While pubs close around the UK, in Wanstead, the George has been saved

The George & Dragon pub, formerly the George, will be opening in January. The £1.5 million refurbishment of the pub by new owners Urban Pubs & Bars (UPB) will bring a new experience for the people of Wanstead. The saving of the pub is something to be celebrated. Pubs are going down across the country, with the cost of living crisis accelerating this process. It is rare to save or open a new one. The continuation of the George legacy, which goes back to the 18th century, is very welcome. The campaign to save the George played no small part in this achievement. It showed how much local people care for this iconic pub. A petition signed by 3,589 people, showed the appetite for a place where people can eat and drink together but is also a community space. In a world where people seem to be becoming increasing disconnected and isolated, this important function of pubs and other hospitality premises should not be under estimated. The appetite for good, reasonably priced beer was again emphasised in October with the great turn out for the Wanstead Beer Festival. Attended by more than 700 people, the festival was almost drunk dry but not quite. Next year the organisers intend to try to go one better, another step towards making Wanstead a beer capital. So now, we wait for the George & Dragon to open. UPB have been impressed with the local support that was shown for the old pub. It shows people really value and care for the place. UPB have been keen to engage, meeting recently with Leyton & Wanstead MP Calvin Bailey and myself to explain their plans. It all looks exciting with the new owners keen to become an active part of the Wanstead community. They have a particular commitment to sourcing locally, which fits well with the bigger vision for sustainable living. It is great that many of the staff from the George are being kept on, others have been redeployed by previous owners Wetherspoons. UPB expect to take on more staff, as their plans progress The new owners won't be providing the cheap prices of Wetherspoons but they do recognise the need for variety and that not everyone can afford £6 plus pints. But for now it is a case of wait and see. The future looks bright. What shouldn't be forgotten is the effort of so many to save the pub. Whilst Wetherspoons refused to listen, the new owners have. The Wanstead community has once again come together and been heard. Now, just looking forward to that first pint in the George & Dragon.

Otters, kingfishers & pollution - the story of the River Roding

The River Roding really is one of the hidden jewels in the biodiversity crown around these parts. The river begins out in the wilds of Essex, meandering it's way through Redbridge to reach Barking and eventually the Thames. The parts I enjoy regularly walking are between Charlie Browns roundabout and Ilford Hill. Most of the route is either the Roding Valley Park (owned by Redbridge) or Wanstead Park (owned by the City of London Corporation). The river is always changing. Kingfishers often fly down river, that flash of bright emerald blue. Or if your lucky a stationery bird perched on a branch, a fish in its beak. The imperious herons are also a regular sight, waiting motionless to strike, skewering a fish or vole. The elusive water rail also tracks the banks. Above, the adjacent Ilford Golf course, buzzards can be seen drifting on the thermals, looking for prey below. Along the Roding Valley stretch is a community orchard on the Redbridge Lane East side. All sorts of varieties of apples and pears in the summer. The blackberries also abound along the banks at this time. Later, in the autumn, hops can be seen growing on the rivers edge. A recent exciting addition on the Roding has been otters. There have been some spotted along the Wanstead Park stretch of the river. A fortunate few, mainly birders, have been lucky enough to see an otter. These elusive creatures have also been picked up by police helicopters, as they swim downstream. They may have been attracted by an increase in fish life in the river - due partly to the work of Thames 21, which has put obstacles in the river, so encouraging the water to meander more slowly creating pools, where fish dwell. The River Roding,though, does suffer from pollution, often from private landowners, adjacent to the waterway. The River Roding Trust has done much to highlight the pollution. It has also done great clear up work, with voluntary groups conducting litter picks along the banks.. The river is another area that acts as a receptacle for human detritus. Then there is the pollution in the water.Environmental activist and lawyer, Paul Powesland has highlighted the pollution in the river and those responsible. In 2021, he revealed heavy pollution at the Aldersbrook tributary, which flows into the river. This came from a sewage spill from a pipe owned by Thames Water. The Environment Agency has yet to press charges. The Roding is a precious haven for nature and humanity. A tranquil place to walk and watch wildlife.But it is also a river under threat from a variety of polluting sources. More people need to take an interest and become custodians of the river. The River Roding Trust (riverrodingtrust.org.uk) is a good place to start, if you want to help protect and save this precious waterway.

Attack on net zero policies is the latest strand of the fossil fuel backed climate denial industry

The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss continue to ravage the world. The floods in Europe, the hurricanes in America and daily impacts seen in this country. Yet, still the world sleeps. America has just elected a president in complete denial that there is any sort of environmental crisis going on. He is famed for backing fossil fuel production. Quite how this will work out, when renewables are by far the cheapest form of energy, remains to be seen. America has made great strides forward on the environmental agenda under the Biden administration. But it decided at the Presidential election to head back towards some sort of mythical vision of the 1950s. The impact of the climate skeptic movement has done much damage across the world, not just in America - mainly in delaying action. Funded in large part by the fossil fuel industry to propagate lies and distortions it has had a big impact. Flying in the face of the science, media across the world has fallen into line with the propagation of the many untruths. Outright denial of the crises has largely been discredited, with a refining of tactics from the climate deniers. The new target is net zero. So the idea that countries need to adopt policies that will bring net zero emissions in order to address climate change is under attack. These policies are crucial to human survival on the earth, yet climate deniers are redefining the policy as some sort of lifestyle choice. This then becomes, net zero policies cannot be afforded. Or yes, we can move in that direction when there is growth in the economy. This is an insidious development of climate denial. It is easily accepted with those caught up in short term, bottom line economic thinking Yet it is as nonsensical as climate denial. The devastation is all around us. There is no time to delay. Nature can be brutal and turn. It will not wait till humans decide they can "afford" to behave in a less destructive way. We are already paying the price of inaction. Back in 2006, Sir Nicholas Stern, warned in a report for the British Government that not acting on climate would be more costly in the long term. And so it has proved. There seems every chance that the world has gone past the tipping points on climate and biodiversity destruction. We may simply be dealing with the effects, not the causes? What is for sure is that there is no more time to delay. Net zero policies must be the norm across the world. The destruction of the environment is the crisis of our time. It needs to be treated as such. We cannot just sit and hope a magic solution can be found and everything will be alright

BBC needs to halt its march to self destruction

So the BBC have decided to let football presenter, Gary Lineker, go from his job as Match of the Day. Another decision that shows the gutlessness at the heart of the Corporation. Yes, Lineker is paid a huge amount of money (around £1.3 million) to present the weekly program plus other shows. But Lineker is very good at what he does. There can be little doubt that other rival channels will compete for the former England internationals services. He will probably earn more. The decision to let Lineker go, though, seems likely to be because of his controversial tweets. His comments about issues like the previous Conservative Government's immoral asylum policies attracted criticism from that government and right wing media. He was, though, absolutely right in what he was saying. There was a huge furore last year, when Lineker was suspended and fellow presenters - in an act of solidarity - went on strike in support. Lineker was reinstated. Issues of free speech were and are at stake, something that has apparently been withdrawn at the BBC for high profile presenters. But what the latest Lineker developments betray is an organisation that appears to have totally lost its way. The BBC management has cynically overseen budget cuts forced on it by government. It has used the shortage of funding as an excuse to further slash journalistic resources and dumb down. Journalists have gone, news coverage has been further devalued. Meanwhile, more and more seems to be spent on trashy quizzes and reality TV - often hosted by washed up soap stars. This stream of banality provides a source of ready ammunition for those opposed to the very existence of the BBC. Popular programs have been cut. So, for example, the popular Autumnwatch has gone, whilst the weekly, Countryfile, has now been reduced to an archive program, lacking original content.. The BBC seems to have totally lost its way. It has a habit of capitulating at times of trouble, rather than rallying support amongst the public and opposing the onslaught. The direction of travel at the moment will see the gradual erosion of that public support. This is not to say that all is lost. The BBCs news coverage remains amongst the most trusted by the public. The Corporation continues to produce some great drama like the recent adaptation of Hilary Mantel's The Mirror and the Light and previously Mr Loverman. (Even if these dramatic triumphs do have to be set against a background of innane cop based dross.) There are many opponents of the BBC out there that need to be confronted. Instead, the present management seems determined to capitulate by backing an ever accelerating race to the bottom. The BBC urgently needs to rediscover its role at the heart of the nation. The present chipping away at all that is good in its content will only hasten it's demise

Another great production of a Christmas Carol at the Old Vic

The annual celebration of Charles Dicken's a Christmas Carol at the Old Vic did not disappoint. An explosion of energy from an excellent cast, anchored by the outstanding, John Simm, playing Scrooge. This is the eighth year that the Old Vic has performed a Christmas Carol, making it a real festive curtain raiser for the many who attend. The play represents Christmas writ big, celebration and joy, yet also a very moral story of one man's redemption. This Matthew Warchus production tells the story to perfection. The pace of the production gradually speeding up to the final second half crescendo. Rob Howell's set maybe slightly more minimalist than past offerings but it works well. Maybe the cast have to work that little bit harder? The effects, such as the snow tumbling down and the sheet channels used to bring food in from the sidelines to create the big feast ordered by Scrooge, provide great atmospherics. The brussel sprouts and potatoes cascade down onto the stage. The large turkey is paraded around. The musical accompaniment is once again distinctive with the use of the handbells and carols sung from the upper circle balcony of the theatre. Some criticise the Old Vic for running a Christmas Carol each year but the ready response comes as the play finishes. The theatres annual appeal has now raised over £1 million over the seven years. This year the funds raised will go to the Waterloo Food bank. But as John Simm reminded the audience 14 million people live in poverty in the UK. One in three children. This in one of the richest countries in the world, a home to over 200 billionaires, yet millions go to food banks. The gross inequality of this society reverberates back to the world Dickens wrote about in a Christmas Carol. As long as such injustice continues the Old Vic needs to keep telling this story. A story about a man in love with money and only able to truly live when redeemed from that sorry state. When he changes, the world around him is transformed. Similarly, when the unjust, unequal structures of this country change then so too will the mass of people be able to live better lives. Until that time the play must go on, as a constant reminder of the need for change and redemption. On a lighter note, this is another great production of a Christmas Carol - a play that really gets the Christmas season going for all of those lucky enough to see it. Runs till 4 January 2025

