Our April talk

Travels round the edge of history

Our speaker, David Bowen, introduced his travel and history book-to-be, currently a blog, as "the fourth of three acts". David is a former business journalist, including eight years at the Independent, and founder of two companies reporting, analysing and consulting on online corporate communications. But he's always had a thing for history.

After a long haul of parental illness, David and his partner Donne were in search of somewhere to go that wasn’t Salisbury General Hospital. Destinations had to meet three criteria: historically fascinating, beautiful and relatively obscure. It's been a six year project, including his own year in hospital.

David brought a selection of stories for us: the sudden appearance of new land in the Azores; a scientist’s quest on Principe to prove Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, how Heligoland managed to be British and German at the same time; on the isle of Skye, the Fairy Flag, a magic banner to ward off enemies; and back to the Azores for a curious tale of Viking mice and the Goshawks, Açores, the archipelago was named after (even though they were probably another species).

Quote of the night goes to this, a headline from the New York Times, on the Einstein experiment: 'Light all skew in the heavens – Men Of Science More or Less Agog Over Results of Eclipse Observations’.

A big thank-you to David for an evening of historical wanderings. Follow his blog here on Substack, where you can also do his regular quiz based on a 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica. 

There was even a bonus Bowen: David’s daughter Megan, an opera and musical theatre singer. Find out more about Megan’s work here. 

A special mention, too, for Heather’s marvellously restorative Victoria sponge.

Our monthly coffee and catch-up

Friday 24th April, meet between 10.30 and 11.00 – Thingy Café, Trowbridge Gardens, 1 Trowbridge Road, E9 5LD

Easily accessible from Hackney Wick station (Mildmay line) and bus routes 276 and 488.

This is my last blogpost for East End WI after posting my witterings on here for some time, as I'm bidding a fond farewell to WI membership. You can look forward to fresh views, new voices and if you're lucky, pithier copy in the blogposts to come. 

Our April walk

 

Cool blues, hot drinks and a temple: our April walk in Wanstead Park

Christine writes:

"Our April walk started as a blustery chilly day but happily ended with a smidgen of blue sky and sunshine. A short and pleasant walk from the tube station led us to Wanstead Park. I'd forgotten how nice Wanstead Park is, especially in bluebell season. We all agreed that we'd caught the bluebells in their prime. Carpets of mauvey blue and talk of the distinction between native British bluebells and the invasive Spanish variety. A circuit around Heronry Pond led us back to the refreshments kiosk for welcome hot drinks and (unanimously) bacon sarnies ! Luckily the Temple visitor centre was open and we enjoyed the displays about the park's history as the grounds of a long lost grand mansion. Our return to the tube station saw a couple of us tempted into Wanstead House community and arts centre, who were having an open day. We enjoyed stalls on textile art, painting, photography, ballroom dancing and more. We even learnt about post war community hall architecture. Nothing if not a varied morning out!"

Read more about both varieties of bluebell on The Wildlife Trusts website.

Fancy joining us for a walk? Look out for the next coming up blogpost.

Pictures by Christine

Coming up in April

 

Bluebells, Azorean mice and a thingy: coming up in April

Our monthly walk: Saturday 11th April – visit the bluebells in Wanstead Park

Meet 11.00, at the entrance to Wanstead tube station.

This month, we head for Chalet Wood, where the bluebells are spectacular if caught at their peak. A bonus is that the historic 'Temple' will be open. The Temple has the history of the Park's Roman Villa, tales of regency romance gone wrong, statues which once stood throughout the Park, a gift shop, public toilets and friendly, knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions.

You may wish to bring a drink and a snack in case the Wanstead Tea Hut isn’t open.

If you're a member, look out for the EEWI walks WhatsApp on the day for any changes or to see who else is joining.

Our monthly meeting: Thursday 16th April, 7pm for 7.30 – Travels round the Edge of History, with David Bowen, former journalist and consultant, now full-time writer, traveller and history obsessive

At our usual venue: St Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Road, London E2 9PL, entrance via the gate to the left. (If you’re joining us for the first time, feel free to email us and someone will meet you at the entrance on Old Ford Road.)

David Bowen has spent seven years travelling around obscure islands in the North Atlantic, mixing travel and history writing to produce Substack posts and (he hopes) a book. He has, on his historical wanderings, come across some most unusual stories. Such as: Why mice tell us who got to the Azores first, how a magical flag helped a Hebridean clan win its battles, why the tiniest bit of the British empire was German, and the mountain that came out of the sea (Azores again). David was a journalist for many years, including eight on the Independent, and specialised in shedding light on complicated subjects. He then set up and ran a business consultancy. Now, in the third half of his career, he is combining writing with a longstanding obsession with history.

Our monthly coffee and catch-up: Friday 24th April, meet between 10.30 and 11.00 – Thingy Café, Trowbridge Gardens, 1 Trowbridge Road, E9 5LD

It's a good while since we’ve met in this charming café with its lovely garden surrounding it. A much-loved spot drawing locals and visitors, Thingy serves up coffee, brunch, cakes and a laid-back community atmosphere. 

