing activities, together with support, workshops and play groups. 12 LOVEEAST

This great charity is working hard to help the most vulnerable, with planned expansion into a number of new children’s centres and other markets in Hackney. It hopes that the success of the project will encourage other areas to take up the scheme so that more families can be supported to give their children a healthy start.

To find out more information head to their website at alexandrarosecharities.org.uk

LOVEEAST FEBRUARY 2016 13

Sophie's world Photo: Claire Lawrie

tell friends and family, do a public recital of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, a love poem to the Universe. This year at Vout-o-Reenees (Saturday,13 February) we're staging an anti-romance evening of nudity, comedy poetry and performance art that will blast its way into Valentine's. It's called HUSH. All singles welcome and I promise to do no match-making, for one day only.

Sophie at her East End club, Vout-O-Reenee's

Forget Valentine's Day cards, red roses and expensive restaurants. Spread the love like Sophie Parkin February is the month of Valentines, as if you didn't know, and should be celebrated... but differently. I am sick of watching my cleverbeautifulsingle friends consumed by a marketing ploy that sneers,"if you're so successful how come you haven't got, or worse, kept, a lover? Failure!" So years ago I started sending anonymous cards to give them what, hope? No, love. (Sorry, it was me.)

14 LOVEEAST

It's hell for us all, because apparently if you are lucky enough to have a lover, you must buy roses, chocolates and dinner at a fancy restaurant at double prices, for one day only. Each way we're all losers. Why don't we change the meaning of a day that excludes so many, to include everyone? Make it a day when we celebrate our ability to love in the true sense – whoever, whatever. Don't just declare it on social media, have a love-in,

The next day, the Dutch husband and I will do the things we love. This may or may not include a walk along the river; a cycle to Pellicci's, my favourite café; the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood for the dolls houses. Or... a walk up Brick Lane for a new vintage hat; to Chez Elles for a Kir Royale brunch with my grownup kids and mum, followed by The Carpenters Arms, Cheshire Street, for a drink with friends, and a movie at Rich Mix in between. Or we may go for a swim and before lights out, I'll whisper one of the poems I wrote to my husband when we first met, thereby fitting in all the things I love most. So forget about cards this Valentine's. Fill your day full of love, with things you love and people you love. Be happy, practise random smiles at strangers, and love yourself in doing what you love most.

Sophie Parkin is an author and owner of vout-o-reenees.com

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What sort of classes are available? Acting Bugs sessions introduce pre-school children and toddlers to the magical world of drama and storytelling. The classes are designed so that the parent or carer can join in alongside the children. Describe a typical class Under the umbrella of a story (which could be a well known classic or one of our devised stories), we play games, sing songs, role play and use props and bubbles to bring the stories to life.

Samantha Seager talks to LoveEast about the great fun to be had at Acting Bugs What is Acting Bugs? Acting Bugs is a drama and storytelling group for pre-school children and their parents or carers, using puppets, role play, music and props to bring stories to life. How did it all come about? I am an actress and some of you with under 5s might know me as Bobby from the Cbeebies series Me Too! I started doing Acting Bugs sessions in 2012 as I love working with children, particularly pre-schoolers and toddlers, and have a passion for play and having fun. When my kids were younger, I was frustrated with the lack of creative and imaginative activities we could attend together. The seed for Acting Bugs had been planted and now, in 2016, I'm running several weekly sessions in many locations throughout East London, including Victoria Park, Clapton and Stoke Newington. 16 LOVEEAST

What do the kids get most from the classes? The main thing which many parents comment on is how their children grow in confidence. It is also very beneficial for developing focus and concentration. And all this while having lots of fun. The parents really have a great time, too. Some tell me they're so sad when their child goes off to school or nursery as they can’t come any more! What else does Acting Bugs do? Well, if you're looking for a party that will get your little one's imagination buzzing, while giving them fun-filled exciting adventures, Acting Bugs specialises in creating magical parties for children aged 2–7 years. See our website for more info. Acting Bugs classes take place every Wednesday morning during school term time at the Hackney Forge, 243a Victoria Park Road, London E9 7HD. actingbugs.co.uk

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What's on in February FRI

SAT

SUN

Weekly 8pm-2am. Carnival party vibes at The Get Down club night, The Book Club Shoreditch wearetbc.com

Weekly 12.30pm-4.30pm. Geffrye Explorers. Various activities. 3-11 years. Free. geffryemuseum.org.uk

Weekly 7-10pm. Pop down to The Marksman on Hackney Road for their Sunday Night Music Sessions.

