one man, many voices redmond retrospective

F R E S H LO N D O N L I V I N G I N A N D A RO U N D WO O D B E R RY D OW N
AW | 2015
one man, many voices
jermain jackman
stylishly smart
wearable tech
redmond retrospective
showcasing the community's art
WOODBERRY
WETLANDS
Welcome
Welcome to the Autumn / Winter 2015
issue of Source magazine.
Nowhere else in London offers such a
varied place to live.
As the nights draw in, North London
remains as active as ever. We showcase
the best things to do and see locally, from
original exercise classes to the best place to
enjoy a warm brew this season.
In the midst of one of the capital’s most
eclectic areas, Woodberry Down is a place
that offers the tranquillity of nature alongside
a rich sense of community. Steeped in history,
the area promises an exciting future as it
undergoes substantial growth.
Local Hackney talent is also under our
spotlight; from familiar faces to lesserknown go-getters making waves in the
tech, food and urban farming industries.
Through a mix of interviews, reviews and
feature articles, discover an area known for
innovation, craftsmanship, arts and culture.
A year on from our inaugural issue, we
look back at the events and exhibitions
which have contributed to such a thriving
neighbourhood over the past 12 months.
Source is published on behalf of Berkeley,
one of the UK’s most respected residential
developers and recipient of The Queen’s
Award for Enterprise. As befits a company
that builds not just homes but helps create
neighbourhoods, Source is designed to
celebrate the people and places that shape a
genuinely vibrant community.
Source on your tablet
Closed to the public for nearly 200 years, the East Reservoir
is being transformed by London Wildlife Trust into an
amazing new wetland nature reserve called Woodberry Wetlands.
New bridges, boardwalks and a visitor centre with A café will provide free
to the heart of this secret wildlife haven. opening SOON.
2 | SOURCE
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SOURCE |
1
C O N TE N TS
SWIMMING AGAINST
THE stream
Ever since he designed and built his own
smokehouse in the courtyard of his warehouse
home in Stoke Newington six years ago,
Ole Hansen has been making waves in the
fine food industry with his fantastic smoked
salmon. He tells us about the tricks and the
textures of his trade.
6
what's on?
unusually fit
17
Celebrate the new season with our pick of the
best events taking place across North and East
London from October to March.
With a whole host of original indoor sports
available locally to get you fighting fit this
season, the weather really needn’t hamper your
winter workout regime. Head to the studio, try
something new and get that blood pumping!
31
HIDDEN HACKNEY
43
From lesser known restaurants and cafés not
to be missed, to distinctive bars, secret gardens
and unusual cultural spots, we take a look at
some of Hackney’s hidden gems.
winter warmth
rooftop ROOTS
62
54
As the nights draw in, it's time to get your
home ready for the big chill. We’ve sourced
the best winter warmer essentials from local
stores, to help inspire cosy interiors for the
season ahead.
London’s population is going through the
roof and so too is its food production – quite
literally – to find sustainable ways of meeting
increasing demand. We take a look at urban
farming in the capital.
Stylishly smart
ONE MAN, MANY VOICES
Kate Unsworth, founder and chief executive
of Hackney’s jewellery label Kovert Designs,
tells us why tech is changing. In a bid to create
more human products, she explains the move
away from screens towards more discreet,
mindful technology.
WORLD IN A TEACUP
From exotic Lapsang Souchong to a
comforting cup of builder’s, each culture has its
traditions and favourites. Whether you prefer
a ceremonial tea or the pleasure of dunking a
biscuit, exceptional brews await in North and
East London.
12
2 | SOURCE
26
46
We catch up with local Hackney resident and
winner of The Voice UK, Jermain Jackman, to
hear about his journey as a musician, and his
desire to motivate his community and get the
voice of youth heard.
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
REDMOND RETROSPECTIVE
35
Art co-ordinators Lucy Whitford and Miriam
Burke look back at the exhibitions which
have brought the walls of Woodberry Down's
Redmond Community Centre to life over the
past year.
58
The Park Theatre has helped turn Finsbury
Park into a thriving arts precinct. We take a
look behind the scenes of its latest production,
Roaring Trade, as STAMP Theatre Company
begin rehearsals.
LIVING AT
WOODBERRY DOWN
68
72
With outdoor cinema screenings, markets, street
art and a local music festival, Woodberry Down
has it all. In the words of local residents, we
discover what life is really like living in such a
vibrant neighbourhood and active community.
FINAL WORD
Lydia Batchelor has lived in Woodberry
Down for over 20 years. We talk to her about
life as a self-employed caterer, a mother
and grandmother, a regular volunteer for
community projects – and something of a
local inspiration.
SOURCE |
3
CONTRIBUTORS
Executive Editors
We asked our writers what they love most about North London.
Nic k Jon e s
Chris Ab e l
Editor
Ru Kote ch a
Deputy Editor
Sarah Moor
Art Director
Boya Latu mahina
Digital Design
Simon Hod gkinson
Production Manager
Cynthia Duku-Asamoah
Words
He l e ne Danc e r
El l iott Le wis-G e orge
Hayl e y Ard
ELLI OT T LEWI S- GEORGE
H ay ley Ar d
H elene Da nc er
I live in South London but
catching the tube into North
London always feels like an
adventure – a real treat. It feels
like I’m in a completely different
city. A city with its own style,
culture and opportunities.
I love the splinters of nature
across Islington – from the treelined promenades that criss-cross
Highbury Fields, to the ducklings
that float past New River Walk
and the cherry blossoms swishing
along St Paul’s Road.
I love North London; the area
is beautiful, down to earth, fun
and eclectic. There's never a dull
moment here.
Emma Sl e ight
Sarah Moor
STEVE BURDE TT
Photography
JO N STEVENS
Jame s Cannon
ALUN CALLE NDAR
mandy zammit
Illustrations
G UILIO IUR ISSEVICH
QUENTIN MO NG E
Publisher
Total it y UK Ltd
Cove r
Open everyday for breakfast, lunch & dinner and everything inbetween.
Unit A Residence Tower, Goodchild Rd, London N4 2LY
4 | SOURCE
zercafe.co.uk
Emma Sleight
Steve Bur dett
Every time I visit this area I find
something new to tempt me,
from tapas or Turkish treats to
afternoon tea – it’s a melting
pot of flavours and secret foodie
delights.
I moved to Woodberry Down in
March 2015 and I love it. Stoke
Newington has brilliant pubs and
I like the parks with their joggers,
live music and freelancers – but
most of all North London just
feels like home.
By Woodberry Down's
New River Path, East Side.
Photography by Jon Stevens
Published on behalf of
SOURCE |
5
swimming
the
stream
against
Ever since he designed and built his own smokehouse in the courtyard of
his warehouse home in Stoke Newington six years ago, Ole Hansen has been
making waves in the fine food industry and he now supplies smoked salmon
to everyone from Alain Ducasse to Nuno Mendes. We caught up with him
over a shot of Fisk to discover the tricks and the textures of his trade.
Words: EMMA SLEIGHT
Photographer: Alun Callendar
6 | SOURCE
SOURCE |
7
The achingly cool confines of an artistically
dilapidated cul-de-sac in Stoke Newington
might seem a strange place for someone to
practise the traditional craft of smoking fish. As
Ole Hansen bounds around the corner to meet
me, it’s easier to imagine this shockingly tall
Norwegian striding through the Scandinavian
snow of his homeland than it is stalking
around warehouses in North East London –
but as soon as he steps into the tiny smoking
rooms where his enterprise first began six
years ago, surrounded by drying salmon skins
and bowlfuls of steel fish hooks, he looks
completely at home.
Smoking is in Ole’s blood; his greatgrandfather, Lyder-Nilsen Lydersen, first
devised the family’s special recipe for smoking
salmon back in 1923 and both his grandfather
and Ole himself still use it today. It’s an
appreciation for preserving this classic method,
combined with a strong sense of food nostalgia
that spurred Ole into reviving and reinventing
the family industry:“I remembered this taste
from my childhood when I was sitting on the
treeless tundra of north Norway. I had just
been fishing trout with my father. I took out a
packed lunch that my mother prepared with
homemade bread and my grandfather’s smoked
salmon. I think the starting point was my desire
to recreate this lost taste from my childhood.”
For most people, building up a business from
scratch is a daunting project and even Ole
admits that at times it was tough. He started
his career studying Sound Art, before setting
up his salmon business with just £300 in his
bank account and a pile of salvaged building
materials to his name. He was, however,
undeterred: “It became clear in my mind
that if I just used my hands, my abilities, the
accumulated knowledge and the hardships and
struggles from past times, I was steadfast, set,
that I would make it.”
“One of the features that my grandfather
believed in was that the salmon needed to
move in the wind. So we created a gale
force 8 wind in our chamber.”
8 | SOURCE
“I filleted my first salmon to a YouTube video
because I was a bit insecure that my filleting
skills were not good enough. And then I salted
it and I smoked it and I sat outside of the
smokehouse in my pyjamas all night logging
the temperatures.”
SOURCE |
9
Today, things in the business have become
a little more high tech. For one, Ole can now
control his smokehouse temperature from
his iPhone, but, at the root of it all, it’s his
dedication to the integrity of his craft that still
shines through.
“I think it was a connection to the salmon.
Honouring the food. Or maybe it’s a curiosity
that I have, not leaving any stone unturned. An
artisanal craft is like that – always scrutinising
and always trying to get to the bottom of
things: following a thread of honesty.”
"I think the starting point was my
desire to recreate this lost taste from
my childhood.”
It’s this appreciation for the artisan that led
Ole to this particular patch of London, where
he lives in an enclave of creatives: “I love Stoke
Newington because it’s like a little village and
I’m a country boy in the end,” he explains. “It
has a reputation and a history of being an area
of change: women’s right to vote; the Clissold
park philanthropy; the writers that come from
here; the free thinking that’s happened here.”