Review of the Lie of the Land by Guy Shrubsole

This book provides vital reading for government ministers, activists and anyone who cares about the future of the planet. Guy Shrubsole reveals how the limited number of people who own land in the UK have overseen the trashing of this asset under the guise of being good stewards. There are telling statistics, such as that just 5% of the land is taken for private homes and gardens. This figure rises to 8.8% if the definition is extended to all land built on. A further 73% is farmland and 10% forestry. Agriculture contributes 11%. of UK carbon emissions. Shrubsole asserts that the "biggest drivers of biodiversity loss are agriculture, forestry and shooting." There is then a comprehensive demolition of the private landowners claims to be good stewards of the land. Shrubsole chronicles the damage done to peat on the uplands by grouse shoots. Huge amounts of CO2 have been released through mismanagement, involving the draining and burning of the peat heavy areas. All, to satisfy the needs of game birds, that are ultimately shot. There are amazing statistics, such as that 50 million pheasants are released to be shot each year by the landowners - more than the total breeding biomass of the entire UK wild bird population. The author charts the draining of the Fens in Cambridgeshire, initially by 13 landowning venture capitalists, converting it from wetlands to farming land. There has been a subsequent huge release of CO2. Then there was the destructive role of individuals like Lord Bedford, who in the 19th century, brought in invasive damaging species like the grey squirrel. Shrubsole claims that the funds given to private landowners (£9.2 billion in the last 30 years), in the name of stewardship, to look after and improve the land, has been largely wasted. It would be better spent on buying the land outright and bringing it into the public estate. Even the national parks are dominated by privately owned farmland. And matters have got worse over the past 14 years, with cuts to public sector operators and regulators. This book though is not all doom and gloom but a vision of what can be, as well as a call to action. Basically, Shrubsole wants to take the land back from the private sphere to the public. He draws inspiration from Scotland, where the Land Reform Act enshrines the community right to buy. So, when land becomes available, community bodies can register an interest. They, then have eight months to raise the funds but can also draw on a Community Fund. A similar but more diluted form of the community right to buy exists in England under the Localism Act. But here, there is just six months to raise the funds and community groups can be gazumped. A Community Ownership Fund was established in 2021. In Scotland, the community ownership process has seen 500,000 acres (2.6%) of the land come under public ownership. Shrubsole looks in detail at the transformation in nature as a result of the public buy out at Langholm Moor in Scotland. Shrubsole concludes with a 10 point plan of action. The plan includes taking back control of the peat soils of the uplands, presently emitting 3.4 million tonnes of CO2 annually. This includes banning moorland burning and outlawing driven grouse shooting. Shrubsole believes rewilding the uplands would substantially cut CO2 emissions and make the government target of protecting 30% if the land for nature by 2030 attainable. There are also calls for a strong community right to buy in England, using public money to buy land for nature, make polluting landowners pay, via a carbon land tax, stopping the mass pheasant releases and making large landowners (1000 acres plus) accountable for what they are doing with the land for nature. "The public needs to be able to assert that some parts of our land - our most important carbon stores, our most precious ecosystems-have to be managed for the common good, rather than trashed for private gain, " writes Shrubsole. Guy Shrubsole has come up with a most important book at a crucial time in the present biodiversity and climate crisis. He highlights how the domination of the land by a small number of private interests has helped further that crisis. His recommendations offer a way forward and hope for the future. But only if the public interest finally triumphs over private greed. Published by William Collins - £22

Waste not

The amount of litter just dumped around Wanstead does not seem to ever decrease. On a recent litter pick, it took very little time to fill a bag with all sorts of discarded waste - cans, plastic bottles, cups, paper and fag ends. There seems no end to it, much of it thrown out of car windows or just casually dropped by pedestrians. Why do human beings have so little regard for the environment in which they live? The amount of rubbish taken out of Wanstead is incredible. There are the efforts of volunteer litter pickers and the professional street cleaners. Many will have seen the bags mount up, waiting to be picked up on the high street. Then there are the bins on George and Christchurch Greens that are emptied regularly by Vision staff. The council brought in wheelie bins a few years ago. This was to encourage less waste and more recycling. It has worked to a degree but the levels of actual household waste created show little sign of reducing It seems there is a total disconnect between the climate crisis going on around us and people's individual lives The consumer society of buy, use and throw away has brought us to the brink of environmental disaster. The land and oceans are filling up with plastics and other waste products. We are literally choking on our own rubbish. In order to have any chance of surviving, there needs to be a total change of mindset. We all need to live more simply on the earth, tread more gently and have a greater sense of care for the consequences of our actions. In the case of waste this means creating less. Why can people not buy what they are going to eat, rather than throw so much away? Food waste is a huge problem in our society. Think a little more holistically, the problem does not end when the waste is taken away from your home. Another huge amount of waste is created by building work. Extensions, rebuilds and new kitchens create massive amounts of waste. Yes, good contractors ensure this waste is disposed of in a responsible manner but it still needs dealing with. Do people need to rip a house or flat apart, as soon as they move into the place. It is incredible to behold practically new kitchens finishing up in skips outside houses. Just because people have the money and can do something doesn't make it the right thing to do. The time has come to think more holistically about what we do. Think of the community, the consequences of the way we live. We all need to live more simply and sustainably on this earth or in time we will destroy the very basis of life. *A councillor led monthly litter pick takes place at 10am on the third Saturday of each month. Starting point is Woodbine Place by the buses - equipment provided. Next session is on 16th November

Time to value all work

A favourite phrase of the moment seems to be working people. And for those who don't get it the first time ordinary can be added. So, an ordinary working person is someone who goes to work, draws a salary and pays taxes. Those who stay at home, bringing up their children do not count, nor do pensioners, who provide care for their grandchildren. The free care provision, ofcourse, enables their sons and daughters to become ordinary working people. Then, there are those on welfare or unable to work Frankly, the definition is absurd - another way to further divide an already divided society. This lazy sort of shorthand transforms into different stereotypes in society. So, pensioners are all seen as rich, whilst youngsters (18 upwards) are all struggling, unable to afford to buy their own home. Then there is the strivers and skivers rhetoric, first deployed by Conservative chancellor George Osborne. This separates those on benefits from those in work. Though, ofcourse, many in work now are also on benefits due to so many employers being unprepared to pay a decent wage. The welfare subsidy that props up bad employers is permissable in this perverse lexicon. So it goes on. The effort to stoke intergenerational conflict has been ongoing for many years now. Turning young against old. Also, indigenous against migrants and those on benefits against ordinary working people. It is demeaning and unacceptable. The Labour Government talks about increasing growth to ensure there is a bigger pie to be divided amongst everyone. A laudable aim, but the pie, whether big or small needs to be divided more equally. The top earners need to pay more tax to fund public services for all. Work of all types, caring for children, whether by parents or grandparents, or enabling working in other ways needs to be rewarded and recognised accordingly. There are over two million pensioners living in poverty, so why try to summarise the arguments over something like the abolition of winter fuel allowance in terms of whether Mick Jagger needs it or not. There is incredible poverty and inequality in this very rich country. A country of 200 plus billionaires that accepts millions of citizens going to food banks. Work of all types needs to be rewarded but more important is to reset the scales so that this is not a country of such gross inequality. Using rhetoric like ordinary working people and other sloppy phrases does not encourage solidarity but division and rancour. All should be striving for the common good, which means solidarity between generations, races and classes

A game lost by Manchester United rather than won by West Ham

West Ham 2-1 Manchester United This was a game that Manchester United lost, rather than West Ham won, at the London Stadium. The visitors should have been out of sight by half time, with three clear cut chances spurned. The first came two minutes in when Bruno Fernandes set up Alejandro Garnachov centrally placed on the edge of the area. But the resulting shot bounced back off the bar. Then Fernandes, himself, received a cross, alone on the edge of the goal area but managed to head over. The best chance fell to Diogo Dalot, put away by Fernandes, he poked the ball past advancing West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski but having done the hard bit, somehow conjured to blast over an unguarded net. Fabianski then pushed a corner onto the bar and saved a Casemiro header. West Ham's one effort of the half was a hopeful header from Lucas Paqueta, which went just over. Three substitutions at half time, seemed to energise the home side. Michail Antonio got round the back, but saw Emerson miss his kick in front of goal. The industrious Garnacho, then, set up a chance for Rasmus Hojlund but Fabianski managed to push the effort round the post. West Ham then took the lead, when a Jarrod Bowen cross was scuffed by Danny Ings but Crysencio Summerville came round the back to force home. The visitors, though, were soon level, when a game of head tennis in the penalty area, saw Joshua Zirkzee head on for Casemiro to finish. The West Ham winner came when Danny Ings was adjudged to have been fouled in the penalty area, a soft one by any standards, but Bowen duly converted the penalty. West Ham manager, Julen Lopetegui, saw it was a game of two halves. "They were better in the first half, we were better in the second," said Lopetegui, who explained that Summerville had been held back for the second half when it was felt his energy could have maximum impact on a team that played in Europe on Thursday. Many were surprised that the former Leeds player did not start in place of the suspended Mohammed Kudus. Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag criticised the process around the penalty. He could not see anything clear and obvious that justified the VAR intervention. "We created so many chances, played such good football.We had very good build up, playing between the lines and creating chances,"said Ten Hag. "But we didn't score. Not so many criticisms of my team, other than scoring." So Julen Lopetegui lives to fight another day, the future for Erik Ten Hag looks more problematic.