10.30am-1pm. Stained glass-making at St John at Bethnal Green (crypt). More details:. stjohnonbethnalgreen. org

Weekly 9.45-1pm. Various dance classes for ages 2-11yrs at Chisenhale Dance Space, E3. £5-6 per class or term prices available. Book. chisendaledancespace. co.uk

10pm-6am. An evening of deep house and techno wth Fred P and Lakuti at The Pickle Factory, Oval Space. £10. ovalspace.co.uk

1-2pm The Way to Wealth for SMEs powered by Brian Tracy Delivered by FAB Consulting Group, Quay House, Canary Wharf. bit.ly/22ZM3md

7.30pm. Have some old-fashioned fun at Valentine's Games Night. £15. shoreditchtownhall.com

12, 26

7pm. Fiver Fridays at Chisenhale Dance Space, E3. £5 for 5 performances. chisenhaledancespace. co.uk

10am-12.30pm. Wildlife Art and Craft for children and young people .The Hub Victoria Park.

10-12.30pm. Junior Wildlife Club, Victoria Park, Under 12s must be accompanied by adults. 020 7364 4504 or email victoriapark@ towerhamlets.gov.uk

7pm. A Belter For The Shelter. Hackney Winter Night Shelter hosts an evening of comedy to raise money for Hackney's homeless. £10-22.50. hackneyempire.co.uk

9.30-4pm. For A Taste Of Forest Gardening workshop, contact Jo at info@ediblelandscapes london.org

7.30-1am. Hush at Vout-O-Reenees – the alternative Valentine's Night: an evening of decadent cabaret. £10. vout-o-reenees.com

Yoga Nest, St Margaret's House on Old Ford Rd. £30 for a 3 lessons. To book, email agathe.guerrier@ gmail.com

11.30-4.30pm. Celebrate Chinese New Year at the Museum of Childhood with traditional & modern dancing, mask & lantern making, costume and calligraphy workshops. vam.ac.uk/moc/

10am-1pm. Jumble at St Joseph's Hospice. Grab a bargain from the huge range of stalls. New clothes, toys, DVDs or something for the kitchen? This jumble sale has it all. stjh.org. uk/challenge-event/ jumble-sale-1

10-12.30pm. Bird Box Making for adults. £5. Book via 020 7364 4504 / victoriapark@ towerhamlets.gov.uk

12-7pm. FREE. Hackney Wick's Vintage & Retro Flea Market at The Old Bath House,

10am-5pm. Introductory Meditation Day at The London Buddhist Centre. £3040pp. Booking essential lbc.org.uk

10.30pm-3.30am. Superbowl Sunday at POND in Dalston. £25 gets you entry, all you can eat and the first beer. designmynight. com

Whiskey & Blues Revival #3 night at The Ace Hotel's Club Miranda in Shoreditch. Dinner, Whiskey and live music for £35pp. acehotel.com

12pm. Jay & Pea Nearly New Baby Boutique Market. The Boiler House, George Downing Estate, Cazenove Road, N16 6BE.

LOVEEAST FEBRUARY 2016 17

MON

TUES

WEDS

THURS

Hatha yoga, p10 Electronic Superhighway exhib p10

Cook on a budget, p10 Ballet for kids, p10 Storytime, under 5s, p10

Vinyasa flow, p10

Blue exhib, p10 Mini builders, p10

Ping Pong fun, p10

Knitting/natter, p10

Big Breakfast Club quiz, p10

Creative writing, kids, p10

Painting/throwing p10

Hatha yoga, p10

Ballet for kids, p10

£5 Beauty treatments, p10

Lobster Tuesday, p10

Janis Joplin: Full Tilt, p10 Ping Pong fun, p10 Vinyasa flow, p10 Creative writing, kids, p10 Cookery classes, p10

Re-home @ Yard, p10

Hatha yoga, p10 Bird Box-making for kids, p10

Junior Boys @ Oslo, p10

Hatha yoga, p10

Ballet for kids, p10

Leap day World's biggest youth music festival, p10 18 LOVEEAST

Ping Pong fun, p10 Vinyasa flow, p10 Cookery classes, p10

Ragged School Mus, p10

Creative writing, kids, p10

Dancing Years play, Moth Club, p10

London Beer Week, Old Truman Brew, p10

Mini builders, p10 Knitting/natter, p10 Painting/throwing p10

Playdoh Imagined Worlds, p10 Mini builders, p10 Painting/throwing, p10 Knitting/natter, p10

