On Sunday Gill and I took advantage of the lovely weather to walk from home for our hour of exercise. We went via Wanstead flats (Epping Forest) past Jubilee Pond into Bush Wood then Wanstead then home. There is loads of beautiful openspaces and parkla…Read more…
Self isolate or this may happen in UK
Hat tip UK Government website
“This is a non-professional translation of the French personal travel exemption relating to the COVID-19 decree.
You must download the French form below, print it and complete it and carry it on your person for each outi…Read more…
An Address by Her Majesty The Queen – BBC
As a committed republican I did not expect to post on this site an address by Her Majesty The Queen. However, she is our Head of State and her broadcast this evening on the COVID-19 emergency was very good. As someone who lived and served through World…Read more…
Keir Starmer acceptance speech (and results)
What a fantastic result (and such a relief). Keir is elected as Leader and Angela as Deputy by decisive margins (and to top it all Carol Sewell as new BAME Labour Party NEC member!). For the first time since the disaster of 12.12.19 I feel hope for our…Read more…
Who will lead the Labour Party? Find out 10.45am tomorrow
BBC reports “Members will learn the outcome via e-mail and the media after a planned special conference to unveil the winner was cancelled due the coronavirus pandemic.
The candidates for leader have each been asked to record victory speeches, one of …Read more…
Leeds University Reunion 1981-84 (and at 8pm we #ClapforOurCarers)
We live in a very strange and somewhat scary world and in the midst of this international emergency a group of us decided to make the best of a very bad lot to organise a virtual reunion on Zoom and “meet up” after in some cases 36 years apart.
We wer…Read more…
Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz update about Coronavirus (COVID-19) 1 April
UPDATE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): 330 CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 IN NEWHAM AND HIGHEST RISE OF DEATHS IN A SINGLE DAY IN THE UK. WHICH IS WHY #StayAtHome IS VITAL
FROM MAYOR ROKHSANA FIAZ
April 1 2020
Dear Newham Resident,
As we settled in …Read more…
Last chance to vote for Keir Starmer as our Party Leader & Angela Rayner as our Deputy Leader
On this Thursday 2 April 2020 at 12 noon it will finally be over.
So now is your last chance to vote in the Labour Party Leadership elections.
Obviously there are now far more important matters to deal with than internal party elections but it is n…Read more…
Protecting Public Health in the Stratford Centre – Special Newham Council Cabinet meeting 27.3.20
On Friday evening we held a special virtual Cabinet meeting under the Council’s urgency rules in order to agree to ask the Courts to close Stratford Shopping centre between 8pm and 5am.
This was chaired by our Executive Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz.
It follo…Read more…
Wanstead Park 4 Seasons Walk (& good news about a West Ham Labour comrade)
Off message but this morning Gill and I went for a walk across Wanstead flats into Wanstead Park. The weather was seriously weird!
One moment cold and very windy, the next, warm blue sky sunshine followed then by hail or rain.
This occurred several t…Read more…
#StayAtHome as 195 confirmed Coronavirus cases, 100% Council Tax Relief for 19,500 households & closure of Stratford Centre due to pandemic
“Dear Resident,This weekend, the need for us to continue to do all we can stop the spread of the virus and #StayAtHome remains the most important message. News that the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary have contracted Coronavirus, brings i…Read more…
Unity is Strength – East Ham Trades Council donation of Ambulance Motorcycle 1937
Unity is indeed Strength. As shown by the fantastic show of solidarity for carers on Thursday evening.
This is great historic picture showing a hand built ambulance motorbike donated by East Ham Trades Council in 1937.
This was to help the Republican…Read more…
Newham Mayor Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19) #StayAtHome this weekend is vital 27.3.20
UPDATE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19): 146 PEOPLE CONFIRMED WITH CORONAVIRUS IN NEWHAM
THAT’S WHY #StayAtHome THIS WEEKEND IS VITAL
FROM MAYOR ROKHSANA FIAZ
27th March 2020
As we end the week, the need for us to continue to do all we can stop the spre…Read more…
Clap for our Carers – 8pm tonight
Update: Fantastic! in our street clapping, cheering, fireworks, whistles, singing,cars beeping horns – Brilliant show of support for our amazing carers. Looking forward to same next week!Read more…
Help us to #HelpNewham, volunteer here!
Dear Newham resident,
Email: volunteers@activenewham.org.uk or call 020 3770 4444.
As the coronavirus crisis continues to disrupt all our lives, with 77 confirmed cases in Newham as of today, I read about the death of the UK’s youngest victim. Her nam…Read more…
Coronavirus: your rights at work – UNISON advice as 24 March
Some really good advice from my union for all workers – If you work in or provide public services make sure you https://joining.unison.org.uk/join-unison-today/…
As the COVID-19 virus spreads, find out what your rights at work are.Important update: …Read more…
Newham Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz response to Prime Minister statement 23 March 2020
“Dear Newham Resident,
Earlier this evening, the Prime Minister announced new measures to enforce social distancing across the country as the confirmed cases and deaths due to Coronavirus continue to rise in the UK.
In Newham, six deaths attributed t…Read more…
Happy Mothers Day!
Off message but…
Happy Mother’s Day Mum! Lovely to speak to you on Facetime tonight and so sorry we cannot meet up at Easter due to virus.
Keep safe and well.
Lots of love
John & Gill xxx
(me with spade, big sister Helen and little sister Lucy…Read more…
Keep on walking
Advice on the BBC web page confirms that it is still okay to go outdoors for exercise as long as you follow advice to stay 2m apart from others. This advice may change in the future.
Gill and I took advantage of the sunshine today to walk along the Ro…Read more…
Visiting the grave of Matchgirl strike leader Sarah Chapman
Today I finally went to find the grave of Matchgirl strike leader, Sarah Chapman, in Manor Park cemetery. The Matchgirls strike of 1888 at the Byrant and May factory in Bow is an important event in trade union history. It was led by women and helped es…Read more…