It seems that the try-anything atmosphere
of possibility and opportunity in the area fits
perfectly with Ole’s chosen job, as he explains:
“There’s a sense of great independence that
comes with being the artisan...I wanted to
do that when I started my business, I wanted
to go against the stream.”
Going against the stream is something that
he’s never been afraid of, as he admits: “I think
most people thought I was mad, but I know
I’m mad, so it’s OK. I think it’s good to be mad
rather than being mediocre and normal.” And
there’s certainly nothing mediocre about Ole
and his salmon.
London’s Hansen & Lydersen Smokehouse can
be found at 3-5 Shelford Place, London N16
9HS. Open Monday – Friday 9am - 5pm.
hansen-lydersen.com
10 | SOURCE
SOURCE |
11
House Chai
at dishoom
From exotic Lapsang Souchong to a comforting cup
of builder’s, each culture has its traditions and
favourites. Whether you prefer a ceremonial tea or the
pleasure of dunking a biscuit, there are exceptional
brews around North and East London to suit.
Words: EMMA SLEIGHT Illustration: giulio iurissevich
tea traditions
7 Boundary Street, London E2 7JE
020 7420 9324
India has a rich and longstanding love affair with the tea leaf and masala chai
– a thick, sweet, milky spiced black tea – is practically the country’s national
drink. This Bombay-style café serves a couple of chai options that vary
from the commonplace to the adventurous – from the chocolate version
paired with bourbon – to the delightful House Chai; its nutty, fudgy
hit of cinnamon and cardamom never fails to transport you from
London’s East End to somewhere far more exotic.
Try it with: Dishoom's Paneer Rolls – a soft naan stuffed
with grilled cheese and smeared with spicy mint chutney
– to cut through the chai's syrupy aftertaste.
Buy it: The Shoreditch branch of T2 Tea sells
both a traditional spiced chai blend and a
chocolate chip chai.
The history of tea runs deep in many regions around the world,
with tea traditions varying between places and cultures:
Jewish Traditional Apple Tea
Apple tea is a staple for holidays like Rosh Hashannah –
as sweetness welcomes in the New Year – and Hanukkah,
because the tea has warming qualities that make it a
perfect pick-me-up for cold spells.
West Indian Favourites
Steaming herbal teas usually consumed with breakfast
include black mint tea, peppermint tea, lemongrass, ginger
tea, soursop leaf tea and lime leaf tea; several of which are
revered for their medicinal value.
African Tea-taking
Egypt is one of the world’s largest importers of tea, and
several cups of black tea are taken daily by people there.
Morocco is home to refreshing mint tea, which is celebrated
worldwide for its ability to aid digestion.
Turkish Tea
Turkey has the highest per capita consumption of tea in
the world. Cay (tea) is black and served without milk. It is
typically sweet and slightly tart, with a mild apple flavor.
12 | SOURCE
SOURCE |
13
Jasmine Moon
at Chinalife
Earl Grey
At The Tea Rooms
99-105 Camden High Street,
London NW1 7JN, 087 0010 0023
155 Stoke Newington Church
Street , London N16 0UH
020 7923 1870
If you’ve ever been fortunate enough
to sample the flowering teas of Hong
Kong, you’ll be all too familiar with
the mesmerising sight of tight, dry buds
unfurling and growing in steaming water
to reveal the vivid, feathery petals beneath.
Luckily you don’t have to travel too far for a
Chinese tea experience of your own – the aptly
named Chinalife in Camden brings it to your
doorstep. Head to their 1930's Shanghai-inspired
tea bar to sample everything from fresh, fragrant
brews to tea-infused cocktails, including blossoming
teas like the delicate Jasmine Moon.
While most people opt for a robust,
builder’s brew when it comes to a classic
British cuppa with a wedge of cake, there
is no finer tea than Earl Grey to drink with
a traditional afternoon tea. Named after 19th
Century Prime Minister Charles Grey, who fell
in love with this blend’s delicate hint of orangey
bergamot, the variety on offer at The Tea Rooms
is a beautiful example. Sweet, fragrant and easy
to drink, the Earl Grey here comes loose-leafed and
is served in a vintage teapot. All of the teas here are
chosen in consultation with Tony Marks, a specialist
tea supplier who founded the High Teas company.
Try it with: A blended, alcohol-free cocktail like the
intriguing Strawberry Tease, which magically changes from
sweet to bitter as you drink it.
Try it with: A slice of lemon drizzle cake, it’s a citrus
match made in heaven.
Buy it: If you like what you drink, you can purchase it straight
from Chinalife themselves.
Buy it: The teas on the menu can all be bought from
The Tea Rooms in 100g bags.
Chilli Chilli
Bang Bang
at Yumchaa
Spitalfields Traders Market,
16 Horner Square, Spitalfields,
London E1 6EW, 020 7375 2963
While this tea emporium isn’t strictly based
in the North East, their stalls and shops across
London have become unmissable pit stops for
tea aficionados. Not only is the Yumchaa ethos
all about appreciating exclusively loose-leafed teas,
they also sell, stock and serve a vast array of top
quality brews and sell them online. Visit their stall at
Old Spitalfields Market and, if you try only one, make it
their rocket in a cup Chilli Chilli Bang Bang. It’s a powerful
punch of ginger, red pepper, chilli flakes and Rooibos
(a naturally-caffeine free tea from South Africa) that will
give you the same get up and go as a double espresso.
Try it with: A rare-breed, pasture-fed beef cheeseburger from the
nearby Bleecker St. Burger van – this tea's strong enough to handle it.
Buy it: Right there on the stall, or head to one of Yumchaa’s shops and
tearooms in Camden or the Granary Building at King’s Cross.
14 | SOURCE
Breakfast Tea
at Kipferl
20 Camden Passage,
London N1 8ED, 020 7704 1555
Austrians aren’t only famous for their coffee, they’re
also pretty serious about their tea as Kipferl, Islington’s
answer to a Viennese coffeehouse shows. Created by
Christian Malnig, an Austrian who was determined to
introduce Viennese food culture to the London masses,
this little haven for café lovers serves up home-made cakes
and speciality hot drinks. Their English Breakfast tea, is served
Austrian-style: on a silver tray with a glass of water and a mini
Milka chocolate, and is well worth a try.
Try it with: There are plenty of brunch items on the menu here: from
French toast with apple compote to an omelette made with organic
mountain cheese, but the Kaiserschmarrn – shredded pancakes with raisins
and morello cherries – are unmissable.
Buy it: Kipferl’s breakfast tea comes from the Algerian Coffee Stores in Soho,
who’ve been sourcing tea and coffee from around the world since 1887.
SOURCE |
15
RAPUNZEL
Book, Music and Lyrics by
Jez Bond and Mark Cameron
3rd December 2015 –
2nd January 2016
Welcome back to our third and
wackiest instalment of the
Chronicles of Waa.
The King and Queen of Püss
Püss long for an heir. When the
Queen contracts a life threatening
fever during pregnancy, they try
anything and everything to save
mother and child.
A noble Baron offers a solution: a
medicine so powerful that it can
cure any illness; a herb called
‘Rapunzel’. But the witch who
grows it always has her price,
and in exchange for the herb, she
demands their baby.
Desperate, the King and Queen
agree. The Queen recovers and
gives birth to a healthy girl. But,
as she is so quickly taken away,
darkness falls across the land.
Eighteen years later the royals
have given up any hope of finding
their heir. The Baron, now their
greatest confidante, is about
to be ordained King. But as the
neighbouring Prince Corbyn
rides through the forest he hears
singing from an isolated tower.
What happened to the witch and
who is the noble Baron really? All
is not what it seems…
Suitable for all ages,
recommended for ages 7+
Tickets starting from £18
For more information please visit
https://www.parktheatre.co.uk/
Celebrate the new
season with our
pick of the best
what's on?
presents
events taking place
across north and
east London from
October to March.
Words: HAYLEY ARD
SOURCE |
17
OCT NOV
5 Rhythms Dance
Ocean Film Festival World TouR
Hussein Chalayan – Gravity Fatigue
8-10 Oct
28-31 Oct
Ongoing, Tuesday evenings 7.30-9.30pm
Redmond Community Centre, Kayani Avenue,
Manor House, N4 2HF
http://www.innerdancer.net/
Hackney Firework Pyromusical
Country Living Christmas Fair
11-15 Nov
19-22 Nov
7 Nov
Union Chapel, Compton Avenue, London N1 2XD
020 7226 1686
www.unionchapel.org.uk
Weekly dance class created to celebrate the
dancer that lives inside each and every one of
us regardless of age, shape, size or ability.
A showcase of short films that document the
beauty and power of the ocean. One follows
Australian Quincy Symonds, a six-year-old
surfer nicknamed the Flying Squirrel.
Medea
Hackney Wonderland
25 Sep – 14 Nov
10 Oct
Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue,
London EC1R 4TN
0844 412 4300
www.sadlerswells.com
The first theatrical work by Hussein Chalayan
– a fashion designer famed for his bold use of
technology – sees his innovative designs come to
life in an imaginary world, built around themes of
identity and displacement.
Clissold Park, Stoke Newington,
Green Lanes, London N16 9HJ
http://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/whatson
The spectacular fireworks display, which sees
fireworks synchronized to music, returns for
2015 complete with children’s funfair, street
performers and food and drinks stalls.
Day of the Dead Festival
Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street,
London N1 0QH
0844 848 0150
www.countrylivingfair.com
Hundreds of artisan makers and regional food
producers from across the UK offer gift ideas
to suit every person on your Christmas list.
Doctor Who Festival
Various locations,
www.hackneywonderland.com
Tobacco Dock, 50 Porters Walk,
London E1W 2SF
www.wahaca.co.uk/dotd
One day festival over four venues across London
Fields with an authentic, impressive line-up.
The newest version of Euripides’ seminal play
– conceived by award-winning feminist writer
Rachel Cusk – asks what it means to be a
woman and a wife.