Coffee morning, p10

Forest club, p10

Talk: toxicology & alcohol, p10

Electronic pop, p10

Vinyasa flow, p10

Mini builders, p10

Ping Pong fun, p10 Creative writing for kids, p10

Painting/throwing, p10 Knitting/natter, p10

Art events General events Outdoor events

FRI

SAT

SUN

Live music, Marksman, p17 Superbowl Sunday, p17

Carnival party vibes, p17

Forest Gardening, p17

Networx computer skills at Victoria Park Comm Centre, E9

Stained glass-making, p17 Geffrye Explorers, p17

House & techno, Oval, p17

Junior Wildlife Club, p17

Fiver Fridays (dance), p17 Carnival party vibes, p17

Intro to meditation, p17

Belter for the Shelter, p17

Vintage/retro flea market, p17

Valentine's Games night, p17

Stained glass-making, p17 Geffrye Explorers, p17 Kids' dance classes, p17 Yoga Nest, p17 Alternative Valentine's p17 Chinese NY at MOC, p17

Carnival party vibes, p17

Kids' dance classes, p17

Wildlife Art & Craft, kids, p17

Geffrye Explorers, p17

Live music, Marksman, p17

Networx computer skills at

Stained glass-making, p17

Victoria Park Comm Centre, E9

Bird Box-making for adults, p17

Way to Wealth for small-medium businesses, Canary Wharf, p17

Yoga Nest, p19

Whiskey & Blues, p17 Live music, Marksman, p17 Vintage/retro flea market, p17

Vintage/retro flea market, p17

Mega Jumble Sale, p17

26 Carnival party vibes, p17

Yoga Nest, p19

Networx computer skills at Victoria Park Comm Centre, E9

Kids' dance classes, p17

Fiver Fridays (dance), p17

Stained glass-making, p17

Geffrye Explorers, p17

28 Vintage flea market, p17 Live music, Marksman, p17 Nearly new baby boutique market, p17

February LOVEEAST FEBRUARY 2016â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192;19

Europe. Faraday School prides itself on providing a traditional education in a creative environment and its unique location at Trinity Buoy Wharf beside the Thames and the River Lea offers a multitude of opportunities to learn and play. After-school clubs this term include sewing, chess, choir, guitar, karate, coding, drawing, dance, Mandarin and cooking, to name just a few. Nearly half the school takes advantage of the school bus service, using 18 different stops, including south of the river.

Faraday School's riverside location is just one of many great things to shout about, writes Emily Sutton Faraday Prep School has another exciting term ahead, packed with fun events, educational treats, and impressive outings. The year kick-starts with a welcome back disco, a football tournament against another local school and visits to the British Museum. On World Book Day in March, pupils will dress up as their favourite fictional character and later in the term the PTA will be holding a film night. Science week looks set to be a blast (quite literally) and the annual art exhibition will showcase all pupils’ work throughout the school. This year the school hopes to strengthen its links with the neighbouring Royal Drawing School by inviting a senior lecturer to judge their pupils' creativity. In the curriculum, Faraday follows the Core Knowledge approach. In the spring term, the lower school will be learning about, amongst other things, the seven continents, prime ministers, the weather and the Impressionists. Meanwhile the upper school will be studying a wide range of topics, including poetry, data collection, electricity, the Stuarts and Eastern 20 LOVEEAST

Faraday aims to have small classes to ensure all pupils receive individual attention. As a small school, children socialise across year groups and learn from each other during clubs and assemblies. It is this nurturing environment that particularly appeals to parents. "The school has given my son the brilliant start that I had hoped for," says parent Geeta Kasanga. "The teachers are superb and very professional. They have absolutely identified, understood and appreciated his learning style. The head teacher is not only approachable, but under her guidance the school thrives as a small, flourishing and supportive community. I highly recommend this amazing gem of a school."

To find out more or to book a place on an open day, visit faradayschool.co.uk, or call 020 7719 9342. Faraday School, Old Gate House, 7 Trinity Buoy Wharf, E14 0FH.

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LOVEEAST FEBRUARY 2016 21

What to do Stories Storytime for the under 5s at Victoria Park Community Centre every Tuesday from 10am to 11.30am. 5 Gore Road, E9. FREE. Fourth Tuesday of each month, Chatterbooks reading group for 8-12yrs, quizzes, competitions, prizes. Dalston CLR James Library. Building Free Mini Builders at Shoreditch Library for under 5s and parents. Museums Free drop-in activities every day at The Museum of Childhood, including arts and crafts, tours, trails and storytelling. For ages 3-12 years. Cambridge

New Year resolution fail? Let us help you get back on track Personal training with Michelle Crawford Children welcome if you can't get childcare Fighting Fit Studio, 15 Bow Wharf, E3 5SN michellept.wordpress.com

