Latest news with #Walthamstow
The Independent
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘Bringer of joy' and choreographer Matthew Bourne earns City of London freedom
Choreographer and director Sir Matthew Bourne has been hailed as a 'bringer of joy', after being awarded the freedom of the City of London. The recognition was for his achievements in contemporary dance, during a career spanning more than four decades, which has seen him enliven productions of Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands and Nutcracker. At the ceremony at the Guildhall on Thursday, Sir Matthew, 65, said: 'As a born Londoner, I am particularly thrilled to be receiving the freedom today. 'As the proud son of two children of the Blitz, who lived just streets away from each other in Walthamstow E17, I have made London my home for my entire life. 'It has been my playground, my workplace and the inspiration for many of the works that I have made throughout my career, including Cinderella, Oliver!, Mary Poppins, and even Swan Lake. 'I am deeply honoured and grateful, and would like to thank Mark Lucraft and Fiona Adler for kindly nominating me for the freedom.' Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC, and honorary secondary of London Fiona Adler, from the Old Bailey, nominated Sir Matthew. Sir Matthew has been an artistic director of Adventures in Motion Pictures, and dance company New Adventures, which he founded in 2002 and which specialises in contemporary dance. His productions include The Car Man, a reinterpretation of composer Georges Bizet's 1875 opera Carmen, Romeo And Juliet, Cinderella, Play Without Words, and The Red Shoes. For about three decades he has worked with theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, and Sir Matthew has brought his flair to musicals such as Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady and Oliver! Deputy policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, James Thomson, said: 'As well as a major exporter of British dance to the rest of the world, Matthew is also the bringer of much joy, with the ability to leave people walking on air as they file out of the theatre. 'He is at the top of his game and is a very worthy recipient of the Freedom of the City of London, and I offer Matthew my warmest congratulations today, which will be echoed by his many millions of admirers.' Sir Matthew was named the individual with the most Olivier Awards in 2020, when he received a ninth win. He also has two Tony Awards, for directing and choreographing Swan Lake, and received a special Olivier Award in 2019. Mr Lucraft said: 'Matthew's consummate skill for reimagining storytelling through dance is evident, not just by how audiences are mesmerised, exhilarated and moved by his productions, featuring troupes of supremely gifted dancers, but also by his hugely impressive collection of national and international awards.' In 2001 Sir Matthew was made an OBE, and in 2016 was knighted in Queen Elizabeth II's New Year Honours, for services to dance. The tradition of the freedom of the city is believed to date back to 1237. Recent recipients include comedian Sir Lenny Henry, theatre owner and producer Sir Cameron, and Lady Mary Peters, who won an Olympic gold medal in the athletics pentathlon in 1972.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
London rapper guilty of murdering father in front of young child
A rapper has been found guilty of murdering a father in front of his young child in a barbershop in north-east Belle, 30, was convicted following a five week trial at the Old Bailey after stabbing Josh McKay, 31, in the neck as he had a haircut in Walthamstow on 8 July Parker, 39, who drove Belle to the scene in Leyton, and Daniel Cooper, 22, who provided a balaclava and knife for the attack, were both cleared of was found guilty of perverting the course of justice and possessing a bladed article and Cooper had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a bladed article. The trial heard that there was "existing hostility" between Belle and Mr from Edmonton, north London, had a YouTube channel under his nickname "Topz" and in a video uploaded before the murder had made a specific reference to his desire to attack Mr jury heard that Belle rapped: "I pray every day that I buck JMK."Prosecutor Louis Mably KC said that Mr McKay had been having his hair cut on a Saturday afternoon when he was attacked and killed in front of his child. 'That's my dad' The barber, who was just finishing Mr McKay's haircut, told police he had seen a man wearing a balaclava creeping through the door, but thought it was "a joke" at first until he saw the man was carrying a large kitchen knife."The man approached Mr McKay, and just as Mr McKay swivelled round on the chair to see what was going on, the man plunged the knife into his neck and then pulled the knife out," said Mr the resulting scuffle the knife had fallen to the ground, and Mr McKay picked it up and chased the attacker out of the shop, the court heard.A female passer-by, who saw a man dressed in dark clothing "creeping" towards the shop and carrying something in his right hand, went into the barbershop and called also saw Mr McKay's child outside. The child had seen the attack happen and was upset, saying "that's my dad", the court police investigation identified Belle as the attacker and CCTV evidence showed he had spotted Mr McKay in the barbershop by chance 25 minutes before the attack."What happened is that straightaway, and very quickly, he saw the opportunity and made preparations for the attack to make sure he could carry it out before Mr McKay had finished having his hair cut," said Mr prosecution alleged that Parker and Cooper both helped Belle carry out the attack. The court heard Parker was in a relationship with Belle and drove him to Cooper's address to collect a knife and then drove Belle back to Lea Bridge Road where he carried out the attack before returning to the car and being driven back to Parker's three defendants gave evidence in their defence, with Belle claiming he had acted in of Gosport Road in Waltham Forest, and Parker, of Canterbury Road in Waltham Forest, said they were not aware of Belle's will be sentenced at a later date.