Emily Jacir: Europa
29 Sep – 3 Jan
Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High
Street, London E1 7QX
020 7522 7888
www.whitechapelgallery.org
© Hussein Chalayan
The Other Art Fair
The Classic & Sports Car Show
15-18 Oct
30 Oct – 1 Nov
Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane,
London, E1 6QL
020 7886 3062
www.theotherartfair.com
Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way,
London N22 7AY
020 8365 2121
www.classicandsportscarshow.com
The tenth edition of The Other Art Fair – an
artist-led fair that rivals Frieze – features works
by 130 emerging artists, as well as immersive
theatre and live music.
A chance to celebrate the glamour and power
of classic cars, with more than 300 rare racers
and road cars from across the globe.
Wahaca – the Mexican street food chain set up
by Thomasina Miers, who won MasterChef in
2005 – throws a Dia de los Muertos party to
remember, complete with hot chocolate salons,
talks on life and death, and Latino covers of
Morrissey and the Smiths.
23-25 Oct
18 | SOURCE
ExCel London, Royal Victoria Dock,
1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
0871 386 1125
www.doctorwhofestival.com
Meet the cast and writers behind Doctor Who
before the Time Lord-themed festival sets off
for Sydney, Australia.
Taste of London Winter
19-22 Nov
Tobacco Dock, 50 Porters Walk,
London E1W 2SF
0871 230 7132
www.london.tastefestivals.com
Sample unusual ingredients, foodie gifts and
signature dishes from London’s best restaurants
at this festival of culinary delights.
EFG London Jazz Festival
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road,
London E1 6LA
020 7613 7498
www.richmix.org.uk
Listen to saxophonists, harpists, singers and
more perform high-voltage jazz that draws
on Arabic influences, Cuban rhythms and the
strength of the kora, a West African instrument
said to soothe the bloodlust of warriors.
The Heaven & Hell Halloween Ball
31 Oct
© Emily Jacir
The Peking Opera offers a rare glimpse into
China’s artistic heritage, with a story of grief,
courage, patriotism and family loyalty, narrated
through a dazzling mix of mime, stage combat
and acrobatics.
13-22 Nov
The first UK survey of artist Emily Jacir
explores histories of migration, resistance and
exchange. Material for a Film – an immersive
installation that reimagines the life of
Palestinian writer Wael Zuaiter – is a highlight.
MCM London Comic Con
Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Roseberry Avenue,
London EC1R 4TN
0844 412 4300
www.sadlerswells.com
13-15 Nov
7 Nov
Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street,
London N1 1TA
020 7359 4404
www.almeida.co.uk
China National Peking Opera Company
– The Warrior Women of YaNG
ExCel Centre, Royal Victoria Dock,
1 Western Gateway, London, E16 1XL
01327 878 936
www.mcmcomiccon.com/london
Scala, 275 Pentonville Road, London N1 9NL
0844 477 1000
www.scala.co.uk
Fans of sci-fi, anime, comics and cosplay will
enjoy the carefully curated panels, screenings
and stands at this major European event.
Electro-swing, vintage jazz, cabaret performances
and a labyrinth of themed rooms await revellers at
this Halloween extravaganza. Dress up if you dare.
International Rugby League
England vs New Zealand
NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters
7 Nov
25-29 Nov
The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park,
Abercrombie Road, London E20 3AB
0844 856 1113
www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk
Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park, Abercrombie Road,
London E20 3AB
0871 231 0847
www.lta.org.uk
The Olympic Stadium hosts international
Rugby League for the first time, as part of a
three-match series that sees England take on
New Zealand.
International paralympic tennis stars return to
London for a world-class tournament in one of
London 2012’s most memorable venues.
© Tom Barnes
SOURCE |
19
DEC JAN
Anthropomorphic mole taxidermy Brick 2015
Winterville
7 Dec
11-13 Dec
2 Dec – 1 Jan
Victoria Park, Grove Road, London E3 5TB
[email protected]
www.winterville.co.uk
Islington Arts Factory, 2 Parkhurst Road,
London N7 0SF
[email protected]
www.thebritishacademyoftaxidermy.org
ExCel Centre, Royal Victoria Dock,
1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
0871 230 5575
www.brick2015.com
Head to Victoria Park for an alternative festive
experience, featuring: a mirrored tent, roller
disco and taco truck, serving Mexican street
food from a Citroën H fire engine.
In search of a truly original Christmas present?
Master taxidermist Tonja Grung can teach you
the craft and art of taxidermy, just in time for
the winter holidays.
Lego fans will enjoy the graffiti wall,
brick pits and monster mosaic at this truly
interactive gaming fair.
Burns' Night
London Short Film Festival
World Snooker
– The Masters
8-17 Jan
10-17 Jan
Various venues
[email protected]
www.shortfilms.org.uk
Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way,
London N22 7AY
020 8365 2121
www.worldsnooker.com/tournaments/masters
The latest edition of the London Short Film
Festival is set to showcase a diverse range
of new shorts, documentaries and late-night
screenings at venues such as the Rich Mix
and Hackney Attic.
David de Brito – When São Paulo
Collide
London Boat Show
9 Dec - 1 Jan
8-17 Jan
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road,
London E1 6LA
020 7613 7498
www.richmix.org.uk
ExCel Centre, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western
Gateway, London E16 1XL
0844 776 7766
www.londonboatshow.com
Brazilian street artist turns the gallery space
at the Rich Mix into “a riot of colour and
characters”, with painted canvases, wood,
walls and paper cups.
Take a close look at the newest sailing barges,
tugs, powerboats and naval craft at London’s
best-loved boat show.
25 Jan
See the world’s top 16 snooker players compete
in the sport’s most prestigious invitation
tournament, which dates back to 1975.
18 Jan
London Fields Lido, London Fields West Side,
London E8 3EU
www.meetup.com/secretadventures/
events/21969343
The best way to survive the most depressing
day of the year is to pack a swimming costume
and swim at night in the floodlit (and heated)
London Fields Lido.
London Art Fair
20-24 Jan
3 Dec
17 Dec – 3 Jan
Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street,
London N1 0QH
020 7288 6736
www.londonartfair.co.uk
Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way,
London N22 7AY
020 8365 2121
www.alexandrapalace.com
The UK’s premier modern British and
contemporary art fair brings large-scale
installations, solo shows and curated group
displays to Islington.
William Hill
World Darts Championship
Union Chapel, Compton Avenue,
London N1 2XD
020 7226 1686
www.unionchapel.org.uk
The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge –
one of the world’s leading university choirs –
performs Handel’s Messiah, alongside
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
and a diverse lineup of soloists.
London Gay Men’s Chorus
11-12 Dec
The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road,
London NW1 8EH
030 0678 9222
www.roundhouse.org.uk
Launched in 1993, the world’s biggest darts
tournament returns to Alexandra Palace with
a record £1.5m prize fund. Watch 72 players
battle it out to become the 2016 champion.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks
31 Dec
Parliament Hill, London NW3 1TH
Europe’s largest gay all male-voice choir, which
will celebrate its Silver Jubilee in 2016, starts
the Christmas season with a night of song,
swing, brass and dance.
© Nick Rutter
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Scale Parliament Hill for the best view of
the New Year fireworks and the South Bank
cityscape – minus the crowds.
Source haggis from one of the capital’s finest
butchers to celebrate Scotland’s favourite son,
Robert Burns. Served with whiskey and a
poetry recital.
Night Swimming in Hackney
© PG Brunelli
Handel's Messiah
The Ginger Pig, 99 Lauriston Road,
London E9 7HJ
020 8986 6911
www.thegingerpig.co.uk
Electronic Superhighway
29 Jan – 15 May
Whitechapel Gallery,
77-82 Whitechapel High Street,
London E1 7QX
020 7522 7888
www.whitechapelgallery.org
A landmark exhibition showing the impact
of computer and networked technologies on
artists from the mid-1960s to the present day.
Until the Lions
9-24 Jan
The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road,
London NW1 8EH
030 0678 9222
www.roundhouse.org.uk
The world premiere of the latest production by
Akram Khan, who previously worked on the
London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony,
combines contemporary dance and kathak (Indian
classical dance) in exhilarating ways.
© Lynn Hershman Leeson
© Liberty Galley
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FEB
Austin Osman Spare
The Encounter
Jewish Book Week
12 Feb – 6 Mar
20-28 Feb
Barbican Centre, Silk Street,
London EC2Y 8DS
020 7638 8891
www.barbican.org.u
Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG
020 7446 8771
www.jewishbookweek.com
6 Feb – 25 Sep
The Viktor Wynd Museum, 11 Mare Street,
London E8 4RP
020 7998 3617
www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org
English artist and magician Austin Osman Spare
– the enfant terrible of the Edwardian art world
– is the subject of this major retrospective.
Trace the journey of Loren McIntyre, a National
Geographic photographer, into the depths of the
Amazon, with binaural technology.
Visitors to this wide-ranging literary festival
can look forward to nine days of debates and
drama, covering contemporary culture and
controversial issues alike.
Clowns’ Service
7 Feb
Holy Trinity Church, Beechwood Road,
London E8 3DY
020 7254 5062
www.trinitysaintsunited.com
© Jewish Book Week
© Robbie Jack
Holy Trinity church in East London holds a
clowns’ service on the first Sunday in February
to honour Joseph Grimaldi, the inventor of the
modern clown.
The French Dancing Masters –
A Practical Workshop on
Baroque Dance
14 Feb
The Great Spitalfields
Pancake Race
9 Feb
Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG
020 7520 1490
www.kingsplace.co.uk
The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane,
London E1 6QL
[email protected]
www.alternativearts.co.uk
Learn dances from the French Courts under
baroque dancer Mary Collins (in full costume),
including the farandole – the oldest known
dance form.
David O’Doherty
27 Feb
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street,
London E8 1EJ
020 8985 2424
www.hackneyempire.co.uk
Billed as the Lidl Enya, award-winning Irish
comedian David O’Doherty presents, “An
evening of talking and songs played on a stupid
keyboard from 1986.”