07805 612127 22 LOVEEAST

Heath Road, E2. Plus: check out p24 for this month's extra activities. There's always something interesting happening at the Ragged School Museum, 46-50 Copperfield Road, E3. Want to be a Geffrye Explorer? There is lots of fun to be had between 12.30pm and 4.30pm every Saturday at geffrye-museum.org.uk Cinema Hackney Picturehouse Kids’ Club is for ages 3-12 years. picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_ Picturehouse Swimming London Fields Lido offer swimming lessons and they’ve started giving stages 3-8 swimming classes again. Go to betterlessons.org.uk for details and booking. Plus of course, there's Mile End Leisure Centre, York Hall in Bethnal Green and the gorgeous Aquatics Centre, QE Olympic Park. Farms At city farms in Hackney, Stepney, Spitalfields and Mudchute you can introduce your kids to the pongs and pleasures of real farm animals. Stepney City Farm has a great café, as well as a farmers’ market every Saturday from 10am3pm. stepneycityfarm.org, hackneycityfarm.co.uk, spitalfieldscityfarm.org, mudchute.org Check out the websites for events. Children's Centres Wentworth on Cassland Road (wentworth. hackney.sch.uk), Gainsborough on Berkshire Road (gainsborough.hackney.sch.uk/childrens-centre), and Morningside on Chatham Place (morningside. hackney.sch.uk/childrens-centre). Meath Gardens Children's Centre, 1 Smart Street, E2; Mile End Leisure Centre, The One O'Clock Club (Vicky Park

with the kids near boating lake); Overland Children's Centre, 60 Parnell Road, E3.

Dancing Wiggly Jigglers at Rich Mix. Creative movement for 0-2yrs. Call 020 7613 7498 to book.

Yoga for babies... Baby-focused classes using massage, classical yoga postures, stretches and balances adapted to their stage of growth. Fridays, Royal Inn on the Park, E9.10.45am-11.45am. £6.50. Karen: firsttouchmassage@hotmail.co.uk, 07902 227 669.

There’s ballet for children at the Hackney Forge on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Call Mafalda on 07550 722 693 for details and check out mafaldaballetblog.blogspot.com

Yoga for babies... and their mums Yoga for Mums and Babies, every Tuesday at 10.15am with tea and biscuits afterwards. Hackney Forge, E9. 07958 645 978 or email clare@clareday-yoga.co.uk

Also at the Hackney Forge you’ll find Saturday Street Dance and Musical Theatre classes. 12 noon-1pm, 1.15pm-2.15pm and 2.30-3.30pm, Call Lisa on 07985 945 335 for details. Activity times may change, so please do check on times/availability via the websites or phone numbers provided.

Singing Angel Voices, tunes for toddlers. Tuesdays, 9.45am-11am in term-time at St. Michael’s and All Angels in London Fields. No charge but donations welcome. Call Connie on 07830 349 362.

Award winning classes for 0-5 yrs Theatre Hackney Children’s Theatre situated in 700-yearold St John at Hackney church, hosts monthly performances for kids and their families. facebook. com/hackneychildrenstheatre Acting Diddy Bugs. Try Hackney Forge on a Wednesday morning. Cbeebies actress Samantha Seager runs acting classes for little tots. actingbugs.co.uk Music Piccolo music for babies and toddlers, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the V&A building in Victoria Park. Toddler class 10am, baby class 11am. Just drop in. Stefanie, 07708 451 314. Suzuki Hub runs music lessons for kids (violin, viola, cello, flute). Suzuki Hub, 116 Weymouth Terrace, E2 8LR. suzukihub.com

At Gymboree our focus is on encouraging and nurturing your baby in every aspect of their development, with you right by their side. We offer a variety of fun and sensory led classes from newborn to 5years. Gymboree classes are designed by experts in early childhood development to help young children learn as they play.

Book your FREE trial class today!

Gymboree Bethnal Green bethnalgreen@gymboree-uk.com

020 7537 2901 / 07966 227583 59-61 Roman Road, London, E2 0QN gymboree-uk.com

LOVEEAST FEBRUARY 2016 23

Culture corner Museum of Childhood On Saturday, 13 February why not celebrate Chinese New Year at the museum with traditional and modern instrumental and dance performances. Free activities including Chinese opera mask and lantern-making, as well as costume and calligraphy workshops. Also on 13 February London Children’s Book swap returns for the 5th year running. Bring your old books to trade for another person’s favourite read. Plus, there's a book-making drop-in with the London Centre for Book Arts.

