LoveEast.55

Lockdown.01 

ISSUE 55 

Online for 

now... 

Yesterday's 

tomorrow 

is today. 

- Gene 

Mitchell 

Your East London: People | Food | Culture

Thanks for your support, we will be back soon! 

Follow us on social media to stay updated. 

Facebook: @abbottsinteriors 

Instagram: @abbottsinteriors 

Twitter: @abbottsinterior 

www.abbottsflooring.co.uk

Hello East London! How's everyone doing? 

I think we can all agree that lockdown is a challenge, to say the 

least. Whether it’s learning how to get along with your family or 

housemates 24/7, or flying solo for extended periods of time, this 

will have affected each and every one of us in ways we could not 

begin to imagine a couple of months ago. It’s the new normal. 

But, as someone once said to me, ‘Normal is a setting on my 

dryer’. Indeed. There is no normal anymore and we’re navigating 

the unknown. Regardless, the LoveEast show must go on, and 

fortunately it can, albeit only online for now. 

In this edition, we have an interview with Comic Book author 

Adam Wheeler, a catch up with singer/songwriter Jennings 

Couch, some news about Roman Road’s Common Room and an 

update on what Trapped in Zone One has been doing. 

We also have a business feature on the clever people at KANKAN, 

some eye candy with Harry Harrison’s amazing portraits and a 

host of other features. We’re so very grateful to all of our lovely 

contributors, including The Gentle Author, Roger Love and Sean 

Gubbins of WalkHackney. Thank you! 

In place of the What’s on listings, we have an Essential online 

shopping guide, and, while not exhaustive, I hope it provides 

some helpful information and that you continue to support your 

local businesses, both those who are still trading and those who 

have had to shut their doors for the time being. They need us 

now more than ever. 

As you’d expect, for the foreseeable future we’re exclusively 

online, and if you’d like a copy of this PDF, just email me and I’ll 

pop one over. And, if you’d like to advertise, you can do so free 

of charge; it’s the least I can do to help support local businesses, 

especially those who have supported LoveEast over the years. 

Be sure to upload your virtual events and services for free on 

myeastlondon.online - it’s a great way to get the word out, 

especially for short-notice events. 

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the read, and, to steal Richard 

Carlson’s quote, ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’. 

Sending love - socially distanced, of course. 

Kaz 

Editor & Creative Direction Karen (Kaz) Ay 

Copy Editor Yolanda Powell 

Contributing Writers 

Jenny Wight 

Little Green Duckie 

Mark Wincott 

Michele Scarr 

Roger Love 

Sean Gubbins 

Sophie Downer 

The Gentle Author 

Cover, contents & page 36 images: Todd Kavonic 

Page 42 image: Paul Fuller Photography 

| Welcome to your local magazine 

What's inside... 

East Life 

4 

10 

Community 

14 

Et Cetera... 

20 

37 

Business 

8 

Art 

22 

Q&A with Comic book 

author Adam Wheeler 

Catching up with 

Jennings Couch 

Roman Road's 

Common Room needs 

your help 

The latest projects from 

Trapped in Zone One 

Essential listening with 

East London Radio 

Discover KANKAN's 

eco-friendly product 

and packaging concept 

'Harry the Pencil' 

Harrison's portraits 

12 Wellness with Michele Scarr 

16 The Gentle Author 

24 Jen Wight on Refuse Heroes 

26 Sean Gubbins Walks Hackney 

27 Roger Love on Fitness 

28 Gardening tips from Project Green Thumb 

30 Eating in - and ordering in 

32 Little Green Duckie 

36 Thoughts on a grey day 

38 Essential shopping guide 

42 Parting Shot 

LoveEast are media partners with East London Radio and Trapped in Zone One and is a member of the East End Trades Guild. #SupportLocalTraders 

To advertise with us, please call 07590 609 557 or email karen@chomp.me.uk for further information. Due to Lockdown, the magazine is online 

until further notice. LoveEast Magazine is produced and published by Chomp Creative Limited. We cannot be held responsible for any errors 

or omissions, nor endorse companies, products or services that appear in this magazine. © LoveEast Magazine 2020; all rights reserved. No 

reproduction can be made without permission. 

E: karen@chomp.me.uk | T: 07590 609 557 | W: loveeast.london | T: @LoveEastMag | I: @loveeastmag 

LOVEEAST Lockdown.01 3

| East life 

Mark Wincott finds out the backstor 

The Secret Protectors from author A 

Images courtesy of Adam Wheeler 

Thank you for doing this, first of all. How are you 

doing? And how are you finding this unusual 

experience at the moment? 