© Copyright Cartier-Bresson
How better to celebrate Shrove Tuesday than
by racing up and down Dray Walk tossing
pancakes? Stakes are high: the winner receives
an engraved frying pan.
Strange and Familiar - Britain as Revealed by International Photographers.
Check out March for more information.
March >>>
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23
MAR
London Drinker
Beer & Cider Festival
Strange and Familiar: Britain
as Revealed by International
Photographers
2-4 Mar
16 Mar – 30 Jun
Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London,
WC1H 9AU
www.northlondon.camra.org.uk
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
020 7638 8891
www.barbican.org.uk
London’s longest-running beer festival
spotlights more than 150 real ales from across
the country, as well as beers, ciders and perries
imported from Europe. You can also find
brewery memorabilia, beer books and plenty
of glasses here.
Martin Parr, a chronicler of our age, curates a timely exhibition that reflects
on how UK culture is observed by
international photographers.
Vitality North London
Half Marathon
20 Mar
Various venues
www.northlondonhalf.com
Join thousands of runers as they race through
the leafiest streets in North London to complete
this new half marathon, which ends inside
Wembley Stadium.
The Chocolate Festival
25-27 Mar
Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street,
London N1 0QH
0844 338 8000
www.festivalchocolate.co.uk
UCI Track Cycling
World Championships
2-6 Mar
Indulge in all manner of cocoa-based treats –
free-from and raw included – from the nation's
most talented artisan chocolatiers.
Lee Valley VeloPark, Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park, Abercrombie Road, London E20 3AB
0844 847 2425
www.trackcyclingworlds2016.london
Prime retail space available immediately
for lease at Woodberry Down’s unique
north London waterside location.
Watch the world’s best cyclists sprint for the last
qualifying points for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Bolshoi Ballet: Spartacus
13 Mar
© Sergio Larrain, Magnum Photos
Hackney Picturehouse, 270 Mare Street,
London E8 1HE
087 1902 5734
www.picturehouses.co.uk
Catch a screening of the Russian company’s
signature ballet, in which Mikhail Lobukhin
takes on the role of the legendary gladiator.
Opportunities from 1,000ft2 to 5,000ft2
Move It
18-20 Mar
ExCel Centre, Royal Victoria Dock,
1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL
www.moveitdance.co.uk
The UK’s biggest dance event stages
performances and classes spanning every kind
of dance style, from ballroom and bellydance
to ballet buff and hip-hop.
Bad Boys
26 Mar
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ
020 8985 2424
www.hackneyempire.co.uk
CURRELL COMMERCIAL
Beverley Hedge
[email protected]
020 7354 5050
CF COMMERCIAL
Craig Fisher
[email protected]
020 3370 4334
TV star Richard Blackwood and stand-up comic
Danny ‘Slim’ Gray take to the stage for a one-off
live comedy performance.
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25
STYLISHLY
SMART
Words: HAYLEY ARD
Photography: James cannon
Today’s smart phones and wearables
disrupt our daily routines with blips,
bleeps and whooshes, glueing us to our
screens. The future, however, will see
us interact with technology in a much
more mindful way. Buzzing jackets and
rings that whirr for only the most
important notifications are just some of
the high-tech fashion accessories we’ll
be wearing in tomorrow’s screenless
world. Kate Unsworth, founder and
chief executive of Hackney’s jewellery
label Kovert Designs, tells us more.
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F
lashing lights, screens and
noises” – a tangle of “inyour-face tech products.”
This is how Kate Unsworth
sees today’s chaotic
wearables landscape. The
good news, Unsworth
predicts, is “all that will
start to fade into the
background… as technology becomes much more integrated
into fashion, as opposed to being a standout add-on or
accessory.” The bad? She believes artificial intelligence will take
over, “Part of me is a little bit scared about that and part of me
thinks it’s inevitable – and I’m kind of okay with it.”
“Our p urpose is to understand emotions;
the emphasis of all our products is to be more human.”
Unsworth is the innovator behind Kovert Designs, a Shoreditch
start-up that defies a single categorisation. “We’re not wearablesspecific and we’re not fashion-tech-specific,” she explains.
“We’ve built a platform and we’re building a whole suite of
products that all work together.” So far, Kovert has created
Altruis – a soon-to-launch collection of designer jewellery that
challenges the wearer to reset the balance between the digital
and the physical. The rings, bracelets and necklaces curl around
a striking stone, set on layers of microelectronics, which vibrate
subtly when important notifications land.
“Altruis is a tool to allow you to step away from your phone,
so you can be more present in face-to-face conversations,” says
Unsworth. Her favourite feature is the keyword function, which
acts as a 'digital detox', allowing users to filter notifications
by those containing a specific word. “I have two keywords:
‘banana’ and ‘martini’,” she reveals. “My team will know what
my keywords are, so they need to use them in a text or in the
subject line of an email when they want me to look at
my phone.”
But Kovert’s ambition is much bigger than to create sleek
jewellery that buzzes at the right time. “Our purpose is to
understand emotions; the emphasis of all our products is to
be more human,” Unsworth says. “We are looking at tracking
emotions in various ways. We’re trying to figure out ways of
triangulating the customer, so that we’re collecting data from
all aspects of their lives. Once we do that, we can get a better
understanding of how they operate and build products to better
help them live their lives in the way they see fit.”
As someone who works at the cutting edge of technology,
Unsworth often asks herself what the future looks like. Her
answer is that companies will, “reduce the size of technology
and incorporate it into design, so we don’t notice it’s there”.
“The industry needs to evolve to take account of that,” she
warns. “Even the most digitally savvy fashion or design
brands aren’t equipped to make hardware. It’s a completely
different ballgame.”
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29
unusually fit
Words: ELLIOT LEWIS-GEORGE
Her advice to
brands is to be open to
collaborating with, “anyone
who is creating flexible hardware
that can be incorporated into
designs.” “The brands that aren’t
thinking about this will be left behind –
just like when e-commerce took off,” she says.
Unsworth highlights the Navigate Jacket
by Australian designer Billie Whitehouse as
one example of how technology will become
invisible. The beautifully designed blazer
helps the wearer find her destination, using
integrated light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and
haptic feedback – one of the shoulders will
vibrate when you need to make a turn. The
accompanying app stores relevant destinations
and uploads the directions to the jacket with
built-in GPS, freeing the wearer to enjoy the
walk or a conversation with a companion.
“That’s what I think we’ll see across the board
– far fewer screens,” Unsworth predicts. “We’ll
find more innovative ways of incorporating
technology into our day.”
philosophy
– to discuss,
share,
innovate and
create new
ideas and products
that help us
be more human”. Her
focus is on building
communities: digital for people living in remote
areas and face-to-face for those in major cities.
“We shouldn’t be sending emails if we’re in the
same building. If we live down the street, we
shouldn’t be Facebooking. Let’s meet and do
something face-to-face,” she urges. “That’s how
we get our kick out of our relationships, our
friendships – that face-to-face interaction.”
Ultimately, her dream is, “to create a lab that
allows people from all disciplines – technology,
neuroscience, psychology, architecture,
“One of the most fundamental aspects of
happiness is human interaction and human
connection,” says Unsworth. “The digital
30 | SOURCE
Illustrator: Quentin Monge
world
is starting
to take us
away from that,
so what we’re saying
is: we don’t need to get
rid of technology. Let’s just
use technology to find ways to
make us more human, instead of
less.” Fittingly, Kovert’s next product
is not a wearable – though, “it sings from
the same hymn sheet,” she promises. “We still
want to get away from the screen and spend
more time connecting with ourselves and with
others, but we’re finding alternative ways of
presenting that product to the consumer.”
And, in early 2016, we’ll see that vision
become a reality.
Kovert Designs http://bekovert.com
Despite your best intentions, no amount of optimistically-purchased lyrca will make running
around the park in the pouring rain or biting winds of winter bearable. It’s time to get off the
treadmill and try something new. Discover a whole host of original and invigorating sports to
get you fighting fit this season; now is as good a time as any to get into the studio, embrace the
unusual, and get that blood pumping.
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Battodo Fudokan
Flying Fantastic
‘Batto’ means to draw and strike with the
sword in Japanese. ‘Do’ translates to the
training you must undertake to become
complete at the art of Japanese swordsmanship.
That certainly sounds more majestic than
swinging a pair of dumbells up and down,
right? With entry-level courses taking place
in London’s Buddhist Arts Centre, you can
learn two styles of traditional swordmanship
– Nakamura Ryu Battodo and Kurikara Ryu
Hei Ho – from 7th Dan Battodo specialist John
Evans. “On the first day of training, sword and
human meet as alien objects; over time they
become one living thing. Eventually the blade
will magnify and project the actions of the
body, reflect mood and mind set, and ultimately
point the way to the core of being,” explains
the sword master himself in his book Kurikara
–The Sword and the Serpent.
Ever wondered what it would be like to fly?
Now is your chance to try. Get a complete
body workout with Flying Fantastic’s team of
qualified aerial instructors at their Old Street
and Farringdon venues. Based on exercises
discovered in Buenos Aires, a typical class
involves a combination of climbs, tricks,
drops and conditioning as well as floor work.
This combination of high intensity exercise is
acknowledged as one of the best ways to burn
fat and drastically improve your fitness. “Out
of all the workouts I've done over the years
(spin, yoga, swimming and hiking to name but
a few) Flying Fantastic has been far and away
the most effective at improving my strength,
balance, cardio fitness and immune system, not
to mention dress size…” says one Flying Fitness
cadet Jenny Anderson.