The literature of love “Love is a better teacher than duty,” said Albert Einstein, showing himself to be a genius on matters more extensive than simply science. A well written love story or poem might prove to be the best learning tool of all, giving one the experience of falling in love without the accompanying discomfort or actual heartache. Here are some of our new(ish) favourites you might want to consider this Valentine’s Day. The Big Book of Love by Laurence and Catherine Anholt. Gorgeous rhymes all about love which can be shared with the whole family. The Color of Love by Suzy Taylor. A new colouring book but this time with a seasonal theme, and with tearout pages which can be used to spell any words you like

Play-Doh, Victoria & Albert Museum, London

To mark 60 years since the launch of PlayDoh, one of the most enduring of childhood products, the museum explores the squish, squash and squelch of the plastic arts with a range of free family-friendly drop-ins. Plus, there’s a great choice of workshops: Play-Doh Story Modelling (4-8yrs, 15-19 February); PlayDoh Animation (5-12yrs, 15-17 February) and Play-Doh Imagined Worlds (5-12yrs, 18-19 Feb. All workshops cost £5 per child (with parent/ carer). To check the times and book one of the workshops (places are limited) visit the website. V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA. For full details on all events visit vam.ac.uk/moc/whatson 24 LOVEEAST

Love is my Favourite Thing; A Plumdog Story by Emma Chichester Clark. Children’s book author and illustrator has turned her hand to something graphic to appeal to everybody, including the family dog. A Little, Aloud With Love by Angela Macmillan. Anthology of poems and prose from the Reader Organisation to be read aloud, covering every conceivable kind of love. Includes work from Auden, Murakami, Whitman. The Pursuit of Love, and Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford. Reissues, with beautiful new covers from Penguin, of the two wittiest and most moving novels on love and loving probably ever written in the English language. Jo de Guia, storyhabit.co.uk

Local heroes

Inspiring children to read is a hugely rewarding experience, says Beanstalk volunteer Tristan Hill "Don't tell me, don't tell me". These were the words of one of the children I worked with this year and spoken with the huge passion of someone who didn't want to be defeated. He was making a stab at pronouncing a complicated word from a Roald Dahl story. For much of the year, he was the least committed, and the most disruptive of the three children I worked with. He would do everything he could to avoid anything, so it made it all the more rewarding when he expressed such determination. Choosing to do voluntary work sometimes comes with a vested interest. Many people don’t quite believe me when I tell them that I struggled with reading and comprehension at school, but it was this that prompted me to volunteer with Beanstalk after hearing

about them through an Evening Standard campaign. Beanstalk provide volunteers with in-depth training, and on-going support, as well as a box full of books and games. From then on it's is up to each volunteer to be creative and to capture the children's imagination. One contribution I made was to show them an illustrated book of ballet stories. This captivated one child and drew out her genuine passion for dance. Volunteers work individually with each child, and away from the demands of the school curriculum. While an integral part of volunteering is to help them to improve their reading, there is no pressure on the children to meet targets. A 30-minute session is about creating a space where they can

express themselves through talking and interacting with the volunteer, as well as developing ways to interact and socialise with others. It's challenging at times, but seeing the children grow in confidence, as well as develop in the classroom, has made it the most rewarding experience of my life so far. That’s quite a bold statement, I realise, but so true. Beanstalk is a national literacy charity which places volunteers in local primary schools to help children who have fallen behind with their reading. They currently work in a number of schools in Hackney and Tower Hamlets and need more reading helpers. To find out more about volunteering opportunities visit the website beanstalkcharity.org.uk or call 020 7749 7965. LOVEEAST FEBRUARY 2016 25

Fitness you will fail occasionally but that doesn’t mean you will not succeed in the end. Enjoy a drink Here we are talking quality not quantity. Enjoy one glass of a nice wine (or beer) rather than chug a bottle of something cheap and nasty. It means you drink less and perhaps enjoy it more. Take a photo of yourself in your underwear Take a picture and then – depending on your confidence and living arrangements – either tuck it away somewhere private or print it out and stick it on the bedroom mirror. Research in Spain found that those who took regular pictures found it hugely motivating because they could literally see the changes in the body. Sign up for the Hackney half-marathon If you need a goal to help drive your training, sign up for the Hackney Half on Sunday, 8 May. There are plenty of running plans online (Bupa do great, free ones). If you are looking for a good cause, St Joseph's Hospice, on Mare Street, are building a team for the day. You can apply for a place through their website, stjh.org.uk/hackney or sign up at runhackney.com