I’m an essential worker so my actual day-to-day 

hasn’t shifted massively. I think I’ve been incredibly 

fortunate because, unlike so many other people 

who are struggling, so far, I have been getting by. 

Like many of your readers though, I do have family 

who I am concerned about. I don’t know if I’m 

necessarily religious but I have definitely prayed 

to a higher power to keep them safe more than a 

few times. I think knowing that you have to keep 

your distance and not visit them, that’s the hardest 

part. This whole thing is equal parts terrifying 

and humbling but also there’s been glimpses of 

beauty that have been truly heart-warming. The 

togetherness, whilst social-distancing of course, 

that everyone is showing gives me hope for the 

future. 

Tell our readers a little about yourself. 

I’m the writer and creator of the comic book series 

The Secret Protectors along with artist and cocreator 

Benjamin Nunn. Apart from the comic, I’m 

actually pretty uninteresting to be honest. I grew 

up in Ilford and I now live just a few miles down 

the road in Hornchurch. I got married last year to 

my beautiful wife Kate and we have an old rescue 

Staffie called Archie. 

Let us know how this idea for The Secret 

Protectors comic book began and how you found 

artist extraordinaire Ben Nunn? 

Though the outline for what would become The 

Secret Protectors began decades ago, the series 

only truly became a thing when I decided to 

actually get serious and go about trying to get it 

made. I had no idea where to start, all I had was a 

bunch of ideas and zero artistic talent. I googled 

and researched a fair bit and eventually found Ben 

Nunn on a website. I thought his art style would be 

great for the series so I contacted him and, I couldn’t 

make this up, turns out Ben only lived about five 

minutes away from where I now live. It was some 

crazy luck and really made me believe that this was 

meant to be; like to some extent the universe had 

made this happen. Thankfully, Ben agreed and we 

got to work. Fast forward a few years and here we 

are with our fourth issue about to be released. 

4 LOVEEAST

| East life 

y behind the comic book series 

dam Wheeler 

What is your creative process and how long did 

it take you to invent these characters? Are they 

based on anyone? 

In 2017, when Ben and I began meeting regularly 

to build this comic world, we tried to differentiate 

our cast of characters from already established 

characters. Obviously, we wanted to be as original 

as possible but we certainly have some influences. 

I can’t talk for Ben but certainly for me, Chris 

Claremont’s legendary run on X-Men is definitely 

of significant mention. That team created some 

amazing stories. 

Explain why The Secret Protectors is different 

from what is out there today? 

I wanted to tell a narrative that has the reader 

questioning the actions of not just the villains but 

the heroes as well. Our story is as much a drama 

as it is a superhero fantasy-themed story. Our 

heroes, despite noble intentions, are only human, 

and all humans have flaws. They’re out-financed, 

out-gunned and running out of time. They have to 

cut corners; sometimes this means that lines get 

blurred. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but 

secrets are going to be coming out, in fact if you 

pay special attention you will pick up on things that 

we’ve hidden in plain sight in our issues thus far. 

What made you want to dive into the comic book 

world - and what comics/writers and characters 

influenced you? 

I grew up in the 80s, which was an incredible 

era for cartoons; He-Man, Transformers, TMNT, 

Thundercats, the list goes on. Then, roll round the 

90s and we got animated series of Batman, X-Men 

and Spider-Man. These shows, especially the X-Men 

series, had a real lasting impact on me, which even 

to this day more than holds up. These shows really 

lit my own imagination and left me with a real love 

of comic book characters. Fast forward to 2004 and 

the release of City of Heroes. COH was a MMORPG 

(like World of Warcraft) but instead of wizards 

and elves you could create, design and play with 

your very own superheroes and later supervillains 

too. Now, I know it probably sounds a bit silly but 

I couldn’t play as a character without giving them 

a full backstory and a personality. Over time my 

interest in the game waned but I had all these ideas 

and stories for these characters. That was probably 

the true, earliest birth point. Over the years, when 

it comes to writing, I’ve drawn on a lot of different 


| East life 

influences from comics; Chris Claremont, Alan 

Moore, Jack Kirby, Frank Miller to name but a few. 

Away from comics, I also love the work of David 

Simon (The Wire) and David Chase (The Sopranos) 

and of course Christopher Nolan. All these creators 

and many more have all, in some way, contributed 

to my storytelling style. The Secret Protectors in my 

mind is very much a superhero tale. Telling this story 

via comics was the only true option. 