Footballers are right to threaten strike

There has been much talk recently of a footballer's strike. Manchester City midfielder Rodri was one of those making the suggestion. The players complaint is that they play too much football, which is unsustainable. And they are right Football bosses have to a degree always treated players as commodities but this seems to have reached a new level in the modern era. The owners themselves ofcourse are multimillion, if not billionaires, who actually produce little, if anything. The players are the means of production. They have literally become assets to be worked to near exhaustion in the name of making money. The intensity of the football fixture list has been growing over the years. Domestically, there is the Premier League, the Caraboa Cup and FA cups. But then for teams in European competition, there is another long fixture list. Manchester City's, Phil Fodden, played 72 games last season. On top of these competitions come the totally commercially focused club tours to countries like China, Australia and Hong Kong. These are pre and post season to promote the brand. The summer break for players to recuperate is contracting all the time. Then there are the international games - possibly the most farcical. Competitions like the World Cup and European Championships have been extended to month long extravaganzas to extract maximum returns for organisers. Then, unbelievably, as seen this year, less than two months after the end of the European Championships, the players are back competing in the Nations Cup. A competition put in place to replace pointless friendlies with another form of pointlessness. These fixtures in September, October, then March and April put pressure on domestic competitions, creating a pile up of fixtures in November, December and February. There has been a winter break engineered in January but this is being constantly eroded. The players are being treated simply as work horses, deployed as often as possible to generate money. Many get injured, with increasing numbers approaching burnout. At the present rate, it is estimated that Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham will play in excess of 1200 games in his career. By way of comparison from a bygone era, England captain, Bobby Moore played around 800 games (including 106 for England) in his career. Critics will claim players are played huge amounts, so must expect to do more. But a high salary is no reason to just work people into the ground. It also won't help club owners if their prized assets are injured on the sidelines. So, the players are right to threaten a strike. They are also getting support from a variety of authority bodies The Professional Footballers Association is one of the most successful trade unions in the world, so can be relied on to champion a better deal for players. What is for sure is a cut in games would benefit all parties concerned. Think of the bigger picture, rather than the need to simply sweat assets ( players) in order to make more money. Everyone is a human being at the end of the day and has the right to withdraw their labour

George shuts day after successful Wanstead Beer Festival - what next?

So the George pub in Wanstead closed it's doors, as a Wetherspoons pub on the day after a successful second Wanstead Beer Festival. The Wetherspoons George closed on Sunday 13 October, amidst many emotional farewells and memories recalled. So it is goodbye to the George but hello to the George and Dragon. The new owners, Urban Pubs and Bars (UPB), have restored the original 18th century name to the pub. The UPB group run a number of successful pubs across London. The main concern, though, with the loss of the George under Wetherspoons stewardship is price. In these difficult financial times, the George has always offered reasonably priced food and drink. It has been a place that anyone can go to, across the generations. Sometimes, just a place to keep warm, have a drink and a bit of company. It is the loss of this facility, a positive community asset, that has concerned people most. Wanstead has to be a place catering for all tastes and those coming in from outside. The worry over recent times is that a lot of people are being priced off the high street - due to escalating costs. At the same time, many businesses, especially in the hospitality sector, are struggling to survive These concerns were reflected in the campaign to save the George. Many people working hard over the months, collecting signatures on the petition and contacting Wetherspoons directly. So thank you to all those people for their great work. Leyton and Wanstead MP, Calvin Bailey, has also been very supportive of the campaign, writing to chair of Wetherspoons, Sir Tim Martin. Wetherspoons for their part could have engaged more with local people. The staff at the George have been brilliant but getting information out of Wetherspoons head office has at times been a bit like getting blood from stones. Though, it did markedly improve over the last couple of months. To be fair, though, Wetherspoons are a business, not a social service and their main concern must be the bottom line. Moving forward, it has to be hoped that UPB take the pub forward in the true spirit of the George - a pub of the people for the people. Though, other options should also be considered, like maybe a micro or pop up pub? The appetite for reasonably priced beer and food was very much on display at the Wanstead Beer Festival. The organisers promised bigger and better and that is exactly what people got. A variety of beers from across the country plus West Country ciders. All for less than £5 a pint. The new gin bar also went down well. By the end of the day, almost everything had sold out, with only the dregs left..better than anyone expected. Christchurch provided the food - excellent burgers and hotdogs. So an excellent day all round, well supported by local businesses, who sponsored the beer festival and provided raffle prizes. Funds raised will go to the two nominated charities, Chaos and Reach Out. The amount raised for charity will be publicised in due course. So, now it is onto the next beer festival, the bar is rising but the appetite is clearly there for reasonably priced food and drink. Let's hope the next beer festival and other local pubs continue to deliver - including the new George and Dragon.

Believe nothing until it is officially denied

by Patrick Cockburn Journalist, Patrick Cockburn, provides a great insight into the world of his legendary journalistic father Claud. The title of the book, Believe Nothing Until It's Officially Denied, a phrase, credited to Claud, has become the mantra for journalists the world over. Claud Cockburn was the son of a foreign office diplomat, went to Berkhamsted school in Hertfordshire, then onto Oxford University, where he was close friends with novelist Graham Greene. He was also related to Evelyn Waugh. But that is about where the conventional establishment formation ends. Claud and Greene travelled in the Europe of the inter-war years, seeing much devastation and importantly the rise of fascism. Claud became a reporter for the Times in Europe, then America. He was highly valued by the then Times editor, Geoffrey Dawson, and the management. But in 1932, he struck out on his own, creating a shoestring operation, The Week magazine - a kind of newsletter, breaking news not seen anywhere else. It was small circulation but with excellent inside sources, essential reading, particularly in relation to what was happening in Europe, with the rise of the Nazis in Germany and the Spanish civil war. Claud reported directly via his own eye witness accounts and connections. His wide range of contacts ensured important insights. Claud joined the Communist Party and reported for the Daily Worker for many years. He was a communist for the rest of his life. One of the important Claud exposes was how media and politicians in Britain and beyond were colluding in the appeasement policy towards Hitler. He exposed the role of the Cliveden set, around the Astor family, which by the 1930s owned the Times and much of the media, in helping foster support for appeasement. Government policy at the time (1930s) was not to offend the Nazi regime. Also, at the time, the editor of the Times, constantly altered reports, so they were not overly critical of Hitler. Claud's form of guerilla journalism involved using all weapons at his disposal to expose what was going on and the approaching catastrophe. He seemed to attract opprobrium from all sides. MI5 were constantly monitoring his activities, yet he also managed to annoy Stalin and Kremlin chiefs. Maybe confirmation that he was getting it right in journalistic balance terms. Author Patrick Cockburn obviously has a ringside seat regarding his father's life. An excellent journalist himself, Patrick, provides a most insightful commentary. In pulling things together, he highlights how The Week was a unique instrument for the 1930s. Once , in many ways, Claud had revealed the truth, the role of The Week ceased. However, post war, guerilla journalism continued in other forms. Claud played a big role in the creation and success of Private Eye. He also worked for Punch in the 1950s, when it became more rebellious under Malcolm Muggeridge's editorship. There were columns and commentary across the international media. Patrick Cockburn summarises how journalism in the 1960s and 70s was less restricted, more doing the job of bringing accountability to the ruling cliques. However, most of the time, the mass of media are just a PR extension of government and capital. Never has this been more so than today, particularly in the reporting of conflicts like Gaza and Ukraine. Indeed, author Patrick suggests that Claud's guerilla style journalism is needed as much today as in the 1930s. And we are beginning to see it via the likes of Novara Media, the Canary and ofcourse the Morning Star. Publications like Private Eye play a part, as do individual journalists embedded in the mainstream media. One interesting quote from Claud on the need to speak truth to power was that truth needs to be spoken to the powerless, in order that they maybe empowered to act. Patrick Cockburn has produced a fascinating book about his father's life, with some excellent insights relevant to journalism today. A great read for all but a compulsory text for any aspiring journalists out there. Published by Verso £30

Learn the lessons of history from the smugglers of the 18th century to the drugs dealers of today

Smuggling was big business back in the 18th century. "Watch the wall my darling, as the gentlemen go by," is a line from a Rudyard Kipling poem on the subject. The areas along the south coast, including Rye and Winchelsea in Sussex, were hubs of smuggling activity. The contraband goods being brought in from the sea, then distributed down a network of lanes for people to consume or sell on. Some of the smuggled goods would finish up in London. The trade was controlled by gangs. One of the most notorious was the Hawkhurst gang, which used the Mermaid Inn in Rye as a base. There are still plenty of memories of those days at the Mermaid today, with a picture of Arthur Gray, the head of the gang ( executed in 1748) on the wall. There are also many reported haunting experiences at the Mermaid! An excellent novel on the smugglers and much else is Winchelsea by Alex Preston. The whole smuggling business has now been romanticised in folklore. But the reality is that it was a brutal business, controlled by very violent men. Once crossed life became problematic. Removing people's tongues was a not unusual punishment for those who spoke out of turn. The smuggling episode has many parallels with today, not least what happens when something is banned or in the case of the 18th century, heavily taxed. Once the government removed the taxes, the smuggling trade shrunk to virtually nothing. In the early part of last century prohibition in America saw alcohol banned. The illicit trade boomed, overseen by organised crime. Banning alcohol did not stop people drinking, it just drove it underground into the hands of criminals. It helped build organised crime, that moved onto other things. Similarly, today there is the drug trade. Most drugs ( excepting alcohol and tobacco) are banned. The result, the trade is controlled by crime gangs. The prisons are full of those involved in the trade, as well as addicts. Huge amounts of police time and resources are devoted to drug related crime. Many criminals steal to feed their drug habit. Surely, some legalisation and regulation of drugs (especially milder forms) would make sense. It would cut crime and boost the exchequer. Unfortunately, society seems slow to learn the lessons of history. The moves to ban cigarettes, whilst at one level seems laudable, in terms of health etc, at another, they threaten to grow an already substantial trade in smuggling. Banning drives things underground, it doesn't solve the problem. We really do need to learn the lessons of history on these matters. Look to legalise and regulate, rather than ban. In the end it will be better all round - cutting crime, improving health and releasing resources for other things.