Roger Love, personal trainer, gives some tips on how to keep your new year of fitness going As the weather closes in and the demands of work and family chase away your New Year resolve, it’s time for you to dig in and consolidate your 2016 health regime. Here are six ideas to help you. Don’t beat yourself up If you miss a workout or let a sneaky drink pull you off the wagon of dry January, don’t be too hard on yourself – and don’t give up. Accept that 26 LOVEEAST

Set a new goal Your first goal was to train once a week. Now, you can set a new one. It could be a specific outcome, say to lose 3cm off your waist, or to add a second session. To try something different, how about a visit to Mile End Climbing Wall, afterdark swimming at the Lido, or badminton at the Britannia Leisure Centre? Improve your sleep Lack of sleep can affect hormones and that could interfere with the weight loss process and make you crave higher-calorie foods. You can track your sleep with a fitness monitor that you wear – and start to make changes by keeping your room cool and turning off your phone (or put it on airplane mode). Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep. Roger Love is a personal trainer based in Netil House, Hackney. hackneypt.com

Drama and story-telling classes for under 5s Has your little one got the acting bug? Join Sam Seager (Bobby from Cbeebies Me Too!) and her team First class is FREE Come explore one of Hackney’s last independent high streets Market every Sunday 11-4 Shops, bars and restaurants 7 days chatsworthroade5.co.uk Homerton overground | E5 0LS

Every Wednesday morning at Hackney Forge, 243a Victoria Park Road, E9 7HD

Email Sam at info@actingbugs.co.uk and get your child's imagination buzzing www.actingbugs.co.uk

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Eating in Valentine's French toast with caramelised pecans and orange sauce – for two, of course

Thickly slice the brioche and get your ice cream out of the freezer. Turn the brioche in the egg mixture until each piece is completely covered. Heat a little butter in your frying pan on a medium-high heat then fry them on both sides until you have a perfectly caramelised finish.

Illustration: rachelgale.com

To top it off, get yourself a big scoop of smooth vanilla ice cream, stack everything on a plate and recklessly top it with the crunchy pecans and your mouthwatering orange sauce.

Patrick Drake

the60secondlife.com

This is a perfectly delicious dish for a Valentine's Day breakfast or brunch. Let's face it, it isn't going to compliment your New Year regime, but who cares? If you want to treat yourself and your lover to something tasty and decadent, this will push all the right buttons.

Method

Ingredients (for two) 1 large orange 1½ tbsp butter 2 tbsp runny honey 3 free range eggs (preferably organic) ½tsp ground cinnamon 2 tbsp pecan nuts 4 thick slices of brioche bread ¼ tsp of sea salt flakes 2 scoops vanilla ice cream

Once it is thick remove it from the heat.

28 LOVEEAST

For this ludicrously tasty French toast, zest half an orange into a pan then squeeze in all of its juice. Bring it to a gentle bubble on a medium low heat, then add 1 tbsp of butter and 1 tbsp of honey before you reduce it to a beautifully thick syrup.

Crack and whisk a few eggs in a bowl before adding ground cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Cook your pecans in the remaining butter on a medium heat for a few minutes, together with the remaining honey and a pinch of salt. Then, when they're golden, let them cool down.

Patrick Drake is the creator of the online cookery course The 60 Second Chef and co-founder and Head Chef of HelloFresh.

LoveEast Reader Offer Patrick is offering LoveEast readers 40% off the price of his full 60-Second Chef cookery course. To get your discount, just quote CHEF40 when you make your purchase at: the60secondlife.com

Eating out

Saray Broadway Café

We’re still in the bleak winter. It’s cold, there’s been some snow and those post-Christmas blues are still hanging around, but the good news is we’re out of "dry January". Who does that? It’s never made sense to me to give up stuff in the hardest months of the year and then to bore everyone with it as well. At least I had the decency to start my regime during September. This is the time for comfort and familiarity to tuck yourself in and keep it simple and local. What could be nicer than a quick walk to a local café for a straightforward, inexpensive, no fuss breakfast or an OAP-loved lunch? These cafés are a local amenity for all of us. The Saray Broadway Café is just this sort of place. It’s been along Broadway Market for an age, with easy-wipe surfaces and those tables and chairs that are built as one unit. It contains no irony and it could be anywhere in the UK. Brilliant. If you haven't been there you'll know it from the front window attraction, where fresh spinach and cheese Turkish flatbreads, also known as Gozleme, are cooked before you in a little wooden cubicle in the front window.