How have storytelling and the artistry evolved 

over the years? 

I think one of the biggest changes in comics 

themselves is the way that crowdfunding platforms 

like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have made it possible 

for nobodies like us to create and sell our comic 

direct to the market. Years ago, the only option 

available would have been to tour the comic con 

circuit, which of course we still do but the ability 

to reach a larger audience is now massive. The 

storytelling in a lot of modern comics I’ve actually 

found to be a little too on the nose for me. I think 

the same can be said of a lot of the media really, 

which is why we’re trying to focus so much on 

allowing the reader to make up their own minds. We 

don’t want to preach about what you should and 

shouldn’t think. 

What is the first story you remember writing? 

Good question. Funnily enough, I remember quite 

vividly writing a story when I was in primary school 

about this female sword-wielding warrior on an 

adventure. I can’t really recall much more than that 

but I remember my teacher being quite impressed 

with my story, maybe not so much the violence in 

it though! It wasn’t particularly original from what I 

can recall, very Red Sonja-ish. 

What is the biggest challenge you have come up 

against while creating The Secret Protectors and 

how did you overcome it? 

The biggest challenge is and continues to be 

exposure. Gaining traction and a following is easily 

the hardest part, especially in the throwaway culture 

we now have where people have shorter attention 

spans. We can’t pump out an issue every month 

because we’re just a two-man team. Each page for 

instance probably takes about 8-10hrs of work. 

Since starting this venture what advice would you 

offer to someone who wishes to create their own 

story? 

Storywise, build your world from the ground up. Be 

sure it makes sense. Understand everything about 

it and build outwards from there even down to the 

6 LOVEEAST 

economy of the world itself. I know that may seem 

a bit over the top but you want your audience to be 

able to be completely immersed in your universe, no 

matter how bizarre it is. It needs to have a structure 

to it; even if you aren’t going to show that structure 

to begin with, you still need to know it yourself. 

A bit away from comic books and as we are 

LoveEast magazine, what do you love about East 

London? 

It’s easy to get complacent and take East London 

for granted, having lived here all my life. Even 

though the grind can get you down it’s so important 

to remember where you came from and how lucky 

we are to live in this incredible, diverse and colourful 

city, full to the brim of opportunity and amazing 

people. 

Name three things you would tell a tourist to 

check out when they come to this area? 

I’d definitely say there’s some amazing, underrated, 

parks for those who enjoy nature. Where I live in 

Havering, we have an abundance of them. When I 

met my wife, she lived in Hackney, and had done for 

years. It’s an eclectic area of hustle bustle and life 

with some incredible bars and restaurants, which 

we still go back to visit. It may be a little clichéd but, 

if I was a tourist, I wouldn’t want to miss a wander 

through Columbia Road flower market followed by 

a bagel on Brick Lane. 

With three issues already completed, what is the 

future for the Wheeler Nunn partnership? 

Well, issue 4 is very much on the horizon. With issue 

4 we’re planning to release it as part of an issues 1-4 

volume, via a Kickstarter campaign, which I’m really 

excited about. In fact, we planned to launch it earlier 

this year but now, with Covid-19, we’re in discussions 

over when to pull the trigger and just go for it! 

TO FIND OUT MORE 

W: https://bit.ly/3ePO27H 

I: @thesecretprotectors 

FB: @thesecretprotectors 

Mark Wincott is a born and bred East Londoner. A recovering 

grunger, music gives him peace of mind. He's a lover of pie 

mash liquor, likes the smell of rain and has written articles 

on music, MMA, Pro Wrestling and dealing with anxiety. "I'm 

unique and different just like everyone else". 

Follow Mark on twitter @Tattooed_Ginge 

and Instagram @tattooed.ginge

Big days and 

little days, we 

will make them 

perfect again 

when we return. 

A.G. Price Florist 

217-219 Well Street, E9 6QU 

T: 020 8986 0250 

W: agpriceflowers.co.uk 

I: @agpriceflorist 

Newham Bookshop 

Serving the communities of east London for 42 years 

Order books from our extensive stock 

Free local deliveries to Newham, Wanstead and Leytonstone 

By post to everywhere else from Haringey to Hoboken 

Email info@newhambooks.co.uk or call 020 8552 9993 

from 9 to 10.30 am on weekdays. 

Thank you to all our loyal 

customers and supporters. 