Thank you to the Mercy Sisters

The Mercy sisters have left Wanstead, after more than 100 years. The Mercy Sisters ran St Joseph's school and the Convent on Cambridge Park, close to Our Lady of Lourdes Church. The school closed four years ago. Many the Wanstead child that has started their early school years at St Joseph's. A number returned for the recent final goodbye mass and reception for the Mercy sisters. The Mercy Sisters have been a constant in the community, providing educational and pastoral care, as well as encouraging people to look to wider horizons. Back in the late 1980s and 90s, there was a group formed at Our Lady of Lourdes called the Association for Relief in Crisis Areas (ARICA). The idea was to raise funds to support projects in the developing world (as called then) and increase awareness of the injustices that made so many people poor. A very rich world, where the vast majority were poor. Part of the latter work involved showing films in the Convent, like Cry Freedom and John Pilger's documentaries, and having discussions afterwards. On one occasion, the then MP for Wanstead and Woodford and later champion of the Postmasters and Mistresses, James Arbuthnot, was invited to attend to answer questions. Two of the first projects supported by ARICA were in Peru, on a poor barrier on the outskirts of Lima. The funds were used to bring water and electricity to the area. Two of us went out to see the work at first hand, staying in the Convent with Sisters Brendan and Agnes. There was also Sister Millie, a legendary nun, who drove her small car through what were then war torn Barrios. It was an important project that had far reaching consequences for the communities in Wanstead and Peru. ARICA eventually packed up. The Mercy's continued with their great work at home and abroad. A more recent project saw a centre established in Kings Cross helping sex workers. Women at the Well was established over a decade ago by Sister Lynda Dearlove, as a safe house for sex. workers. Sister Lynda came along for the goodbye mass, celebrated by Bishop of Brentwood, Alan Williams, at Our Lady of Lourdes recently. The order has never flinched from helping and walking alongside the most desperate in society. So it's goodbye to Wanstead from the Sisters of Mercy but good luck for all the great work they continue to do around the world.

Walk around the beer festival

The Wanstead Beer Festival (WBF) will be bigger this year, with more beers and a gin bar. The 40+ beers and ciders are drawn from across the UK, with Essex based breweries Brentwood, Elephant and Billericay all being well represented. Brentwood's popular Pride of Prague, brewed to mark West Ham's European Conference Cup victory last year, will once again be available. Get in quick, as this one sold out last time. Another Essex based brewery is Mighty Oak, which brings it's champion beer, Captain Bob - always popular and goes quickly. The popular Sussex brewery, Listers, makes a return, bringing it's best bitter. A new one from Listers is their premium bitter, Special Ale. Harveys of Lewes will again be represented, with Best Bitter and a new surprise beer. Gloucester brewery, Goffs, makes a first time appearance, with the all American hopped Cheltenham Gold. Closer to home is West London based Portobello, who bring Markets Porter and Central Line Red - hopefully they'll be on time. The WBF prides itself on its local ethos. So east London breweries like Redemption, Beerblefish, Neckstamper, East London Brewery and Pretty Decent are all prominent, particularly amongst the keg beers. There will also be a variety of ciders available. Devon based, Farmer Jim's will be providing the popular Rhubarb Bob. There will also be a Farmyard Perrie on offer. New, this year is the English gin bar. There will be gins from Essex, Sussex and east London. Wine prosecco and soft drinks will again be available. Christchurch will be doing the food. So plenty to look forward to at the second WBF. More people, more beers and gin - what's not to like. Roll on the 12th October - 1 pm kick off. Tickets selling fast, for the link, see: www.wansteadbeerfestival.co.uk

Impact of crime

Crime has a terrible impact on people's lives. Recently, a young woman and child came out of church to see their car had gone . The lady was very upset, in a state of shock. She rang the police to report the crime. The church was very supportive but that did not change the violation that had taken place. The disappearance of the car and the lady's reaction reminded me of my own experiences as a victim of crime. The first reaction always seems to be one of disbelief and denial. When burgled a few years ago, I remember looking at the empty space where the TV had been wondering why my brother, who lived there at the time, would have taken the TV to my parents. Slowly I realised we'd been burgled. Again, that sense of violation. Someone had been in your space. A more detached but similar reaction happened when the lady"s car was taken. The day before, there had been a street party in the road, everyone relaxed, enjoying themselves. No cars. Kids out playing football in the street - a safe comfortable space. Then. less than 12 hours later the theft in the same road. Crime breeds mistrust between people. Rather than reacting generously towards our fellow human beings, suspicion creeps in. Crime has always been around. Wanstead is a relatively low crime area. There have been a number of incidents recently, theft from shops on the high street, stealing of cars and some muggings. The police have been alerted. They will take action, just so long as crimes are reported. If they are not reported, how will the police know there is crime going on in the area? The police, though, are only part of the answer to crime. They are essentially social refuse collectors, picking up the pieces. Ofcourse, if the perpetrators are more likely to get caught, then this acts as a deterrent - it is though only part of the answer. Also, in the police's defence, the service has been run down in the past 14 years, with a lack of resourcing. This has come at a time of growing demands on the police. What also needs addressing is the inequalities in society. Criminals target wealthy areas and this is a wealthy area, compared to many. The cost of living crisis has pushed many to the brink, some will be stealing to survive. Others ofcourse are part of organised crime. There was a report recently about shoplifting to order - operations stealing for other businesses. So crime is very much a multi-faceted thing. There are a myriad of approaches needed to address the problem. More resources for the police, a genuine closing of the inequality gap and help for those struggling most. Also, support for the family and community cohesion. But as individuals we can also help by reaching out to those effected. Offer support, when needed. This can be in person or on social media. Less helpful is people hyping crime on social media, so fostering an atmosphere of fear and anxiety. We can all do something to address these problems, so try to reach out and help, whenever possible.

Tamzin Outhwaite excels in Abigail's Party

An excellent new production of Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party, stars Tamzin Outhwaite, who lights up the stage throughout this excellent performance at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East. Set and costume designer, Peter McKintosh's static set, encapsulates 1970s middle class living. The flock wall paper, record player and cheese and pineapple on cocktail sticks. Outhwaite dominates, playing Beverly, who was so memorably portrayed in the original stage and TV productions by Alison Steadman. Outhwaite's version is a more stylish lythe characterisation, gracefully sweeping around the set. One minute flirting, the next chastising. But always seeming not far from meltdown The play opens with Outhwaite dancing on the couch in a scene that could make the audience think they'd arrived at the wrong venue, maybe Abba Voyage, at the arena down the road? Outhwaite though retains much of Steadman's trademark rhetoric, with the drawn out act-u-ally, a feature of many sentences. The play is hilarious but also has darker undertones. The scene of two married couples so clearly unsuited is of less shock value now than it was in 1977, when the play was first performed. Relationships of accomodation, kept together by economic and social restraint. Characters like Tony (Omar Malik), with his monosyllabic responses to almost every question, have a hint of coercive control. Yet, nurse Angie (Ashna Rabheru) comes more into her own as the plot unfolds. Then there is the combustible relationship between Beverly and Lawrence (Kevin Bishop). Aggressive dislike, then final regret. The depiction of Sue (Pandora Colin) ,the mother of Abigail, who is never seen but around whose party the plot revolves, is different to the original play where the actor was taller. Much was made then of awkwardness in the size difference with Lawrence in the dance scene. Though, in this version despite the height similarities another type of awkwardness is conveyed. Director Nadia Fall does a great job with this adaptation of Mike Leigh's play, keeping true to the original, yet bringing a twist more towards the modern day. Outhwaite, though, excels, dominating the set with a great energy and poise. She is well supported by the other cast members, who hold true to the original storyline. An excellent production that is well worth seeing. Runs till 12 October

Seven Children by Danny Dorling

This book takes a novel approach to examining how one in three children live in poverty in the sixth richest country in the world. That country is the UK. Building on his previous book, Shattered Nation, Dorling drills down to see how seven stratas of British children are impacted by the poverty and inequality so rampant here. The seven fictional characters each represent two million children. They do not though include the top privileged seven percent. Dorling's seven were born in 2018, when the UK faced it's worst inequality since the 1930s and became Europe's most divided nation. They turned five in 2023, amid a devastating cost of living crisis. The children, Anna, Brandon, Candice, David, Emily, Freddy and Gemma, each represent a day of the week. So the poorest Anna is Monday. She is brought up by her mother, who receives £10,608 a year. That breaks down as £204 a week or £118, once housing costs are taken out. At the high end is Gemma, who represents Sunday, with a disposable income of £51k a year. The characterisations are an effective way of examining child poverty, though some are more roundly drawn than others. Housing costs play an important role in impoverishing every child. Dorling points out how 40 years ago the private rented sector was very minor - just 10% of adults rented privately. Rents were low. Since then, the selling off of council houses and removal of rent controls means that housing has become a huge drain on families across the board. Today, one in nine people are buy to let landlords. The sector has become a parasitical device for enhancing inequality in society. The book is full of shocking facts, like that one in seven children grow up in homes too cold because their parents cannot afford to heat them. Children in 9% of UK households lack access to the internet and one third don't have at least one week a way each year. Some 43% of adults in the UK don't pay income tax because they don't earn enough (£12,500). Even the height of five years olds is falling in the UK, while increasing in Germany and France. These impoverished children cannot afford to go out, so avoid parties. They cannot afford to buy presents. A killer stat for those opposing extending child benefit beyond two children is that families of three plus children make up 75% of the poorest two fifths of the population. Removing the limit would cut poverty at a stroke. Dorling's analysis of an incredibly unequal country is as excellent as ever. He warns of a country on the slide, with gross inequality stuck at these same sort of levels for the past 30 years. The UK was most equal in the mid-1970s. The very rich continue to prosper, whilst the lot of the poorest and everyone in-between continues to decline. It is an unsustainable construct. Some of the solutions are simple and obvious, such as filling the 648,114 empty homes in England. Dorling points out that if all the rooms available in Britain were shared out equally, no child would have to share a room Second home owners could be made to pay more. Dorling asserts there are enough homes to go round if equitably distributed. So there is not a need to build all over the place. Rent controls should return. He suggests investing in the care sector, rather than construction. Dorling discusses Universal Basic Income, which is being proposed in Wales. He recommends stronger trade unions, so better pay. The outlawing of zero hours contracts and the like. All of these things can help make the country more equal. What Dorling really does in Seven Children is deepen his previous analysis of inequality, with the focus on children. They are the future of the country yet at present are being forced to take the brunt of a bankrupt neo-liberal system that deepens inequality, poverty and human suffering. It cannot go on. Published by Hurst Publishing £14.99