Gymbox 20 Farringdon Road, London EC1M 3AP
or 201A Old St, London EC1V 9NP
www.flyingfantastic.co.uk
Battodo Fudokan London, 6 Heyworth Road,
London E5 8DR
www.battodo-fudokan.co.uk
HULA FIT
If you think hula-hoops are enjoyed only
in school playgrounds you’re very much
mistaken. HulaFit is a fun way of toning that
troublesome tummy, keeping those calories out
of the loop and developing your co-ordination,
posture and balance. Try keeping the hoop
spinning around your waist whilst keeping
a straight face – impossible. If the fun factor
is not enough and you need the facts then
hooping has been proven to burn anything
from seven calories a minute. At HulaFit,
weighted hoops and high-intensity cardio
workouts will mean you could burn between
400 and 600 calories in one hour long session.
Get off that cross trainer and get hooping at
HulaFit classes in Kings Cross and Hackney.
London Fields Fitness Studio,
379 Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PH
www.hulafit.com
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Lee Valley VeloPark
Indoor Velodrome
London’s roads can be pretty treacherous but
if you fancy yourself as the next Chris Hoy
then why not take a spin on the Olympic
velodrome track? Located in the grounds of
the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the iconic
indoor velodrome at the Lee Valley VeloPark
is the fastest track in the world and open for
all to enjoy. Track taster sessions are available
to get budding bikers started, whilst more
serious speed freaks can complete a four-stage
accreditation process. From muscle growth
to great cardio-vascular training, the health
benefits of getting on a bike are endless. It’s
also pretty fun pretending you're an Olympic
athlete as you peddle like mad around this
famous race track.
Lee Valley VeloPark,
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park,
London E20 3AB
www.visitleevalley.org.uk
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redmond retrospective
Swing PatroL
It’s hip to wear vintage so why not train
vintage too? From the Charleston to the
Lindy Hop, Swing Patrol is all about
dancing away those calories. From humble
beginnings dancing outside tube stations,
founder Scott Cupit has danced on Trafalgar
Square’s iconic fourth plinth with hundreds
of dancers following his steps. Now him
and his team run classes all over the world,
including London spots in Archway, Victoria
Park, Finsbury Park and Angel. Grabbing
a pair of flats and hitting the floor will see
you burn a considerable amount of calories,
improve your co-ordination and rid yourself
of those two left feet.
Words: SARAH MOOR
Art co-ordinators Lucy Whitford and Miriam Burke look back at the exhibitions
which have brought the walls of Woodberry Down’s Redmond Community Centre
to life over the past year. The creative duo discuss their favourite works, and their
hopes for the future of the community space.
The centre is run by Manor House Development Trust (MHDT), an organisation
which prides itself on supporting local people to achieve their aspirations. The
non-elitist exhibition space is one of the many ways in which the Redmond
Community Centre does just that. The venture supports the practice of local artists
by providing a place to showcase and sell their work, demonstrating that talented
people live nearby.
With artistic backgrounds themselves, Miriam and Lucy know all too well the
challenges that come with being a creative. Lucy is a practising ceramicist, sculptor
and print maker with a solo show and a number of group exhibitions under her belt
and once-sculptor-now-facilitator, Miriam, is currently undertaking a PHD in how
to use art to engage people with environmental change. Both believe that the space,
"offers people a way into art, a chance to have their creations appreciated, and an
opportunity to inspire others to create." A number of exhibiting artists come from
nearby arts group Haringey Arts, although the space is open to all local artists, and
you don’t have to be a professional or own your own studio to exhibit here.
Rowans Leisure (Studio Suite),
10 Stroud Green Road,
London N4 2DF
http://www.swingpatrol.co.uk
Hotpod Yoga’s Dynamic Flow
Hotpod Yoga is aimed at anyone and everyone.
Classes take traditional yoga teachings and
pare them down to their most powerful and
effective elements. Don’t expect chanting but
do expect to train in futuristic-looking portable
pods that are heated to exactly 37 degrees,
allowing for your muscles to achieve optimum
flexibility. The temperature also helps regulate
your heart rate to reduce stress and aid the
removal of unwanted bodily toxins. Taking the
Vinyasa yoga style, Dynamic Flow will leave
you exhausted but physically and mentally
satisfied, as your body stretches
and tones itself.
Hotpod Yoga HQ, 9-15 Helmsley Place,
London Fields, London E8 3SB
www.hotpodyoga.com
Superfuture Kid, Pug Spooks, 2014
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Don't forget: The Redmond Community
Centre also offers sports on your doorstep,
including dance, yoga, zumba and meditation
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Super Future Kid, Dusk Rider
Super Future Kid
(November - December 2014)
http://www.superfuturekid.com
Super Future Kid has a deep fascination with
the perception of the world as seen through the
innocent and imaginative minds of children.
Her work explores themes of spirituality, myth
and curiosity and often uses iconic imagery
to get her message across. Her oil paintings
playfully juxtapose two unlikely things such
as an old man on a skateboard in Dusk Rider.
“They were intriguing, puzzling, a bit sinister
and mind-opening” explains Lucy, “You felt
like they had a story but you weren’t sure what
it was…it was up to the viewer to decide.” Her
work is imaginative and uncanny, operating in
another dimension; a playground of the future.
“I really like the colours, composition and how
original they are,” says Lucy.
Surya de Wit, Silvia
Surya de Wit
(January – March 2015)
www.suryadewit.net
Aiste G, Realms of Dreams
Aiste G
(October – November 2014)
www.aisteg.com
Local multi-media artist Aiste G takes her
inspiration from the shapes and patterns
found in nature. Using these patterns as a
beginning, she creates detailed drawings in an
illustrative style, and uses unusual materials to
reflect light and illuminate her work. She took
an innovative approach to exhibiting at the
Redmond Centre, curating work specifically to
fit the entire space. “She really liked the space
and was interested in the ceiling, which is
made from Walthamstow Dog Track” explains
Miriam. “She wanted to use the height of the
room in her work, to encourage visitors to
look up. By creating a set of origami birds
hanging from the ceiling she succeeded. Her
approach was playful, and colourful and the
work was texturally interesting.” Aiste also
approached the show in an entrepreneurial way,
selling small felt objects at her private view.
Surya’s work was inspired by her travels
around Bolivia, where she began to
re-consider social normality and expectations.
Her work explores the folklore of different
cultures, toying with the idea of old and new
worlds. Her fabric works feature crochet and
embroidery in sympathetic compositions. By
mixing the domestic and banal with mythology
and the ‘other worldly’ she presents the viewer
with work that sits socially within the bizarre
and strange. Miriam recalls how two ladies
spent a long time stood discussing the meaning
of ‘Floral Disease’, “I heard them say ‘Why
does she have a cow’s head not a human head.’
They were engaged in discussion, interpreting
what the meaning could be and how it related
to them.” Miriam and Lucy enjoy watching the
viewers engage with the work: “It’s great to see
people search for their own meanings.”
Surya de Wit, Floral Disease
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Carolina Khouri
(March – April 2015)
www.carolinakhouri.com
Director of Haringey Arts, Carolina Khouri,
produced a short pop-up show to coincide
with the fourth anniversary of The Great East
Tohoku Earthquake in Japan. Inspired by traditional and modern Japanese and Western
Haiku, each of her large abstract paintings
relate to different poems, serving as artistic
interpretations of the written word. Miriam
enjoyed the way that Caroline’s work uses a
palette of pink, blue, grey, black and white,
“Her limited palette created works which were
really beautiful and calming somehow –
strangely peaceful,” she reflects. “Each piece
was framed behind glass so your reflection
played a part in the work too.”
Jason Bowles
(April – May 2015)
www.facebook.com/
JasonsHaggardFaces
Jason believes that our faces say
things that our words cannot;
he aims to communicate the
subtle nuances that unlock an
understanding and an insight
into the emotion that all too
often goes unsaid. His ‘Haggard
Faces’ deliberately pervert
perfection, making it impossible
not to reflect on the way beauty
itself is marketed to us. Visitors
to the centre really enjoyed his
work, “People responded well to
his expressive paintings. Despite
colour, scale, light and shadow
being exaggerated beyond the
norm, people could relate to his
work. They could recognise the
personalities behind the faces;
characters were identifiable at
the same time as being strange,”
explains Miriam. As a result
there were a number of enquiries
about the work.
Jason Bowles, Haggard Faces
“The plants become
like a stage to the work.”
Caroline Khouri, 2011, 'Silence is not deadly as long as I can hear birds: their song soothes me'
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Lucy Whitford
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Helena Crabtree and Flävia M Dent
Life After Architecture
(3 September – 11 October 2015)
www.helenacrabtree.com
flaviadent.wix.com
Artists Crabtree and Dent produce work
featuring site-specific urban environments.
Whilst they nearly always photograph
together and often capture the same moments,
their results are always diverse. They focus
on elements within architecture and often
housing estates, taking a poetic approach to
photography. “They expose the beauty in
overlooked things, forms and architecture”
explains Lucy. “Their exhibition points a lens
at the Woodberry Down Estate and the
regeneration process, really zooming into
specific details to create micro-worlds. It’s nice
to be able to exhibit something which speaks
to local people.”
Flavia M Dent
Sonelle Goddard
(July – August 2015)
www.sonellegoddard.co.uk
Contemporary abstract artist Sonelle
Goddard is the first Woodberry Down
resident to exhibit at the centre. Her practice investigates dream states
and organic matter through abstract
painting, drawing and installation.
“Sonelle has a very sensitive use of
materials, she really trusts her media
and allows it to do its own thing,” says
Miriam. Lucy elaborates, “You can tell
that she really loves paint and has a
great relationship with it. She gets lost
in the experience of painting and markmaking.” You only have to look at the
way that the colours bleed into one to
understand what they mean; the viewer
too can easily find themselves lost in the
fusion of colours.
Helena Crabtree
Lucy and Miriam have big ambitions for the future of the centre, believing it can play an important role
in supporting artists by commissioning works and putting in place the resources for workshops and
curator collaboration. Having had support herself within her practice, Lucy is keen to give back to the
local community. She is particularly keen to open the space up to young people and art students, “to
get young people involved and connected.” Miriam agrees, “It would be great if we could give them a
voice through art.” The space is entirely inclusive for all artists, young and old, and the pair welcome
applicants for future exhibitions.