When you wedge yourself in you'll be able to check out the street view through the large windows, but it's inside where the real action happens. School kids, builders, locals, OAPs, workers, we're all In there, in the know and enjoying a cuppa and contentment. This isn’t fine dining; there's nothing fancy. It’s what you’d expect, and that's the virtue. We all have a moment when there's nothing better than a greasy spoon. I had beautifully fried eggs, soft and perfectly round by being cooked in those rings, along with a generous portion of crispy bacon with mushrooms. They even had fried bread. Where else are you going to get that and a gammon served with a pineapple ring? One of my Granny's favourite meals. The service is forthcoming and gracious, setting the tone for the easy atmosphere and good times. We paid £13 for our three breakfasts.

Susan Birtwistle Saray Broadway Cafe 58 Broadway Market, E8 4QJ

LOVEEAST FEBRUARY 2016 29

argument. They are not able to give detailed legal advice but legally trained mediators can give general guidance on the law and how the courts approach the matter. The main advantage is that issues are resolved out of court, which invariably means that it's far less stressful, more cost-effective and produces results that the couple agree on. That makes for a much better outcome. The process is particularly useful when there are children involved, and some mediators are specifically trained to involve the children themselves in the mediation process, and this can be very effective. Mediation is not suitable for some cases, for example where there is domestic abuse. At TV Edwards both Denise Ingamells and I are accredited mediators. Our success rate is very high in helping separating couples to reach an agreement, even those who initially had great difficulty speaking to each other.

Divorce is difficult in any circumstance, but mediation helps to ease the process, explains David Emmerson Mediation is the most effective, quickest and cheapest way of resolving issues concerning children, finance, divorce and separation. It's a process by which the couple meet with the mediator – usually in the same room but not always – and talk through their views, feelings and proposals in order to resolve issues. The mediators use their skills and training to encourage discussion and to make sure everybody has a voice. Mediators are skilled at dealing with a couple's power balance and they ensure that each party knows and understands the relevance of every 30 LOVEEAST

If you feel that mediation is something you would like to pursue, then please do call us. We will find out whether it is suitable for your situation, as well as talking to you about what the issues might be. A separate meeting will then be arranged to explain the process. If it is decided that mediation is suitable, the first session is arranged. At that point the agenda is set and any financial disclosure, valuations and other necessary preparation is planned. Mediation sessions can last up to 90 minutes and many disputes are resolved after two to three sessions.

For advice or further information, please contact David Emmerson on 0203 440 8089 (david.emmerson@tvedwards.com), or Denise Ingamells on 020 3440 8087 (denise. ingamells@tvedwards.com). tvedwards.com, 35-37 Mile End Road London, E1 4TP.

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Critical analysis – the ability to challenge your assumptions. Review – an ability to pause and to ask "What would I do differently next time and why? How will I do it and how will that give me the outcome I want?" New learning – an ability to learn about yourself from experiences (your potential and areas for improvement), rather than seeing yourself or others as a failure. Reflection tips

Make a little time each day to reflect, says life coach Karen Liebenguth We usually talk about picking up bad habits, but here’s a good habit to pick up – regular reflection. Reflection can be a very empowering process. It can help you to make sense of your day – to come to decisions, to set a course of action and to step away from the "autopilot" that is the habit for many of us. As we move into 2016, a good starting point is to reflect on the intentions you set for the new year, giving you a chance to track progress and to follow through rather than falling back into old patterns.

1. Give yourself at least 10-15 minutes for regular reflection, in a place where you feel at ease and at a time that suits you best (when your mind is open and alert). I like to reflect while walking in Victoria Park or during a weekend hike. Others reflect during a long soak in the bath. 2. Switch off all background noise – radio, TV, your phone – to create the best conditions to clarify your intentions and to help you verbalise your thoughts and feelings. 3. Capture your reflections in a notebook. Between Christmas and New Year I used these tools to reflect on the past year. It helped me to gain clarity about what worked and what didn’t work so well in 2015. These tools can be applied to anything, big or small. They will add depth to how you live your life, rendering it more satisfying and meaningful as a result.

Preparing a reflection skills toolkit Reflection requires a number of skills which can easily be developed: Self-awareness – an ability to pause, to pay attention to thoughts and feelings and to question yourself without judgement. This will help you to become aware of your habitual ways of thinking and behaving in any given situation. Non-judgement – it's important to be able to describe / recall situations neutrally.