743-745 Barking Road, London E13 9ER 

Telephone: 020 8552 9993 

info@newhambooks.co.uk 

www.newhambooks.co.uk 

@NewhamBookshop 


| Business 

Meet KANKAN: A can-do approach to 

personal care... 

When two friends were looking for ways to reduce 

plastic in their lives, they were dismayed to find 

how limited their choices were or the extent to 

which they had to compromise. With backgrounds 

in fashion and food, they decided to channel their 

love of quality products into finding a no-sacrifice 

solution for refills in 

the home. KANKAN, a 

Hackney-based startup, 

was born. 

Co-founded in 2019 

by Eliza Flanagan 

and Mary McLeod, 

KANKAN aims to 

change how we 

use personal care 

products. It offers 

luxurious, natural 

washes (liquid 

soaps) packaged 

in aluminium refill 

cans. The brand’s 

ambition is to make 

refills more desirable 

and convenient, 

broadening 

their appeal and 

helping reduce the 

consumption of 

single-use plastics in the home. 

“Our aim is to trigger positive action in the world. 

By creating a new brand with a unique packaging 

idea, we hope that we can start conversations 

about single-use plastic and change behaviours 

that are out of date but still entrenched,” says Eliza 

Flanagan. 

KANKAN encourages 

people to re-use 

dispensers they 

already have at 

home, while for those 

without they have a 

glass ‘forever bottle’. 

One tree is planted 

for every can sold 

and ecommerce 

packaging can be 

returned (free of 

charge) for reuse. 

The company’s 

ambition is not only 

to be good but 

also to use its cans 

to do good: it is 

collaborating with 

artists on limited 

edition cans to raise 

money for grassroots, 

charitable initiatives that need exposure. 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

The daily washes are packed with nourishing 

botanicals and essential oils. They are vegan 

friendly and are free from parabens, sulphates and 

sodium lauryl sulphates (SLS). 

KANKAN has taken on board the basic principles 

of the circular economy: one that designs out 

waste and pollution, keeps products and materials 

in use and aims to regenerate natural systems. 

Its packaging is either returnable, reusable or 

recyclable – and it uses aluminium, the ultimate 

circular resource, as it is 100% recyclable and 

retains its properties indefinitely. Aluminium cans 

also have the advantage of being lightweight, 

durable and using very little material. 

8 LOVEEAST 

The co-founders hail originally from Australia and 

New Zealand, so perhaps it’s not surprising to 

learn they have ambitions to broaden the reach 

of KANKAN beyond the UK to a global market. 

For now, they are developing new products and 

packaging to continue with their ambition to make 

refills mainstream. 

Visit KANKAN's online shop: 

https://www.kankan.london/ 

Photos courtesy of KANKAN

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| East life 

You've been incredibly 

productive since we first met 

just over a year and a half ago, 

with lots of gigs and releasing 

new music. Tell us about some 

of your highlights. 

Yes! It’s been a really crazy year! 

The highlights have really been 

digital for me. I’m seeing steady 

growth in streams and followers 

which is amazing! Especially 

during Lockdown, more people 

are streaming music than ever 

which is great for me! 

Where Did You Come From 

has become really popular 

on Spotify with over 100,000 

streams - how does that feel? 

This was a real milestone 

for me! It’s just incredible to 

think people like my track 

enough to stream it so much. 

I’m honoured and humbled! 

Now its all about riding that 

momentum and carrying it on 

with my next releases. 

Tell us about the making of 

the video for You Taste Like 

Water; we understand it got a 

bit sticky. 

Oh dear… For the music 

video I had the idea to have 

coloured ice cream thrown 

at me and the band while we 

were performing. This was to 

reference certain lyrics in the 

song like “You taste like water, 

you’re so vanilla, my favourite 

colour”. On paper it was a great 

idea! But I couldn’t have imagined the mess. I’ve never been so 

sticky in my life! But hey, all in the name of art! 

You've been collaborating with other musicians and producers 

recently - how is that working with the Lockdown? 

Photo: Kyriakos Georgiou 

10 LOVEEAST

| East life 

The Lockdown has actually made us producers 

and musicians be more productive while we 

sit at home. I must admit, it's difficult to have 

sessions over the phone. I’d much rather have 

them in person. But at least we are keeping busy 

and keeping the creativity flowing! It’s a great 

opportunity to finish all the songs I’ve started as 

I have a tendency to jump around from one idea 

to another. 

Tell us about your upcoming EP, On The Edge 

Of Change. What made you decide to do it and 

when will it be released? 