For more information please contact Lucy Whitford at: [email protected]
The Redmond Community Centre, Kayani Avenue, London N4 2HF, 020 8802 7580
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Hidden
Hackney
From lesser known
restaurants and cafes off the
beaten track, to distinctive
bars, secret gardens and
unusual cultural spots,
we take a look at some of
Hackney’s hidden gems.
Words: SARAH MOOR
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• PortSide Parlour •
• Merci Marie •
Brainchild of Austrailians Charlie Otth and
Robbie Acres, PortSide Parlour started its life
as a pop-up in the basement of ‘Off Broadway’,
where entry was granted by the flush of a toilet
chain. Now, this cocktail bar is hides behind
the façade of a naval antiques store. If you’re
a
rum fan there’s over 70 different styles
available and if you’re planning on being a
regular you can purchase your own fine bottle
of spirits in-house and keep it in ‘Davey Jonses'
Locker’ until your next visit.
14 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DU
Merci Marie is hidden from the masses
on the second floor of a Fitzroy House,
an old warehouse in Dalston. As such it is
one of the area’s best kept secrets. Serving
lunch and dinner the talented Marie
Gonford cooks up quality rustic French
and European delights.
A Provence-born chef, Marie set up Merci
Marie in February 2013 and fuses her
heritage and knowledge of great tastes
with an inspiration drawn from the
diversity of London. The nearby Ridley
Road Market inspires which ingredients
she uses and her menus vary from day
to day. Marie hosts pop-ups on Friday
nights, including her autumn event Salt &
Pepper, which explores fair-trade salt and
pepper from around the world.
• Banner Repeater •
• Abney Park •
• The Bunker and ‘BELOW’ •
Not to be confused with a pop-up, this
not-for-profit contemporary art space was
founded by Ami Clarke in 2010 and serves
as a gallery-come-reading-room-come-project
space. Located on Hackney Downs’ train
station platform, the space is dedicated to
developing critical art and sees over 4,000
passengers pass by on a daily basis. The
programme of events, talks and performances
aim to encourage discussion and debate
around the key issues in art today. Next time
you’re in the area why not pop in; an open
door policy is maintained six days a week,
even during the rush-hour commute.
At 175 years old, the headstones of Abney
Park Cemetery are mainly hidden beneath
tangles of ivy, however the names of
William and Catherine Booth, founders of
the Salvation Army, have stood the test of
time. Deep in the interior stands the oldest
surviving non-denominational Gothic chapel
in Europe. Boarded-off from public access, its
interior remains a mystery. Abney Park Trust
would like to restore the chapel to a safe and
usable space and, whilst retaining its derelict
charm, open it as a centre for arts events and
skills training…watch this space.
If you’re looking for a unique for-hire spot
in the local area there are few places quite
as distinctive as Dalston’s Bunker and
‘BELOW’. The former, run by the same
folk that brought us Dalston Roof Park, is
a surviving World War Two underground
bunker situated behind The Print House
and offering five cavernous event spaces.
The latter is a 60 capacity event space
equipped with a fully licensed ‘Rum Shop’
and located through a secret door in the
changing rooms of Dalston’s Pelicans &
Parrots Black store.
South Lodge, Abney Park, Stoke Newington
High St, London N16 0LH
The Bunker, Abbot Street, London E8 3DP
Platform 1, Hackney Downs railway station,
London E8 1LA
'BELOW', Pelicans & Parrots Black,
81 Stoke Newington Road,
London N16 8AD
Fitzroy House, Abbot Street,
London E8 3DP
• Counter Café •
Not so much hidden, but more off the beaten
track and unknown, Counter Café is located in
Stour Space Gallery, Hackney Wick. The canalside spot sits in full view of Stratford’s Olympic
Park and is well worth a visit. Sister venture to
CRATE Brewery, Counter Cafe offers a range
• Geffrye Museum Herb Garden •
Tucked away behind Hoxton’s hundredyear-old Geffrye Museum, stands the Geffrye
Museum Herb Garden. Opened in 1992 the
walled garden is a haven of herbology, a
peaceful sanctuary containing over 170 types of
herb divided into traditional uses from culinary
to cosmetic and medicinal. Nestle yourself
under the rose arches and enjoy the sounds of
water flowing from the central fountain, created
by local ceramicist Kate Malone.
136 Kingsland Road, London E2 8EA
© SUNNIVA HOUTE
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of home-made food and drinks, an on-site San
Franciscan coffee roaster and even a tropical
pontoon if you’re brave enough to face the
changeable British weather.
7 Roach Road, London E3 2PA
• Haggerston Baths •
• Dennis Severs’ House •
On the very perimeter of the Borough of
Hackney stands Dennis Severs’ House. From
the outside it might seem like an ordinary
home, but behind its front door exists an artinstallation-come-museum which takes you
back in time to experience 18 Folgate Street as
its original occupants did in the 18th Century.
Step inside and become a fly on the wall in this
early Georgian family home, whose Huguenot
occupants are still in residence.
111 years after being opened the future use of
the Grade II listed Haggerston Baths is yet to
be decided. Developers are currently seeking
redevelopment opportunities, after it closed
its doors for the last time in 2000. Located
close to the Regents Canal on Whiston Road
and Laburnum Street, this Edwardian Baroque
building’s boarded-up days are limited. Haggerston Baths, Whiston Road, Hackney,
London E2 8BN
Dennis Severs’ House, 18 Folgate Street,
Spitalfields, London E1 6BX
© ROELOF BAKKER
© DAVID ALTHEER
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45
One
man
MANY
VOICES
Local Hackney resident Jermain Jackman overcame shyness to achieve his dreams and
bag a recording deal through The Voice UK. Ever eager to break free from stereotypes
and strive to be the best, Jermain’s desire to get the voice of youth heard and to motivate
his community runs parallel to his music career. At only 20, his youthful energy is
complemented by a thoughtful outlook and his feet are firmly on the ground. We catch up
with Jermain in the Borough he calls home to hear more about his journey so far.
ONE
MAN,
MANY
VOICES
Words: SARAH MOOR
Photography: JON STEVENS
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J
ermain’s early years
were spent on Dalston’s
Holly Street, after which
he moved to Finsbury
Park where he spent
the remainder of his
childhood. Despite
living so close to the
West Reservoir, Jermain
has always passed
up the opportunity to go for a splash, “At
primary school we were given the chance to go
canoeing but I refused…I can’t swim!”
Jermain recalled the blocks of flats that used to
exist along the eastern side of what is now the
New River path, “A number of my secondary
school mates used to live here; I can remember
coming to house parties around here, it was
completely different back then.” He’s witnessed
the changing face of Hackney over the years
and fondly remembers making day trips with
his mum to see the demolition of dilapidated
tower blocks by implosion.
The Borough of Hackney is very close to his
heart, and he loves the diversity and
multi-culturalism found here. For him, it’s
the ability to walk from one end of Hackney
to the other and feel like you’ve walked the
world that makes it so special; “Whether it’s in
Dalston, Shoreditch, at Ridley Road Market,
or even here in Stoke Newington, Hackney
allows you to learn how to be sociable with
different cultures.” Jermain spent a lot of his
teenage years around Hackney Central, Mare
Street and Clapton. A lot of his friends live in
Stamford Hill, Bow, Whitechapel and Bethnal
Green, so he knows these areas like the back of
his hand. His favourite hang-out spots include
Hackney Empire and what was Hackney
Ocean, now Hackney Picture House. Back
in the day a number of famous faces could
also be found here, some of which became
Jermain’s friends and acquaintances, including
Leona Lewis, Labyrinth and Paloma Faith.
the performance industry. Jermain went on to
compete in the Live@TheEmpire Hackney vs.
Harlem singing competition. Winning this gave
him the opportunity to perform at The Apollo
Theatre in Harlem, New York City. He has no
doubt that Hackney Empire provided the first
building block in his journey to becoming a
musician and it’s clear that he's very much at
home here; warming his vocal chords as soon
as he strode into the dressing room.
Whilst at school he sung ‘And I’m telling you’
for an IAMS idol competition, the very same
song that elevated him to stardom and secured
his victory on The Voice UK last year. He
remembers how his acapella version back then
was performed wearing a hat and sunglasses,
MJ-style, to hide his embarrassment. He’s
come a long way since then, and his Granny’s
laminated newspaper clippings will testify to it!
Having grown up on gospel music and the
sounds of soul classics, it’s no surprise that
his debut album, released in March 2015, has
hints of old soul with a modern edge. Working
alongside will.i.am last year helped Jermain
open his mind to different sounds and genres,
allowing him to look at songs in different
dimensions. The production of his album
saw Jermain play with words to write and
co-write a number of his own songs, as well
as collaborate with some leading artists and
producers including Jack Splash, Ali Tennant,
R-Kelly and Jessie J to create a number of
smooth, catchy tracks. His favourite, ‘With Me
Today’, is the second single to be released from
his debut album. The song really resonates
with him; he connected with it so well that the
recorded version was his first studio take of
the song.
Hackney Empire played a key role in carving
out a future for Jermain in performance. He
first graced the stage here aged only four,
during his short-lived tap dancing years. After
battling his nerves and deciding to take his
singing from the shower to the stage aged 11,
he joined Hackney Empire’s two week Artist
Development Programme, where he got the
chance to work with talented people within
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“A number of my secondary
school mates used to live here;
I can remember coming to house
parties around here, it was
completely different back then.”
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Jermain’s family is incredibly close-knit, and
the ninth track on his album is dedicated to his
mum. His good manners may be attributed to
his Guyanese upbringing but his musical talents
are not inherited, “My mum is tone deaf,
and none of my four siblings sing.” They are,
however, creative in their own right – one of his
brothers is a sports journalist and aspires to run
his own talk show, whilst Jermain’s twin sister
Chanelle used to write scripts and plays for
Platform arts hub near Seven Sisters Road.