Karen Liebenguth offers 1:1 coaching while walking in Victoria Park, 1:1 mindfulness training & courses for the workplace & mindfulness for stress and chronic pain. To book a free taster coaching session email karen@greenspacecoaching.com or call 07815 591279. For more information visit greenspacecoaching.com LOVEEAST FEBRUARY 2016 31

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History hangout beneath the summit at the north-western tip of Springfield Park. In the British Museum there is a Roman sarcophagus that was found last century in the immediate vicinity, so we know that the Romans were present there. Having marched with his legions all the way to Anglesey, Governor Paulinus left his southern strongholds unchallenged to the ravages of Queen Boudicca, accompanied by her own Iceni tribe from Norfolk and the Trinovantes tribes from Essex. It was a most unfortunate coincidence. She wasn't defending the religious Druids, she was claiming back her royal inheritance.

Stephen Selby investigates the mystery of Blood House In 60 or 61AD the Roman governor of Britain, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, with the approval of Emperor Nero, set about to annihilate every single Druid, man woman and child. Only in Anglesey did the remaining Druids escape death by sailing to Dublin for safety. Here in Hackney we have our own possible connection to the Druids in the form of caves beneath the legendary ancient burial mound in Springfield Park. It is believed by many historians that places named as "spring" and "well" were linked to the Druids. Julius Caesar called these cave-dwelling priests the Cavernii when he first encountered them in Kent in BC54. There is a rather grizzly 1786 map reference to “The Blood House”, where Springfield Park overlooks the vast Lea valley. Could nearby Moundfield Road be a link to the mass execution of the local Druids? Two of my dowsing colleagues specialise in identifying Druid burial locations in Britain and are certain that there was a Druid temple complex 32 LOVEEAST

Boudicca and her tribal armies first destroyed the major Roman military base at Colchester. Next, she burnt London, killing 70,000, and then ordered the destruction of St Albans. Paulinus had made a great error of judgement by being absent. These military and civilian massacres were a major setback for Rome. According to Tacitus the famous Roman chronicler, Boudicca’s victory was only temporary. After annihilating the Druids across the entire country, the disciplined Roman legions encountered the celebrating tribes in the south, somewhere along Watling Street. The Romans then massacred their adversaries; Queen Boudicca was eventually pronounced dead. Thus Paulinus provoked two of the most bloody events under the Roman occupation; the countless murders of the Druids, and Boudicca's own revenge. Was this "Blood House" named after the massacre of Druid cave-dwellers from Springfield Park? This pinnacle is located on what is now Moundfield Road – just a hundred yards from the possible temple complex. As the Druids did not fight the Romans, it leaves us to conclude that they were perhaps lined up like sheep to the slaughter. Dowsing over the whole area, at all times with witnesses, there are the possible remains of literally hundreds of human corpses beneath this high mound. Next month: Shoreditch and its ancient Holywell Mound.

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Useful numbers Police Emergency 999 Non-emergency 101 Safer Neighbourhood 020 8721 2937 Utilities Gas - emergency Electrical - power loss Thames Water

0800 111 999 0800 404090 0872 435 5973

Health NHS Direct 111 Homerton Hospital 020 8510 5555 Royal London Hospital 020 7377 7000 Clockwork Pharmacy 020 8985 1717 Borno Pharmacy 020 8981 0600 Hackney Council numbers General number Council tax enquiries Parking enquiries Waste removal

020 8356 3000 020 8356 3154 020 8356 8877 020 8356 6688

Tower Hamlets Council numbers General number 020 7364 5020 Council tax enquiries 020 7364 5002 Parking enquiries 020 7364 5003 Waste removal 020 7364 5004 Local councillors/MP Local councillors (Victoria) MP (Meg Hillier)

020 8356 3373 020 7219 5325

Library Hackney Central Library Bethnal Green Library

020 8356 4358 020 7364 3492

Victoria Park Park Services (24/7) Victoria Park rangers

020 8985 5699 020 7364 4172

Travel National Rail Enquiries Congestion Charge Transport for London

08457 484950 0343 222 2222 0343 222 1234

Vet Goddard's, Well Street PDSA, Bow Wanstead Veterinary Hospital The Hackney Vet 34 LOVEEAST

020 8986 3918 020 8980 5011 020 8989 7744 020 8533 6554

LoveEast is proud to support local businesses. If you do contact someone after seeing their advertisement on these pages, please mention it to them when you call.

Why advertise with us? Every month the magazine is delivered to 10,000 households in E9, E8, E2 and E3, as well as to local shops, restaurants and cafés in Victoria Park, Hackney Wick, Broadway Market and Roman Road. Readership runs into many thousands more (between 25,000-30,000). The magazine is full of great articles and essential information and is a handy guide to local businesses and services, as well as giving details about what’s on in the area. It’s something to keep through the month and is unlikely to go in the recyle bin along with doordrop leaflets. It's therefore a very effective way to promote your business to a targeted, local audience. If you would like to advertise, please contact us at:

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