Local people want answers on the fate of much loved pub

The fate of the George pub still hangs in the balance - it remains up for sale. The pub has remained busy over the summer months, drawing in people across the generations. The pub's leaseholder Wetherspoons have not been particularly communicative, since putting it up for sale earlier in the year. I wrote to Chair Tim Martin but received no reply. Then, contacting customer services (customerservices@jdwetherspoon.co.uk) in June, I was told the pub remained up for sale and that the 3,200 strong petition calling for the pub to remain open had been considered by the Board. No more since. Local people though remain concerned. The George has been a great community asset over the years, drawing in people from across the generations. Elderly people may go in for a drink, something to eat and to stay warm during the winter. Youngsters come in, often in large numbers, for cheap food and drink. A variety of community groups meet there - including the Wanstead Beer Festival organising committee. It is a vital resource for people on their own - many is the story told over recent months of those just going for a bit of company, somewhere to read the paper, have a reasonably priced pint and maybe a chat. Many people are genuinely distressed that the pub may not be there anymore. On Wetherspoons side, it must all be about profit. The George cannot be making enough money. Wetherspoons after all is a business, not a social service, but at the same time it does pride itself on community engagement. It does listen to customers. Over in Stoke Newington, the Rochester Castle pub was similarly condemned to closure but there was a strong local campaign to keep it open. Wetherspoons reconsidered - the pub remains open. People in Wanstead are as concerned as those in north London to keep their pub open. A campaign titled Save the George is gaining strength all the time. What they want to know is what is required to get Wetherspoons to reconsider it's decision to sell? There has been speculation around the lease but nothing concrete from Wetherspoons. Pubs have been closing all over the country. Wetherspoons have closed some pubs but also opened new ones. The George remains a popular local venue, where people of all generations can mix and get reasonably priced food and drink. The staff at the George are excellent. People don't want to be told to go somewhere else, like the Walnut Tree in Leytonstone. So surely the time has come for Sir Tim Martin and the Wetherspoons board to seriously engage with the local Wanstead community. Tell them what is going on and above all what is needed to keep this much loved pub open.

Erling Haaland 3-1 West Ham

This game at the London stadium could be summarised as Erling Haaland three West Ham one. Whilst Manchester City were the superior side throughout most of the 90 minutes, Haaland was the vital difference between the two sides. West Ham started brightly, pushing on, denying the visitors space. Jarrod Bowen saw an early effort parried out by City keeper Edison Then, a slick move involving Josko Gvardiol, Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish, ended with Haaland heading over, with the goal at his mercy. But that was a warning of things to come. Lucas Paqueta wastefully gave the ball away to Bernardo Silver, whose threaded pass was finished by Haaland. De Bruyne then saw a shot go wide and hit the post. Against the run of play, Bowen got off down the right, to fire a low cross over, that was diverted into his own net by Ruben Dias. But it wasn't long before City were back in front, a slick move across the area that began with Grealish, ended with a Rico Lewis lay off for Haaland to fire home into the roof of the net. Haaland then turned provider putting through Lewis who fired high and wide. West Ham's final effort of the half saw Mohammed Kudus fire wide, after latching onto a cross field ball from Edison Alvarez. Kudus was quickly out of the blocks after the break, accelerating clear to find Bowen, whose return pass saw the little Ghanaian hit the post. Kudus then conjured a chance for Tomas Soucek in the centre of the area but he fired weakly wide. The final act from Haaland came when Matheus Nunez put him clear to fire home. A late effort at a consolation saw Crysencio Summerville's shot pushed onto the post by Ederson. West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui felt his team started very well "but did not score in the moment." Manchester City punish teams, who don't take their chances. "We need to be more solid, if we want to win these sort of matches," said Lopetegui, who saw good things in the team as well Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola felt Haaland played an unbelievable game, not just the goals. "Everyone played really good," said a pleased Guardiola.

Need for more focus on mental health

The recent death of former England cricketer Graham Thorpe brought many tributes relating to his playing days. A great batsman and a family man. Thorpe was just 55 when he died. Strangely, at the time, there was no mention of cause. At time of death there is a tendency to only dwell on the positives. But weeks later it appeared that he killed himself by stepping in front of a train. There had been a previous suicide attempt a couple of years ago. A real tragedy for Thorpe, his family and no doubt the train driver. His wife, Amanda said: "Graham was renowned as someone who was very mentally strong on the field and he was in good physical health. But mental health is a real disease and can affect anyone. Despite having a wife and two daughters whom he loved and who loved him he did not get better." Graham Thorpe had mental health problems, still a taboo subject for many, though, less so today than in past years. I had a friend who I used to go running with a few years ago. A school teacher, a larger than life character for much of the time. But he could descend into dark depressions. There seemed no way out. He attempted suicide a number of times before finally succeeding. His family were devastated. More than two thousand people turned up for his funeral. Life is a precious thing that needs to be valued and nurtured. There is physical and mental health, both are equally important. The focus until recently has largely been on the physical, with mental issues very much secondary. Fortunately, things are changing with greater recognition of mental health issues but more needs to be done. There is also a move towards greater isolation in our modern world. Less contact, people living more in virtual reality silos - cut off. The COVID pandemic exasperated these things. People are still coming to terms with that period health-wise today. Greater resources need to be put into mental health care. But everyone can be more aware, ask if someone is ok and just greet people on a daily basis. Make the world a friendlier, more inclusive place. Be aware of the tendencies to become isolated and get cut off. And isolation is not limited to physically being alone, people can feel lonely in family units. We all really need to be more aware of our own mental health, and nurture it - as well as doing those little things on a daily basis to help others. It is so easy to start slipping down the slope to mental health breakdown. The hardest step maybe recognising the problem and seeking help. But there is no shame in it, the sooner that helps comes the quicker things can begin to improve. Thankfully, most people don't take their own lives but we all need to do more to help each other out when it comes to mental health issues.

Street parties are a great way to bring the community together

Street parties are an excellent way to bring the community together. In my own road, we have been having street parties for most years since 2016. The COVID pandemic meant a break but other than that the party has become an annual fixture. The last two have coincided with royal events: the Coronation last year and the Queen's Platinum Jubilee the year before. But our road is not particularly royal as a rule. Street parties can happen at any time for any or no reason. The street party means shutting off the street for part of the day, some may call it reclaiming the road from the motorist? Then, the tables come out, with residents providing the food and drink. There can music. In our road, there are wanna be DJs and also some talented musicians. Last year, a rock band played, other years singers and instrumentalists have played a series of songs. We are lucky having some excellent musicians. The days have always been great fun, bringing people together. Just to chat and celebrate. Now, people better know each other on the street. The network of communication has been enhanced with a WhatsApp group, which was particularly useful during the COVID pandemic. Now, in the main people exchange goods via this channel and just stay in touch. But it has been fascinating to see the community spirit grow since the first street party. Not everyone in the road takes part, so the challenge going forward must be to increase the numbers participating. In these modern days it is crucial to build community, bring people out from behind those doors to get to know each other. And, what better way than a street party in the sun ( sometimes we've had rain, which puts a dampener on things but the party goes on under umbrellas and in people's houses.) Our next street party is in September, all are awaiting with eager anticipation and fingers crossed for the weather. Why not try a street party, where you live, it'll be great fun.

Big challenges for new West Ham manager

The football season is once again upon us. It feels like it has never been away, with the European Championships running for a month from June to July. Managers have changed and the usual market in players has been turning over. West Ham are one club where there has been substantial change, with a new manager, Julen Lopetegui and seven new signings (at time of writing). Lopetegui replaces David Moyes, who got the club into European competition three years running, winning the European Conference League in 2023. Big shoes to fill. It is hoped Lopetegui will not only bring European football but a new more entertaining style of play. A style more in the tradition of the club and the so called West Ham way. This, sometimes mythical, belief goes back to the 1960s and 70s, when Ron Greenwood, then John Lyall were the managers of the club. It emphasised entertainment, often over results. These were the halcyon days of World Cup winners Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and George Hurst. The mythology surrounding this period often filters out the fact that West Ham were often at the wrong end of the table fighting relegation. Odd, given the quality of player at the club at the time. Underperforming is a consistent theme in West Ham history. Remember the 1990s with the crop of outstanding young players that came through, including Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and Jermaine Defoe. All were sold to balance the books and satisfy player ambition. Then there was the team that was too good to go down in 2003, with the likes of Paulo Si Canio, Glenn Johnson, Cole and Carrick. So, this is the history and challenge Lopetegui faces. Winning but in an entertaining West Ham way - no small ask. He seems to have made a good start. But what would please fans would be to see some of the younger players coming through. West Ham again have some outstanding youngsters but few are ever given the chance to develop at the highest level. They tend to be sold on to fund the academy, with the hope that occasionally a Declan Rice comes along. Among the present crop of youngsters, Freddie Potts, Lewis Orford, Callum Marshall and George Earthy are among those, who should be given the chance. If Lopetegui manages to blend the new signings with this young talent in producing an entertaining winning team, he will be the toast of West Ham. He may also ofcourse be difficult to hang onto in this commodified world of modern football. What is for sure is anticipation levels are high at the London Stadium as the new season kicks off.