It was hearing a Luther Vandross record aged
10 that really inspired Jermain to be a singer,
“I just thought wow, what an amazing voice.
I wanted to be like him when I was older.”
Jermain is conscious of giving back to his local
community and to this end used to run vocal
lessons and workshops locally, as well as being
an ambassador for the National Citizen Service.
He hopes to inspire young people to believe in
themselves, to adopt an aspirational work ethos
and to use their talents from a young age to
propel themselves to achieve their dreams. He
also rubbishes the claim that music and politics
can’t run parallel; the fact that it hasn’t been
done before is a challenge he embraces.
As living proof that it is possible to smash the
boundaries often imposed by growing up in
Hackney, the ever-charismatic Jermain has a
simple message to those who, like him, dream
big, “It’s important to understand the avenues
that lead to your dream, and to accept that the
routes may be bumpy, may change, or may stop
altogether, but if you fully back your dream
and believe in yourself, nothing can stop you.”
Placing cupped hands by each eye Jermain went
on with a smile, “Like a horse with blinkers,
you just have to focus and go for it.”
“Like a
horse with
blinkers,
you just
have to
focus and
go for it”
Expect to see a lot more of Jermain, with
performances at Liverpool Soul Fest (October
23), Royal Albert Hall (November 26) and
O2 Spirit of London Awards (12 December)
to name but a few. ‘With Me Today’ is now
available to purchase.
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Photography: BETH EVANS
Illustrator: Hannah bort
Wood vase by Aria, ‘Driftwood’ side table by French Connection; ‘Birch’ Candle by French Connection; Glass box by Pitfield; Faux knitted pouffe by
Pitfield; Books from Waterstones; ‘Luxury’ sheepskin by Graham & Green; Navy linen cushion by Folklore; Grey linen cushion by Pitfield;
‘Bora Da Square’ cushion by Smug; Blanket by The White Company; Faux fur cushion by Abigail Ahern; ‘Bookstack’ cushion by Folklore;
‘Star’ rug by Twentytwentyone; ‘Glerups’ slippers by Twentytwentyone; ‘Handled’ beaker by Twentytwentyone
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As the nights draw in, it's time to
get your home ready for the big
chill. We’ve sourced the best winter
warmer essentials from local stores
– from sumptuous furs to knitted
wools – to help inspire cosy interiors
for the season ahead.
1.
4.
1. ‘Luxury’ sheepskins by Graham & Green;
‘Hans Wegner Wishbone’ chair by CoExistence; Knitted blanket by The White
Company; ‘Simple Shade I’ light by Naomi
Paul; ‘Driftwood’ side table by French
Connection; Book from Waterstones, ‘Nest’
bowl by French Connection; Ceramic bottle
by Abigail Ahern.
2. Table from MADE; ‘Cestita’ light by
Twentytwentyone; ‘Handled’ beaker by
Twentytwentyone; Bowl by After Noah;
‘Menu’ Candlestick by Aria; ‘Driftwood’
side table by French Connection; Vase
at showhome.
3. Grey linen cushion by Pitfield; Navy
linen cushion by Folklore; ‘Chevron’ throw
by Folklore; Knitted blanket by The White
Company; ‘Fringe’ blanket by French
Connection;‘Cotton waffle’ blanket
by Folklore.
4. ‘Jannu Radhi’ rug by Twentytwentyone; ‘Shiny
Copper’ floor light by Oliver Bonas; ‘Bookstack’
cushion by Folklore; ‘Geo’ cushion by Oliver
Bonas; ‘Assemble Configure’ cushion by Smug;
‘Bora Da Square’ cushion by Smug; Woven stool
by Co-Existence; ‘Fringe’ blanket by French
Connection; Knitted cream blanket by The
White Company; ‘Chevron’ throw by Folklore.
2.
3.
This feature was photographed at a Park Collection Show Apartment at Woodberry Down. To arrange
a viewing please contact one of our sales team on 02037972846. Studios, 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments
available. Starting price £372,500.
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Words: HELENE DANCER
Photographer: JON STEVENS
The Park Theatre has helped turn Finsbury Park into
a thriving arts precinct. Source takes a look behind the
scenes of its latest production, Roaring Trade as STAMP
Theatre Company begin rehearsals.
Since Finsbury Park’s Park Theatre opened its doors in
May 2013, it has shown some of the best fringe theatre
productions to often sold-out audiences. The venue has
two theatres; one seats 200, the other 80, and it has
been instrumental in regenerating this particular corner
of Finsbury Park. Now Clifton Terrace buzzes with
restaurants and cafés that have opened since the theatre
moved into its new home.
“Our philosophy is to be a family friendly place. We have
our doors open from eight in the morning for people
who want to come and have a coffee and maybe not
even see a show. We just want to be a welcoming beacon
within the community,” says Jez Bond, the Park Theatre’s
artistic director.
“We are a local theatre with a global vision – we aspire
to have an international reputation in terms of the work
we deliver.”
October sees the Park Theatre stage Roaring Trade,
a play about power, lust and ambition in the banking
world. “The play is fundamentally about (the
protagonists’) crooked nature and how it destroys them
in the long run,” says Roaring Trade’s director Alan
Cohen. “The script was great and quite timely – about
traders and bankers and corruption – so that’s why I was
attracted to it.” Fittingly, the initial rehearsal space was
located near London’s financial district in Bank.
Steve Thompson wrote the play, and actor and director
Nick Moran plays the main part – the anti-hero, Donny.
“He’s a classic bad boy, and they provide the opportunity
for your imagination to take risks,” says Alan.
It’s the first time Alan has directed a play at the Park
Theatre, and it was his top choice of venues. “I can’t
think of anywhere better to do it in London,” he says.
“It’s a great space and a welcoming place. I’m thrilled
to be doing it.”
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For tickets please visit: www.parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/roaring-trade
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61
F
rom trendy cocktail bars,
eateries and even cinemas, it
seems like the sky’s the limit
when it comes to popping
upstairs and putting the city’s
rooftops to good use.
The former eighth floor car park of
Stratford’s notorious shopping centre is one
such regenerated roof. Now renamed Roof
East, there’s a small shack serving up tasty
cocktails, a cinema screen ideal for date night,
and an urban park. What sets the site apart
from other similar ventures, however, is its
fully functional farm, found nestled in one
of its corners.
Housed within the sort of shipping container
that innovative urban dwellers have turned
into apartments and offices, the GrowUp
Box is one of many initiatives springing up
in the capital in an attempt to cultivate a
sustainable food system for an ever-increasing
population who just love to eat.
Words: ELLIOT LEWIS-GEORGE
Photography: MANDY ZAMMIT et al
“The GrowUp Box uses aquaponics and
vertical growing systems to grow salads
and herbs,” explains GrowUp’s aquaponics
technician Oscar Davidson. “Aquaponics is
a farming method that combines fish farming
(aquaculture) with a hydroponic system
(growing plants in water without soil).”
London’s population is GOING
through the roof and so too is its
food production – quite literally –
in a bid to find sustainable ways of
meeting increasing demand.
Housed within the box sits a 1500 litre
water tank that’s home to 150 well-fed
fish, or carp to be precise. The nutrient rich
wastewater from the tank is then pumped
up to a greenhouse that sits on top of the
brilliant-white shipping container. The water
helps fertilise an array of growing crops that
then return the favour by purifying the water
that’s then pumped back into the fish tank.
“This 14 square metre farm contains 40
growing towers,” says Oscar, who joined the
GrowUp team after leaving his office job last
year. “And those towers can grow 400 plants
at one time. That’s ten times more crops than
a soil-based farm of this size and it's made
possible because we’re growing upwards.”
we explore some of the
innovative ways forward-thinking
Londoners are farming in
an urban metropolis.
© MANDY ZAMMIT
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63
This ability to save on space and grow crops
upwards in a city where the cost of land is
becoming increasingly more expensive is only
one of many benefits this urban farm can offer.
Conventional farming is an expensive business
that impacts heavily on the environment, but
by bringing the production chain closer to the
consumers, the costs of transporting, preserving
and packaging are considerably reduced.
But how good do greens grown from fish
waste actually taste? “We’ve had great feedback
on the quality and flavour of the crops,”
enthuses Oscar.
© Mandy Zammit
“We’re currently growing some oriental greens
like Chinese celery and Thai green mustard for
a Thai restaurant chain based here in London,”
he continues. “They can’t always get this stuff
from UK suppliers so they’re importing it all
the way from Asia and that has a massive
economic and environmental impact on their
supply chain. It was great to see the delight on
the restaurant proprietor’s face as she smelt and
sampled the lovely produce we’ve grown right
here in the GrowUp Box.”
And it’s not just cash savvy restaurant
proprietors who are looking to buy locally
produced, great tasting greens. The GrowUp
Box, brainchild of Kate Hofman and Tom
Webster, was brought to life in 2013 by the
backing of over 300 supporters through one of
the UK’s first successful Kickstarter campaigns.
© GrowUp Farms
© GrowUp Farms
Confident that aquaponic farming is a smart
way of producing food, the GrowUp team
are putting the finishing touches to London’s
first commercial urban farm. Housed in an
industrial warehouse space in Beckton, East
London, the team are confident they will be
harvesting their first crop this year.
“The 6,000 square feet growing space will
produce more than 20,000 kilos of sustainable
salads and herbs (enough to fill about 200,000
salad bags) and 4,000 kilos of fish each year,”
explains Mandy Zammit, the newest member
of the GrowUp family. “The farm will also
include a visitor centre so people can learn
more about sustainable food production in
cities like London.”
© Vibol Moeung
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However, it isn’t just the team behind GrowUp
that are passionate about promoting the benefits
of getting out there and growing your own.
“We’re currently growing some oriental greens like Chinese celery and Thai green mustard for a Thai restaurant chain based here in London.”
© James O'Neil
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65
grow your own
The Edible Landscapes London project runs
workshops in leafy Finsbury Park to teach
Londoners how to recognise edible plants, grow
them and, most importantly, cook with them.