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Made in Walthamstow: a football kit that brought a community together
In an address to the Trades Guild of Learning in 1877, William Morris, the Victorian poet, textile designer and soon-to-be socialist, said: 'I do not want art for a few, any more than I want education for a few, or freedom for a few.' In an unequal society in which the elites and middle classes had the time and money to spend on the arts, while the working classes toiled away for them, Morris imagined a community where art was available for all and could be found in one's work (or craft). It was a grand vision, influenced by Karl Marx and John Ruskin, but one that he was ultimately unable to achieve in his lifetime. Morris's life was one of contradictions: a radical socialist who was simultaneously a successful businessman designing wallpapers and upholstery for middle class houses and earning £1,800 a year for his troubles (enough to afford his family six servants). In many ways contradictions have followed Morris into the afterlife. A man who warned patrons against his imitators and argued that 'machines can do everything – except make works of art', is now being imitated by generative artificial intelligence with the resulting products being passed off as art on Etsy and Temu. In a world where Morris's designs are divorced from his radical thinking and his patterns have come to symbolise a return to traditional Victorian values or thoughtlessly adorn cheap mugs, there is one contemporary object that perfectly embodies all that Morris stood for. In 2023 Walthamstow FC, the William Morris Gallery, Wood Street Walls and Admiral Sportswear collaborated to create Walthamstow FC's 2023-25 home and away kits. It was the first time that a museum had collaborated with a football club on a kit and the result was one of the best kits of the year, anywhere. Now, I like this kit for a few reasons. First, I've lived in Walthamstow all my life. I don't mean to brag but the first game I ever attended was a Walthamstow FC game (or Waltham Forest as they were known then). Seeing my local club's kit and learning about its ambition to create a women's team using the money raised from kit sales filled me with a great sense of pride. Second, there was something poetic about a side in the eighth tier of English football showing billionaire-backed Premier League outfits how to properly design a football kit. Forget the first kit, copy and pasted from last season; the away kit, a retro remake of the classic 1980s kit; the third kit, a neon number that nobody wears; and the limited edition fourth, a collaboration with a fashion house desperate for a piece of the sweet football pie. Instead, tell a story about a hometown hero and pay homage to football heritage by teaming up with the creators of the first replica football kit. Third, and most importantly, the kit is something Morris would probably have approved of. What better way to make art accessible to all than through the game of the people? Given the game's working class roots, the Walthamstow FC kit has achieved what Morris could never quite do in his lifetime: make art that is carefully crafted yet affordable for the masses. 'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful,' Morris said. A shirt that functions as a football kit and a fantastic fashion piece ticks both boxes. So, I decided to direct a documentary about it. Made in Walthamstow explores the history of replica football kits, the significance of Morris and the power of community in Walthamstow. Featuring the major players in the project – from Hadrian Garrard, the director of the William Morris Gallery, to local MP Stella Creasy – the documentary is a celebration of all it means to be from Walthamstow. It was a real labour of love and not in the William Morris sense of the phrase. I funded the film, shot the interviews, edited the footage and organised screenings at the William Morris Gallery, Orford House and Forest School. It was all worth it for a story so close to my heart. And, just as Morris would have wanted, the documentary is out now, available for all to see.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
GAIL's bakery wins Deliveroo's top community champion award - amid 'gentrification' row and furious boycotts from hipster residents
GAIL's Bakery has won a prestigious award for its commitment to community engagement by a huge restaurant platform - as residents in trendy neighbourhoods are left up in arms over the stores opening in their areas. The upmarket bakery chain has been awarded Deliveroo's Heart of the Community gong in the Restaurant of the Year awards, celebrating its commitment to quality and community engagement. It comes as the upmarket bakery chain's rapid expansion has sparked boycotts and petitions throughout the UK, with many locals expressing concerns about the impact on independent businesses and the character of their communities. In November last year, GAIL's announced it would be opening a new branch in Primrose Hill and locals quickly defaced the shops hoardings with graffiti which said 'Fail's – Go Away'. Meanwhile residents of Walthamstow Village fumed when they found out the chain was opening on their high street in 2024. Locals claimed the branch was the 'ultimate sign of gentrification' and will see independent coffee shops lose trade. It led to hundreds of people signing a petition against the opening after the chain announced plans to open 35 new UK sites. Last year, the Heart of the Community accolade went to a local family-run cafe in Rushden, Northamptonshire, Happy Mondays. The judges, who included notable food critic Jimi Famurewa, were inspired by the cafe's community-first ethos, which included supporting local suppliers to serving fresh, locally sourced food and products, as well as fundraising for local charities and hosting markets and events for Rushden residents to enjoy. The independent café pipped Gail's to the post in 2024 and also fended off competition from Wingstop, GAIL's Bakery, and Zambrero Ireland. The Deliveroo Restaurant Awards' mission is to celebrate the best and most loved independent restaurants across the UK and Ireland. The website explained the reasoning behind awarding GAIL's the accolade this year. It read: 'GAIL's has supported local charities since it first originated, equating to over 99 charities in the past 18 years, namely through their partnership with Neighbourly, donating surplus food to over 400 local charities and organisations in their communities. 