Review -Thank you Mr Crombie - lessons in guilt and gratitude to the British by Mihir Bose

Journalist Mihir Bose has produced a fascinating book chronicling his life: growing up in India, then moving to Britain, where he eventually works his way into journalism. The title, Thank You Mr Crombie, refers to a letter Bose wrote some years later thanking the civil servant, John Crombie, who confirmed his permanent right to remain in the UK in 1975. The great attraction of the book is the many avenues it travels down. These include the world of being brought up in a traditional Hindu family, in post independence India. Then, the changing face of Britain that the young Bose encounters in the 1960s and early 70s. A world that changes in the second half of the 1970s, as racist attitudes harden, with the National Front on the streets. Bose encounters racism from football supporters, as well as landlords - turning him away from renting rooms, due to the colour of his skin. Bose makes his name as a writer on sport, getting the stories behind what goes on in the sporting arena. He becomes the BBC's first sports editor in 2006, before leaving in 2009. But he has many strings to his bow. In the early days, he works in an engineering firm, then onto accountancy, with writing his passion, yet a sideline at that stage. He gets his break, writing for the Sunday Times, then the Daily Telegraph. Readers of the Morning Star, will be interested to learn how in the early 1980s, Stan Levenson, Sports Editor at the Morning Star, was football editor on the Sunday Times at the weekend. He was joined by Alan Bromley, who subbed for the Daily Mail during the week. Bose declares:" under Stan the Star had developed a superb sports desk which was a nursery for many journalists who then went on to work for the Sunday Times and other papers." Bose sporting scoops, like the football bungs story and the inside story of the 2012 successful London Olympic bid will fascinate sport enthusiasts. Also, how football manager and business man Terry Venables sought to sue him personally, rather than the title he wrote for. But this book goes much wider than just sport and journalism There is much on the British Empire and the relationship between Britain and India, particularly in the post independence period - all viewed through the lense of Bose own personal story. He looks at the role of Indians in collaborating in furtherance of the British Empire. How the British managed to control such a large part of the world, with a relatively small military force. The co-opting of native peoples ensured this was done for them. He also highlights the somewhat reductionist take on history adopted by Europeans, with a view to their own imperialist pasts. Bose is a great observer, highlighting how football changed, with traditional white working class people moving out from areas around city centre based football grounds. They were then replaced by migrants communities, who in the early days had little interest in the sport. Another observation is the evolution of Indian food to suit the British palate - how this went from an alien form to the most popular food in the UK. Bose admires the abilities of Indians and English to adjust to each other. The flexibility of society to react and change. If there is a criticism, it is when Bose chronicles the early years of growing up in a traditional Hindu family in Mumbai. Fascinating insights but the at times too detailed a coverage of all the religious customs can drag a bit. The lack of any photos accompanying a life in the media is also a little odd. However, overall this is a fascinating read. Accessible, entertaining whilst covering a vast canvass through the story of one man ,- highly recommended. Published by Hurst Publishers - £25

Review of the Grapes of Wrath at the National Theatre

It is a very difficult task to adapt John Steinbeck's brilliant 1939 book, the Grapes of Wrath, for the stage. It is a brave dramatic act to even try, let alone achieve. This attempt at the National Theatre, using Frank Galati's adaptation, makes a great effort, encapsulating many of the moods of desperation and defiance of adversity but whether it totally gets there is open to question. There is a fine effort to depict the dust belt existence of people living in poverty stricken 1930s America. Migrating to find work and survive, whilst being constantly harassed on the journey by a variety of agents of officialdom.They move on in the belief of salvation, among the grape pickers of California but this proves a false dream The casting of the Joad family is imaginative, with Harry Treadaway as Tom, Gregg Hicks as Pa and Cherry Jones as Ma. Natey Jones also excels as the fallen preacher Jim Casey. The set design of Alex Eales is excellent, with the overloaded car dominating the first half of the performance. The imagery portraying the whole family loading everything onboard, then travelling to California is striking. Rivers appear centre stage and the depiction of a number of fires is intriguing. Scenes change more rapidly in the second half, with sprawling shanty town style camps dominating. The depiction of the family, being tossed around, whilst increasingly powerless to control their own destiny is cleverly portrayed. The fight director Kate Waters and movement director Ira Mandela Siobhan deserve credit for bringing a vivacity to the fight scenes. The slow motion action works really well. The way in which those trying to organise the workers to collectively bargain, then getting beaten down, is clear in the narrative, though more could have been made of this element. Throughout, there is the wandering band of players, led by Maimuna Memo , whose folk score brings a haunting, atmospheric to proceedings. It would have been good to see a 21st century adaptation make more of the backdrop of man made environmental devastation causing people to migrate in order to survive. It is a message as true today as in the dust belt of 1930s America. But then Galati's original adaptation was done in the 1980s. Director Carrie Cracknell does a good job of bringing the book to the stage. A challenging task, done with imagination, if limitation. Overall, this is a good effort to adapt the Grapes of Wrath. The sheer suffering of the people but the resilience of the human spirit comes through strongly. Well worth seeing but do read the original book afterwards, to complete the experience. Runs to 14 September

Trip around the beer festivals

The beer festival season is in full swing. Last week, the Epping & Ongar beer festival took place on the Epping Ongar railway line. The privately run line operates all the year round, staffed by volunteer train enthusiasts. On the beer festival days, diesel and steam trains operate between North Weald and Ongar stations. The trains also go out into Epping Forest, stopping in the middle of the forest before returning to North Weald station. Beer and cider are served on the trains. What better way to spend a sunny afternoon that travelling through forest and fields with a glass of beer in your hand? The non-mobile bars operate under marquees at North Weald and Ongar stations. This year there was also a gin bar at Ongar. The journey from Epping or Sheffield stations is all part of the package - revellers being picked up by vintage routemaster buses to be taken to the venue. It was all aboard for the last bus out of North Weald, as everyone crammed on. The journey back from Epping to Snaresbrook was made all the merrier, with the musicians from the festival accompanying. So there was music and beer fuelled song to end the day. A couple of weeks before Epping and Ongar came the Ealing beer festival - an easy trot on the Elizabeth line. The Ealing beer festival is held in Walpole Park. On a sunny day it is a perfect venue, with a big marquee and hundreds of beers to choose from. A rainy day is less fun. Last year was damp, with drinkers left sheltering under the marquee, watching the rain come down, whilst looking for a break to run to the toilets. But it was still fun. Happily, the sun shone this year, with much beer and cider consumed at an excellently organised event. Both Epping & Ongar and Ealing Beer festivals are organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), with members of our local East London and City branch prominent among the volunteers running both events. A big gap in the CAMRA beer festival calendar this year comes with the absence of the Great British Beer Festival at Olympia. The biggest beer festival in the UK, it usually takes place in the first week of August but not this year due to refurbishment of the venue. It will return next year. The next big thing around this way is the Wanstead Beer Festival on 12 October. The second year of the event, organisers are hoping to build on last year's success. Sold out in advance last year, there is increased capacity this year. More beers and ciders to choose from plus a gin bar. So don't miss out, tickets are available via the website,- https://wansteadbeerfestival.co.uk. Cheers.

Global IT outage should trigger reset button on technological change

The recent global IT outage, that brought crucial services to a halt for a period, should be cause to pause and reflect regarding the pace of change. Fortunately, the problems caused were overcome but things could have been far worse. The outage was likened to a COVID style phenomena, at one point, in terms of potential impact. These type of problems in the increasingly automated world are becoming more commonplace. Hospitals were recently hit by a cyber attack. The movement of most activities to online status has been going on apace over recent years. Service providers seem keen to make the move to save money and cut staff. Users like the convenience. There are though many who are not happy with the dash to virtual reality. Some don't want to pay bills online. Many want to still use cash, not plastic cards to buy everything. (Notably, the recent outage stopped some cards working for periods - a boost no doubt for the cash economy.) The rush to automation means it is more and more difficult to speak to a human being. It seems a deliberate policy by some companies to restrict the access. It is surprising how difficult it is now to even find a telephone number for many services. Some providing public services seem content to hide behind higher and higher technological barriers. A lot of the public just want another human being to speak to. All of this can make life more difficult, not easy for people. Anxiety levels are raised by these experiences. Mental health suffers. It is often said that older people are particularly effected by the dash to automate everything. But the growing concerns about where we are heading are an intergenerational thing. The recent technology problems are a warning of further difficulties ahead. If the whole infrastructure on which humanity depends is held in these technologies, what happens if a nuclear style cyber attack manages to seriously damage or disable the whole lot? The lessons need to be learned. This is not to say that online services have not been beneficial or should stop. Just take a breath and reassess. Better to be safe than crash over the cliff driven by the market forces orientated bottom line obsession. People can also make their own individual stands, like using cash, going to human staffed checkouts at supermarkets, using companies that do provide personal service and making opinions known to policy makers. Change is happening, it is really a case of how quickly it moves. Change is not always for the better. People certainly need to take back control, otherwise we are all heading into a very insecure, potentially devastating world.