Similarly, the Eastern Curve garden occupying
an old railway line in Dalston offers raised
growing beds for local residents to grow their
own grub such as tomatoes, peppers and
pungent herbs.
If you’re still not feeling green-fingered just
yet then why not sample the goods instead.
Ranked in Time Out London’s list of Top 100
shops, Dalston’s FARM:shop is just that; a farm
within in a shop. It comes complete with a café
that serves up sandwiches, soups and salads
that only use ingredients grown either inside
the walls of the little terraced building itself,
or on local independent farms.
Farm:’s founder Paul Smyth and his team have
also secured funding to realise their dream of
creating an urban farm on another London
rooftop. Not content with their own farm, the
Farm: family are also pursuing their dream for
a city full of farms by teaching companies such
as Ikea and Samsung how they can utilise their
unused spaces to cultivate edible crops.
Wilma 4 Pot System
£75.00
Bio-Bizz All-Mix soil
£12.50
DRS 60 Starter Kit
£235.00
Fish Plant Family Unit
£599.99
This easy to use
hydroponic system is a
smaller, fish-less version
of the GrowUp Box.
Pots are placed on a
tray above a tank that
you need to fill with a
nutrient solution. Plants
and drippers are placed
in the soil-filled pots and
left to grow. You can
even set the irrigation
frequency with a timer,
which triggers the
drippers to automatically
feed the plants.
Good soil in which to
grow your veg can’t
just come from your
local park. The indoor
gardening specialists
at London Grow
recommend using the allmix soil from Bio-Bizz
that contains an effective
blend of soil (20%),
compost (35%), worm
castings (10%) and
Perlite (30%) as well as
a special 'pre-mix' (5%)
of biologically active
organic ingredients that
have been fermented
for a month to create a
potent mixture.
The DRS 60 Starter Kit
is great for people just
starting out or for those
people with limited
space. The kit contains a
tent, the lights required
to grow either flowers
or vegetables and the
pots, soil and necessary
nutrients to keep your
crops healthy.
If you’re serious about
farming your own grub
and are willing to invest
in aquaponics then the
Family Unit might be
for you. Large enough
to provide a couple
or a small family with
plenty of fresh salad, it
stocks up to 3.5kg of
fish. The unit is small
enough to fit into a small
garden, greenhouse or
even indoors. More
importantly, it’s compact
and easy to use. The
first thing to decide is
whether you’re going to
grow fish to eat or for
ornamental display.
www.letitgrow.co.uk/
product/AW140/
Wilma+4+Pot+System
www.biobizz.com/
products/organicsubstrates/all-mix
“There are also websites that allow consumers
to get hold of produce that’s been grown in
an ethical way,” explains Oscar. “Websites like
Farmdrop and The Food Assembly are basically
online farmer’s markets that only stock produce
by likeminded people who care about the
methods behind what they make, and hold the
values of sustainability close to their hearts.”
If you’re eager to join the ‘grow your own’ movement, check out these
London-based suppliers and get your hands on the kit you need to get started,
from traditional potted plants to hydroponics and aquaponics.
www.growstreet.co.uk/
product/drs-60-starter-kit
www.eastlondonhydro.
com/aquaponics/1431fish-plant-family-unit.
html
As Londoners, and inhabitants of a city that’s
constantly growing and constantly hungry,
perhaps it’s important that we all embrace
some aspect of sustainable farming. Whether
that’s getting involved with the community
garden at Woodberry’s Redmond Community
Centre, attending one of the Saturday open
days at the GrowUp Box or simply making use
of what extra space you have to grow your
own delicious goodies.
GrowUp Box, Level 8,
Multi-storey Car Park, Stratford Centre,
Great Eastern Road, London E15 1XE
growup.org.uk
Edible Garden, Redmond Community Centre
grown at woodberry Edible garden shows
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WITH outdoor cinema screenings, markets, street art and a
local music festival, Woodberry Down has it all. In the words
of local residents, we discover what life is really like living
in such a vibrant neighbourhood and active community.
Words: SARAH MOOR
To live at Woodberry Down is to enjoy and
engage with a vibrant community and be a part
of an active neighbourhood. Summer 2015
saw a range of community events come to
Woodberry Down, delivered in collaboration
with Berkeley Homes, Manor House
Development Trust, service providers and the
local community who volunteered to take part
in a number of ways.
Locals and visitors alike basked in the sunshine
for Woodberry Down’s inaugural street food
and craft market, which was closely followed by
open-air cinema screenings, set against the most
picturesque of backdrops - the West Reservoir.
Building on the success of 2014’s Wimbledon at
Woodberry, five screening events over a 4-day
period included: The Theory of Everything,
Mamma Mia, How to Train Your Dragon,
Interstellar and a reprise of the Wimbledon
at Woodberry screening of the Men’s Singles
Final. Attracting an average audience of 100 per
screening, the event was a huge success, bringing
together community members and visitors alike.
“It's so great to see how this neighbourhood has
become such a nice community.” - Kevin
“We really have loved living here over the past three years because of events like this...
it’s doing great things for the neighbourhood.” - Emma
“I like that berkeley homes are doing this event, it's brilliant,
I think it really brings the community together” - DAN
“The Summer Market has been really fun, it’s nice to have different things
like this happening at Woodberry Down.” - Umit
A new ‘Street Canvas’ was also created by
local contemporary artist Sonelle Goddard
in collaboration with students from Skinners
Academy, Young Hackney and Woodberry
Wetlands. The street art gave the students the
chance to have their voices heard, express their
thoughts on their home, and get involved in
writing the next chapter of Woodberry Down.
The students enjoyed unveiling the work outside
the Redmond Community Centre in May.
If this wasn’t enough, The Hidden River Festival
returned for the third time in September, bringing
more street art, music and community spirit.
For upcoming events at Woodberry Down
please visit the Redmond Community Centre.
Photography by James Cannon and Jens Marott
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THE FINAL WORD
Lydia Batchelor has lived in
Woodberry Down for over 20
years. Her passion for cooking
and helping the older people in
the community inspired her to run
the Over 50s Lunch Club at the
Redmond Community Centre. She is
a self-employed caterer, a mother and
grandmother, a regular volunteer for
community projects – and something
of a local inspiration.
Words Steve Burdett
Photography NANCY SHERIDAN
What do you love about your community?
I love the mix of cultures all living together; the
location, the ease of access to everything, such as
the West End; and the people – the neighbours.
It’s such a nice, pretty area. I’ve lived in the same
place for over 20 years and have seen a lot of
changes, especially now with the regeneration.
How did the Lunch Club get started?
It started at Newnton Close sheltered block,
where we still do it on a Thursday. A couple of
people from Manor House Development Trust
(MDHT) came down for lunch and that was it!
They wanted something similar at the Redmond
Centre, so we agreed to do Tuesdays and got
some funding.
Can you tell me a bit more about
the Lunch Club?
It’s a service for the elderly or over-50s – the
over-50s certainly don’t see themselves as being
elderly! For £3.50 they get a healthy,
home-cooked two-course meal and the
opportunity to socialise with friends and
neighbours – and even make new friends. We’re
trying to develop it so that we’re able to deliver
food to those whose mobility prevents them
from making it to the Centre, or to transport
them so that they don’t become isolated. We are
currently introducing after-lunch activities such
as board games, singing, a quiz and bingo to
extend the day. I just want to get the word out
and help the local people.
What kind of food do you provide?
There’s a variety. We do Caribbean: rice and
peas, chicken – baked instead of fried. I put a lot
of thought in regarding the diet and health of
the people eating and encourage them to have
lots of fresh and raw foods. They love a bit of
fish at Easter time and once a month, normally
on the last Friday, we have a roast. They usually
remind me during the week before: ‘Don’t
forget, roast on Friday!’
What’s your typical diner like?
The majority of people who attend are between
their mid-60s and 90s. The oldest who comes
along is 95, and he’s been coming since we
started it. Some who don’t even live in the area
make their way religiously here. One lady walks
from Stoke Newington every week.
As a mother and grandmother, do you think
there’s a lot for children to do in the area?
The Edge Centre on Woodberry Grove has lots of
things on for children between eight and 19 years
old, the Redmond Centre usually has something
on during the holidays and there’s the Woodberry
Down Children’s Centre. I like the way the park
area has been created and developed, with the
outside activities for children.
Where does your love of cooking come from?
I come from a family of six girls, and we all
took turns to cook for the family. It’s something
I’ve always enjoyed doing, learning dishes from
other cultures and trying them out myself. I see
cooking as a science, and I like experimenting
and introducing people to new food. I just love
the thought of someone being really pleased at
the end of a meal I’ve cooked.
What volunteer work do you do in the
community?
I volunteer at the weekend club for senior
citizens in the sheltered block, organising things
like day trips and weekly bingo. If there are
other groups in the area putting on events I’ll
ask if they need my help. People know I’m
skilled in the kitchen but equally I don’t mind
doing the washing up, serving tea and coffee,
leafleting or anything like that. The Redmond
Centre sometimes has things on so I’ll bake a
cake, come down and do what they need me to.
I muck in wherever I can.
Do you use the Redmond Community Centre
yourself?
I go there to do some work or pop in to say,
‘Hi,’ and see what’s going on. Sometimes I just
go along and make myself a cup of tea; it’s good
to know I’ve got that space nearby.
What’s your favourite meal to cook?
Vegetable lasagna – I love it, and the response
it gets afterwards. It’s an old Jewish recipe with
loads of different vegetables.
Do you shop locally?
I go to the Woodberry Down Fruit & Veg Store
on Seven Sisters Road for their fresh kale and
coriander. I do a lot of juicing at home, and I
want to introduce it to the Lunch Club.
The Over 50s Lunch Club is on every Tuesday, 12 – 2pm, at the Redmond Community Centre,
Kayani Avenue, London N4 2HF, www.mhdt.org.uk/events/over-50s-luncheon-club
72 | SOURCE
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