'This partnership goes back to what GAIL's is – a modern neighbourhood craft bakery, integrated into communities.' Despite the recent backlash, GAIL's continues to thrive, with plans to open additional branches in various locations. In the year to February 2024, it achieved a turnover of £232 million, up from £182 million the previous year, according to the most recent accounts it has filed at Companies House. Known for its artisanal pastries and upscale clientele, the bakery has even become synonymous with the so-called 'GAIL's effect' — the idea that a new branch signals rising house prices and accelerating gentrification in the area. This theory is backed up by Brandling-Harris, who owns the House Collective estate agency, and who has lived in Primrose Hill for 15 years. Speaking to Mail Online he said: 'GAIL's is good for the area, it's a community hub. It is really consistent – good sandwiches, good coffee. And, importantly, it has filled a void. This was an empty site before.' Many local residents, however, would have preferred to see an independent business open, rather than another outlet from a rapidly expanding chain. Primrose Hill critic, Cuitlahuac Turrent, told the Mail Online: 'It could destroy local neighbourhood bakeries with its bland, soulless food and atmosphere.' Another resident, Martha Swift, who owns Primrose Bakery which opened 20 years ago said: 'There are just so many GAIL's. There are five others within walking distance. She added: 'It is really tough to run an independent business on the high street at the moment – the cost of ingredients has gone through the roof, it's a nightmare. Then there's the price of electricity, plus the cost of business rates. You just can't pass on these costs to customers.' 'A chain like GAIL's can afford to lose money, whereas if you are an independent business you have to make a living.' This concern was so accurate that when GAIL's moved into Walthamstow last year, a petition garnered 1,800 signatures. 'It's about choosing inclusive growth, preserving diversity and creating equitable and sustainable local economies,' the petition claimed. Locals in the East London enclave spoke to MailOnline about their concerns as some fought to stop the upmarket bakery opening. Some business owners claimed local resistance was down to the firm's pro-Brexit and anti-lockdown chairman Luke Johnson, who called some eco activists 'alarmists'. There is an apparent feeling that Mr Johnson does not align with the politics of the area, which backed Remain in 2016 and has had a Labour MP for more than 30 years. Residents also feared GAIL's could put independents out of business, while others claimed that the plans were 'not great for coolness factor' and the chain was 'probably out of reach price-rise for a lot of the community'. Others pointed out that while they liked GAIL's and had visited other branches, they did not agree with it coming to Walthamstow and would instead support local firms. Resident Fanie, 30, painter, said: 'Gail's coming in, it's not great. The Gail-sification of London. That's why I don't want to live in Wanstead, I don't want to live in Leyton, I want to live somewhere with cool and interesting stuff - not stale pain au chocolate. Sorry, Gail's.' Misha, 35, human resources worker, said: ''I quite enjoy that there are local coffee shops here. I like Gail's, I would go there if it was here, but I do try and shop local if I can.' Dawn, 50, local resident, added: 'I think any new business in the area is great, but I think the concentration just on the village is disproportionate to the rest of Walthamstow. 'The gentrification of the area is fantastic, but I think it needs to be spread out and some of these bigger chains need to come and revive the high street and not just concentrate on the most affluent areas of the borough.' Meanwhile Gail's was also met with a new backlash for the same reason in Bath recently. Chief executive Tom Molnar has slammed claims the chain is ruining high streets, as they spread at a rate of a new shop every fortnight. Mr Molnar has insisted that he only ever wanted to give the customers choice. 'We build small sites so they are a part of a diverse high street, so whenever I build a Gail's I think what it would be like if I was a resident here,' he told The Times. 'I'd encourage people to look at what we're trying to do, rather than taglines. There's good independents and bad, and good chains and bad chains.' Gail's Bakery started as a single store in Hampstead, north London, and slowly began to spread across the capital before cherry picking new towns and cities to set up in. The chain now has more than 130 shops across Britain already and is seen by many as the successor to Waitrose, with plans now in place for new sites to be opened across Britain. Mail Online have reached out to Gail's Bakery and the Deliveroo Restaurants of the Year Awards for comment.
Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
I transformed an MoT garage into a Riba award-winning home
Mark Shaw, an architect, has a 'pathological fear' of the cold. So when it came to designing his own house from scratch, it had to be heat-efficient and the antithesis of the 'wonky, dark and damp' Victorian terrace he was living in. His vision, a series of boxes connected by glass screens positioned to track the sun, scooped a Riba London 2025 award last week. The judges praised Shaw's response to the awkwardness of the site, a former MoT garage tucked behind a row of houses in Walthamstow, northeast London. 'It was a long journey, so the recognition is great,' says the Scotsman and founder of the practice Studioshaw. He is not exaggerating. He acquired the plot at auction in 2016, remortgaging his house in