The appointment of James Timpson as prisons minister augurs well for future reform of the prison system but he will need backing

The appointment of James Timpson as the new Prisons, Parole and Probation minister comes as a breath of fresh air to the beleaguered sector. He gets it. A person who talks sense, rather than the Victorian age based platitudes focusing on retribution and revenge. In an early interview, Timpson said that one third of the 85,000 prisoners should be there, another one third probably shouldn't. This group need other state support and lots have massive mental health problems. A final third, mainly women, shouldn't be in prison at all. It is a disaster putting them back in the offending cycle. Timpson is the first minster to talk such sense, since Ken Clarke tried to reform the prison system, as part of the Coalition Government in 2010. Clarke was arguing the case from a cost angle and was quickly shot down by the right wing hang em and flog em brigade. He was also not backed by Prime Minister David Cameron. The truth is to paraphrase a mantra from a previous Conservative Home Secretary (Michael Howard) prison does not work. The overcrowded prison system in this country is more a university of crime if anything. People go in and learn more criminal skills. Many come out, better criminals, with more contacts to resume a life of crime. Reoffending rates are upwards of 25%. Other countries have proved that there are better ways of dealing with criminals, notably serving closely supervised sentences in the community. Prisons can have a role if properly run, with an emphasis on education and rehabilitation. Overcrowded prisons, though, make things worse for inmates and staff. They amount to human storage centres ready to explode at any moment. Previous Conservative governments have made matters worse. First, failing to invest in the system. Timpson knows the area well as former chair of the Prison Reform Trust. His family business, Timpsons, is ofcourse also famed for employing former prisoners. If he succeeds, then the government could be knocking prisons down or repurposing them. He will though need strong backing, particularly when the right wing media comes baying for blood. As a lawyer and former Director of Public Prosecutions, Prime Minister Keir Starmer knows the criminal justice system well. This is no doubt why he has made such an astute appointment in Timpson but Starmer will need to keep his nerve if the crime and punishment sector is to get the genuine reforms it needs to be fit for purpose in the 21st century.

Landslide victory for Labour but confidence in political system is at an all time low

The recent general election saw Labour triumph securing a huge 174 vote majority. A real mandate for change. More surprising to many will be that the victory was achieved with 600,000 less votes than Labour got in 2019. Then, it secured 10.2 million of the votes (32.1%), against 9.7 million (33.8%) this time. So, Labour increased its vote by 1.7%, with fewer votes, but more than doubled the number of seats. The low turn out this time (60%) also contributed to the result. Whilst it is great to have swept away the corrupt, moribund Tory administration, the challenge now is to restore trust in politics and how our politicians are elected. The low turn out, specially amongst the young, shows a disillusionment and disconnect. Many do not feel represented. The past 14 years has severely damaged the reputation of politics and politicians. The standing was not high before, with the expenses scandal, giving an impression of snouts in the trough. This was amplified manyfold by the handling of contracts around the COVID pandemic. A real case of contracts for the boys and girls close to the Tory Party. Trust took another blow with the Downing Street parties revelations, exposing an entitled bunch of people at the heart of government ruling on the basis of do as I say, not as I do. The Liz Truss period in power further stretched the credibility gap, with people in power clearly promoted way above their capability. So it goes on. The standing of politics and politicians is at an all time low. Yet, most politicians do come into politics for the right reasons, namely to serve the community. The majority on all sides suffer due to the behaviour of the few. That said, there does need to be change.The implementation of the pledge in the Labour Party manifesto to establish an Integrity and Ethics Commission would be welcome. Also, the Nolan principles on public life could be made statutory. Then there is the electoral system mentioned earlier, with the anomalies that throws up. Some form of Proportional Representation is long overdue. This would ensure that everybody's vote counted. The lowering of the voting age to 16 would also be welcome. Unfortunately, over recent years, things seem to have moved backwards electorally, with the first past the post system being reintroduced in contests like the Mayoral elections. Also, the introduction of ID requirements on the basis of fraud, which has never been proven to exist. We need to re-engage people, not make things more difficult. So there is much to be done to restore our democracy. And that work needs to start now.

Review of Children's Inquiry, Southwark Theatre Elephant

This vibrant musical production from theatre company Lung offers a glimpse of how badly children have been treated in this country over the years. The Children's Inquiry, written by Helen Monks and Matt Woodhead, focuses on the stories of four children. Jelicia is viewed as a social worker's success story, Frank has been through eight foster homes, while Angelica and Amber end up in care, after there parents are deported. The individual stories fit against a backdrop of the fate of children over the past 150 years. The narrative runs through the major events of the nation, from World Wars I & II to migration to Australia in the 1950s, with the abuse that involved. Then there was the nuclear bomb and the moon landings. The piece on Section 28 is accompanied by the haunting voice of Margaret Thatcher, giving the loathsome Iron Lady speech and quoting St Francis of Assissi on the steps of Downing Street. The second half begins with the spooky sight of all the kids with Tony Blair masks, talking about Education, education, education. Then there is the Big Society, Brexit, Theresa May, COVID and finally (and not a little ironically) Keir Starmer promising change. The whole show, though, rattles along, with music and dance, revealing the children's plight in the real world detached from the political sphere. This is nicely illustrated as the actors lip sync the political pronouncements, with the politicians turning inward to applaud each other. They are very much in a separate world. The lyrics of Owen Crouch and Clementine Douglas are spot on, with phrases like "nothing changes" and "didn't put two and two together" making the case simply. There is always hope, though, running through the production. The falseness of political mantras like we're all in this together leap out from the dialogue. It is very much a case of those administering (the politicians) and those being done to ( the children) - a vast chasm appears between the two down the ages. The choreography of Alexzandra Sarmiento and direction of Woodhead brings a seamless nature to the production, using the whole theatre space whilst switching from scene to scene. The chimes of Big Ben punctuate each section. There is a great energy in the musical, with a hope born of authenticity in the children. Some great acting and singing performances. There are two ensembles alternating in the production. A great piece of political theatre, making powerful points in a way that really does connect with the audience. Runs until 3 Aug

Why are people turning off news?

People are switching off the news. Research by Oxford University's Reuters Institute found that four in ten (39%) sometimes or often actively avoid the news. This compares to 29% in 2017. There was speculation that war in the Middle East and Ukraine may have contributed to the switch off. Possibly so. The general negativity of news - the only news is bad news - does little to attract followers. It can also be very bad for people's mental health. Another reason for the switch off, though, could be the general dumbing down of the news. The BBC provides a classic example. It has slashed journalistic resources, resulting in cut price reporting. Take the recent general election. How often did we see a populist narrative like migration is bad and needs to be cut (Daily Mail line) taken onto the streets to do a tedious series of vox pops with "the public." In reality, this means searching around for the stereotypes that back up the original narrative. Then, there is the domination of sport over the news agenda. The number of times a complete non-story about the European Championships football tournament has led the news bulletins, whilst more serious issues are moved off into the "other news" category. So although the survey may suggest death and destruction puts people off, the utter trivialisation of news: whether broadcast, print or online no doubt also plays a part. This all comes at a time when genuinely accurate, truthful news coverage is more important than ever. People need to know what is going on, they need an authentic source to rely upon. There has been much talk of fake news over recent years, with the internet awash with it. It is predicted things will get worse with the growing role of Artificial Intelligence. There is a worrying tendency for people to draw away from authentic news coverage into their own social media bubbles. There, they share views with those of similar mindsets - things go unchallenged. It is no coincidence that as these tendencies have developed, so too have the number of conspiracy theories. So whatever the tendencies, the time now is to invest in serious news coverage at all levels of the media industry. Authentic coverage of what is going on in the world is more important than ever, especially with so much competition around. If the investment is provided, then imaginative ways can be found to attract people to read or view. What is more as time goes by there is likely to be a growing demand for such media.

Review of Broken Archangel - the tempestuous lives of Roger Casement by Roland Philipps

This thorough investigation of the life of Irish patriot, Sir Roger Casement, delves deep into the emotional waters of a man who lived a remarkable life and whose fame seems to have grown with the passing years. It was always going to be some story. An Irish man who rose from humble beginnings to the heights of the British diplomatic service at a time when Britain really did rule the waves. His achievements were such that he was knighted in 1912, retiring from the diplomatic service in July 1913 on a generous pension. Yet, just three short years later, the country that had honoured Casement was executing him for treason. Author, Roland Philipps does a good job in telling the story of the man who exposed Belgian's imperial abuse in the Congo and further abuses, including slavery, by the Peruvian Amazon Company in South America, then became a fervent Irish Republican. It was the same passion for justice that drove his early exposes on behalf of the British government that led later to his efforts to secure an independent Ireland. He'd seen the damage caused by imperialism at first hand, hence the need to free his own people from under that yoke. The subject of such a life is not surprisingly a conflicted individual. Philipps is constantly seeking to probe below the surface to find answers. Whilst very thorough in his approach, the reader is left wondering whether he really does totally nail his man Some of the staging of the book seems a bit odd, such as not revealing that his mother died when he was nine and father three years later, until 80 pages in. The author, instead, heads straight to the Congo and the diplomatic service in the early pages. There is plenty of time given to Casement's hidden homosexual activities recorded in his diaries. The diaries being an item of growing significance, particularly, following his arrest and charging with treason in 1916. The selected use of the diaries to brief journalists and politicians prior and post his trial show the British establishment at its most duplicitous. This deliberate act was done to help ensure Casement's conviction, whilst also muddying his reputation worldwide in order to stave off dangers of martyrdom. As the years have gone by, with a now more tolerant society, the revulsion at what happened to this principled man has led to the martyrdom that those shadowy British establishment figures feared, being realised. It has,though, taken a long time, with Casement's body only being disinterred from the grounds of Pentonville Prison in 1965 to return for an Irish state funeral in Dublin. There have been accusations that the "black diaries" were fakes but Philipps comes down firmly on the side of authenticity. The author does a good job of getting below the surface of Casement. A man who was christened both Catholic and Protestant, dying the former, whilst fighting for Irish freedom. Casement's journey brings contact with the likes of Joseph Conrad, Bernard Shaw and Alice Stopford Green. The title of the book is drawn from a comment made by TE Lawrence just before he died in 1935. Lawrence revealed how he would like to write about Casement ,"so that his enemies would think I was with them till they had finished reading it and rose from my book to call him a hero. He has the appeal of a broken archangel. " It is also unclear whether the author likes Casement or not, which is probably sign of a good objective job done. Stylistically, Casement's early life up to 1913 is clear to follow: exposing human rights abuses in the Congo, then the South American expose, less so the final three years. There is a certain disjointedness in the sections on his time in Germany during World War I trying to get support for independence and his failed effort to get the weapons into Ireland for the Easter Rising. Also, his efforts to stop the Rising. There are some inaccuracies, such as naming Eoin MacNeill as chairman of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), when he headed the Irish Volunteers Militia and was manipulated by the IRB. The reader is in many ways left wanting to know more. Roland Philipps has certainly made a valuable contribution to a wider understanding and appreciation of Sir Roger Casement - a remarkable man - human rights activist turned Irish freedom fighter. There could be more but overall this work offers a long overdue appreciation of a true Irish hero. Published by Bodley Head, £25