Easily accessible from Hackney Wick station (Mildmay line) and bus routes 276 and 488.

Photos of Wanstead Park and Thingy café by Lydia; talk photos courtesy of David Bowen 

Our March coffee morning

 

Our cultured coffee crew at the Brady Arts and Community Centre

Heather writes:

"East End WI coffee. Sharing the shock of Middlesex Federation WI giving us birthdate of 2007! So we are not 20 this year. Better tell Nikki [our founder].

Lovely chatty, supportive and entertaining session at Brady Centre. We covered downsizing, clearing out 'stuff', cultural trips possible in and outside London, on the button health and wellbeing hints, and so much more.

All inspired by the wonderful display of the Women's Open art exhibition – including Christine's brilliant capturing of the moment at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park.

Whatever the setting, these get togethers are a guaranteed boost. 

Here's to April...

Lovely to have Dawn here all the way from Bradford – City of Culture. She may well be able to pop back on a visit (and do a craft thing?)"

Fancy joining us for coffee? Look out for our next coming up blogpost.

Picture of our coffee-goers by the kind café manager

Our March talk

Sounding out: our March talk with 

Claire Broughton, Head of Podcasts at 

Hat Trick Productions

Christine writes: 

'Claire treated us to a very entertaining and informative talk about her work as a producer. Whilst taking a language degree at university a friend put her down as producer on their fringe festival show. After uni and eschewing a job opening in sales she got a job as an Assistant Producer and went on to work for film maker Mike Leigh and for a 6 month stint in Kenya. A role as a TV producer at Hat Trick followed. A desire to specialise in audio led her to the BBC before being invited back to Hat Trick, which had seen the potential of podcasts and wanted to set up an audio department. Claire led a fascinating round table discussion to hear what podcasts EEWI members listened to. This revealed a cornucopia of topics from gardening to economics, women's football, medical, rambling, politics and culture. We learned a bit about how podcasts are financed (sponsors, subscriptions, advertising and commissions). Asked about the future, Claire's tip was that video was where the young generation were going. Finally we were treated to a little insight into the world of sound recordists and a valuable mini tech lesson on how to find podcasts on our mobile phones. The whole talk was suffused with amusing anecdotes and much enjoyed by all.' 

Photos by Christine

Our March walk

Spring in our steps – our March walk

Brimming with wildflowers on a sunny day, Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park was a glorious place for our walking group to enjoy some Spring colour. Following the park's Plants for People trail, we appreciated the sensitive planting to give visitors – including bees and ladybirds – flowers to enjoy early in the season. We spotted newts in one of the ponds, rediscovered the row of Charterhouse graves and walkers emerged triumphant from trying the maze.

Some of our group went on to the Mile End Art Pavilion for the Creative Bloc & Friends exhibition The Way we Art. Heather writes, "Inspiring range at the exhibition. Even a live stone carving class outside! We chose the vibrancy of these to share with you. Would find space for one of them even in a modest-sized home!" Our exhibition-goers headed to East End WI favourite Bard Books for coffee.

The exhibition is on until 22 March, open daily 11am-6pm.

Fancy joining us for a walk? Look out for our next coming up blogpost.

Pictures by Lydia, Alison and Heather

Coming up in March

Broadcast, exhibition and plants putting on a show – all coming up in March

Our monthly walk: Saturday 14th March, meet at 11am 

Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park and exhibition at Mile End Art Pavilion

Meet by the Soanes Centre at the main entrance to Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park on Southern Grove

We'll be making our annual visit to the Cemetery Park to see the stunning spring flowers, using one of the park's trail leaflets Plants and People as a guide. 

Then if still feeling energetic, we can walk through Mile End Park to the Art Pavilion to see the The Way We Art exhibition by Creative Bloc & Friends.

If you're a member, look out for the EEWI walks WhatsApp on the day for any changes or to see who else is joining.

Our monthly meeting:

Thursday 19th March, 7pm for 7.30pm

Claire Broughton, Head of Podcasts at Hat Trick Productions

At our usual venue: St Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Road, London E2 9PL, entrance via the gate to the left. (If you’re joining us for the first time, feel free to email us and someone will meet you at the entrance on Old Ford Road.)

Claire joined us last year for our visit from The Queen Bees, as she produces their podcast, which also stars Jane Horrocks. We invited her to return and speak about her role as a TV and podcast producer. 

Claire’s LinkedIn profile describes her as an 'Experienced Producer with a demonstrated history of working in the media production industry. Skilled in Broadcasting, Television, Media Production, Film, and Radio Production. Occasionally has use of her degree in French and German from University of Bristol, but mainly while on holiday.'

Claire has asked that her speaker’s fee be donated to a breast cancer charity.

Our monthly coffee and catch-up:

Friday 27th March, meet between 10.30am and 11.00am

Brady Centre Café, 192-196 Hanbury Street, London E1 5HU

The Tower Hamlets Women's Spring Open Exhibition is a good excuse to meet up for a chat, a catch-up and to have a look at the exhibition, in which two of our members have work. In a nice bit of symmetry with this month's walk, Christine has a painting in the show of our stall at last year's Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park Summer Fair; and Lydia has two small botanical drawings in the show.