Migrant strike needed to change narrative

The time must have come for a migrant strike in these islands. Only then will the wider population realise just how much vital work is done by migrants. Migration has been a key theme in the current election campaign. No party seemingly wanting to view it in a particularly positive light. The populist narrative, so favoured by the right wing media and fuelled by many politicians, is that migrants are a drain on the economy. They come, claim benefits and put a strain on the public services. The reality is somewhat different. Migrants provide a net gain to the economy. Most work or study. Many don't stay but work, pay their taxes and receive very little in return by way of public services, before going home. Indeed, many public services, such as the NHS, would grind to a halt without migrant labour. Migrants have been the backbone of the construction industry in the UK. Refugees seeking asylum are a different category. Migrants coming in by the infamous boats across the channel are a tiny percentage of net migration. And if we want to stop those, then this country needs to stop fuelling the causes. So stop selling arms into theatres of war. Also, address climate change seriously. The media panders to the anti- migrant agenda. In reality more people coming to work and study should be welcomed as the sign of a buoyant economy. Migrants ofcourse should not be allowed to undercut pay and terms and conditions of indigenous workers. And it is true that immigration has been used in the past as an incomes policy to keep wages down. There is also the moral question of taking much-needed skills from the countries of origin. The unfortunate thing is that anti- migrant sentiments sell newspapers. So, many of the myths about migration have built up over the years. There always needs to be a scapegoat. The dominant media narrative is that migration is bad. So reducing migration is good. It has become a numbers game. Political parties are measured against their ability to cut migration. The idea that migration is good and the UK needs more of it is an anathema in this debate. There is a rapidly ageing population in the UK. When this is added to the damage that leaving the EU has done to the economy, migration is needed now more than ever. Migrants play a huge role in keeping the NHS and care sectors going. They work in education, transport, construction and hospitality to name but a few sectors. Without migrants these and other parts of the economy would not function. The irony is that many in our population most dependent on migrants' labour also seem to be amongst the most virulently opposed to it. A sign of the level of misinformation in the general immigration discourse. A migrant strike would show just how vital migration is to these islands. At the end of the day, we are all migrants. Everyone came here at some point, some more recently than others. White Anglo Saxons don't have some sort of exclusive right. Anti-migrant sentiment is not, though, a uniquely British phenomena. The rise of far right parties on the back of anti- migrant sentiments was evidenced in the results of the recent European Parliament elections. The narrative needs to change, especially relating to those coming to work and study. On refugees, the asylum system does need reforming with clearing the claims backlogs and ensuring safe routes being the way forward. Also, putting more resources into peace rather than war making and tackling climate change would stem the causes. So let's turn the page on immigration - start looking to the positives, turn the negative narrative around. Recognise the fantastic gift of culture and diversity brought to these shores by migrants. Remember we were all migrants once. But maybe that strike will be needed first to help bri g about that change?

Need for more rewilding

Rewilding has become a popular way to restore biodiversity, address climate change and improve the planet. There have been the big projects, like Knepp in Sussex - an early convert to the process. The rewilding on farmland at Knepp began in the early noughties. So the farmland was allowed to go wild, with fascinating results, including, soil restoration, flood mitigation, air purification and carbon sequestration. There have also been wildlife successes, like the proliferation of nightingales and turtledoves. Numerous butterflies, including the Purple Emperor are present as well as a multiplying bat population. In other areas, species like the beaver have been reintroduced, helping counter flooding with the heavier rainfalls. At a more local level, there have been the grow zones in Redbridge. These are areas where the land has been just left alone to rewild. There are grow zones on George and Christchurch Greens plus the Roding Valley. The flourishing grasses and wild flowers are a sight to behold. There are also some lovely areas in Newham, such as coming down from the cycledrome in the Olympic Park to the River Lea. Here there are fabulous combinations of wild grasses and poppies. These developments improve biodiversity as well as helping reduce carbon, thereby addressing climate change. They also provide a magnificent uplifting sight for those passing by. It is important though to communicate what is going on to the wider population. Those not in the know can assume it is the council just not cutting the grass. Well, that is true but it is deliberately, on purpose, for all the earlier reasons stated -not because they can't be bothered or cannot afford to do the task. It is important for local authorities to communicate what is going on. Around the country it is not unusual to see outcries against good rewilding practice. It has been the desire of human beings to dominate and exploit, rather than work with nature that has brought the biodiversity and climate crisis. There needs to be more rewilding across the country, in public and private spaces. Take up some of that concrete and let the earth breath. There are encouraging developments but more can always be done, individually and as part of the community. But communication about what is going on is also a key part of the process.

Wanstead Beer Festival back on 12 October

The second Wanstead Beer Festival (WBF) is set to take place at Christchurch on 12 October. It is hoped it will be even bigger and better than the inaugural event last autumn. More space, will mean more beers and hopefully increased numbers. Last year, the WBF proved so popular that tickets sold out a week early. So don't miss out this time. Tickets have now gone on sale - see:www.wansteafbeerfestival.co.uk. The larger event should also mean that more money can be raised for local charities. Last time, £3000 was distributed between Tin in a Bin and the Wanstead Charity. In terms of beers and ciders, it is hoped to bring in more different varieties from around the country, as well as having many of our excellent local breweries represented. A big vote of thanks was due last year for the support the WBF got from the breweries and local businesses. So on we go. But these are challenging times for the pub trade. The rises in cost of living have hit the hospitality industry hard. This has meant the price of food and drink rising. In Wanstead, the George has been a steady bulwark of the pub trade. Owned by Wetherspoons, the George has for many years provided food and drink at cheap affordable prices. A place for people to meet. But now it's future is under threat, with Wetherspoons looking to sell. The strength of support for the George is reflected in a petition opposing closure that has already gathered over 3,200 signatures. A letter has been sent to Chairman of Wetherspoons, Sir Tim Martin stressing how important the pub is to so many in the community. Hopefully, a positive response will be forthcoming. If the pub does close, though, then we need to look at alternatives for a reasonably priced pint and some food. A pop up or micro pub? People have to be able to get a pint somewhere for less than £7. The keen support for the WBF, as well as the George and other pubs over the years, suggests the potential customer base is there. The challenge now is how to make it happen?

Stability breeds success in football

The football managerial merry go round seems to be in full swing. Since the end of the season (18/5), David Moyes has left West Ham, being replaced by former Wolves manager, Julen Loptegui. Mauricio Pochettino has departed from Chelsea. He has been replaced by manager of promoted Leicester City, Enzo Marescu. Manager of relegated Burnley, Vincent Kompany has gone onto bigger and better things, taking charge at Bayern Munich. There will no doubt be more changes before the new season starts in August. Many of these changes, though, are difficult to understand. Over five seasons, Moyes has saved West Ham twice from relegation. The club finished sixth and seventh in the Premier League (PL). They have got into European competition for the past three seasons, winning the Europa Conference League in the season 2022/23. In the last season, West Ham got to the quarter final of the Europa League and finished ninth in the PL. Arguably, they would have done even better, if he had been financially backed and so much effort had not gone into undermining him. The new manager will expect better support and the financial backing that was notably lacking for Moyes Pochettino picked up a chaotic club, obsessed with buying success. He managed to achieve sixth place in the PL, qualifying for the Europa League next season. Chelsea also got to the final of the League Cup and the semi finals of the FA Cup - a good return by most people's estimates but not those who run Chelsea apparently. Kompany bucked the trend, seemingly elevated to a bigger club on the basis of getting a smaller one relegated. It is difficult to understand how the football business operates. The successful clubs are those who get a good manager and back them over a sustained period. Generally, constant change is a menu for failure. Moyes seems to have become a victim of social media. Several outlets seemed to devote themselves to getting him sacked. The pressure was relentless, whether this reflected supporters views is debatable. Supporters were said to not like the style of football.But this could prove to be a case of be careful what you wish for. Managers also seem to only be in partial control of the playing side of clubs. Most are overseen by directors of football, who are responsible for signing players and managers. The relationship between manager and the director of football needs to be harmonious. At West Ham it deteriorated to the extent that director of football, Tim Steidfen, was reportedly banned from the dressing room by manger, Moyes, in the latter stages of the season. It is also odd how clubs sign players seemingly independent of the team manager. The way some players who were out come in when a new manager arrives and via versa is surely testimony to the need for a predominant input from the guy working direct with the team. It is all very odd. Football seems to remain as popular as ever, yet the business model of so many seems doomed to failure. The club's that succeed in the long term are those who make the right choices and stick by them. Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool are good examples in the present era. Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United over 20 odd years provides testimony from a past era. Arsenal had a similar approach with Arsene Wenger and now appear to be doing the same with Mikel Arteta. The other clubs need to look and learn from these examples, if they too want success.