I’m very excited about the upcoming EP! It’s the 

first EP I’ve ever released and to be honest I’m a 

little nervous. I’m used to releasing singles and 

promoting them one by one, but to promote 

a whole body of work is daunting. It was my 

manager who thought it was a good time to 

release an EP. Again, it's all about riding the 

momentum of the previous singles to something 

bigger and better! The EP will be available on 

the 7th of May. 

Regarding Lockdown, what do you miss the 

most that you can't do at the moment? 

Honestly, I miss gigging. That’s such a big part 

of being a musician and it's difficult not to be 

able to perform. Gigging is how I get exposure, 

reach wider audiences and ultimately practise my 

performing skills. I look forward to getting back 

on the stage, but it seems that might be a while. 

What's your best Lockdown tip? 

I would say the best Lockdown tip is to keep 

busy. Stay productive. These are tough times but, 

if we adjust our routines and lifestyles slightly, we 

can potentially be more productive than we were. 

Also get your once a day exercise. Being outside 

really helps clear the headspace! 

You're also doing some live streaming at the 

moment - where can we watch? 

Yes! I’m live streaming on Instagram and 

Facebook once a week. Make sure you follow me 

on Facebook and Instagram @jenningscouch to 

get all the details. 

Favourite food 

Right now, toasties. I’ve been getting real 

creative with toasties during Lockdown. 

Favourite tipple 

Red wine or whisky. 

Favourite holiday destination 

Italy. Can’t get enough of the food and wine. 

Favourite songwriter 

I would say Chris Martin of Coldplay is one of 

my favourite songwriters. I love the chords 

he uses. 

Favourite instrument to play 

It's a tie between piano and guitar. Depends 

on my mood! 

What's the nicest thing anyone's ever said 

to you? 

Comments about my hair are among the 

nicest! 

If you could change one thing about London 

(aside from Lockdown) what would that be? 

Cars. I would make all cars electric to reduce 

noise and air pollution. 

Who are your heroes? 

My mother. She’s taught me so much in life 

and I’m forever indebted to her! 

WATCH 

www.jenningscouch.com 

youtube.com/c/JenningsCouch 

vevo.com/artist/jennings-couch 

LISTEN 

open.spotify.com/artist/43RClIsYeah1rNFfJq25b6 

itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/jennings-couch/ 

id705842596 

FOLLOW 

Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @jenningscouch 


| Wellness 

Nutritional therapist Michele Scarr offers some 

information on supporting immunity with antioxidants. 

Increase your antioxidants 

Vitamins A, E, C, D are often talked about when 

it comes to the immune system but if you really 

want to bulletproof your immunity, you need 

to stockpile natural antioxidants (and not just 

the packets and tins of pulses!). When you 

supercharge this “antioxidant potential” you 

give your immune system a real boost. And, if 

you’re wondering ‘where have I heard about 

antioxidants before?’ they’re the things skincare 

companies tell you their anti-ageing moisturisers 

are full of, so double-win. 

Why are antioxidants 

important? 

Viruses and bacteria 

produce oxidants, which 

are reactive forms of 

oxygen that damage 

cells and age you faster. 

Simply, they are bad news. 

We’re also getting our fill 

of oxidants from eating 

chargrilled/ blackened 

foods or breathing polluted 

air, and maybe you’ve had 

a less than great diet over 

the years. Where you can end up is a situation 

in which you have too many oxidants and not 

enough antioxidants. 

Revving up your antioxidant status at times 

like these is a really good idea. While vitamin 

C seems to get all the praise when it comes 

to immunity, there’s another molecule that is 

the under-recognised supporting actor who 

deserves the starring role – glutathione. 

Glutathione – the master antioxidant 

Glutathione is one of the most important 

molecules in the body – almost like a magic 

elixir of health. Too little of it and you’re at risk 

of developing one of the most feared health 

conditions facing us today, including stroke, 

Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease. 

If you’ve got good enough levels, that’s where 

the gold is… 

But when levels are adequate or high, that’s 

when the magic happens. You’ll not only have 

protection from the conditions above, but you’ll 

have amazing energy, glowing skin, healthy 

detoxification, strong heart and brain function, 

and possibly even a longer life! 

Glutathione is made up of three amino acids 

called cysteine, glycine, and glutamic acid 

(or glutamate). It’s often called the “master” 

antioxidant because it helps recycle all the other 

antioxidants in your body 

like vitamins C and E, as 

well as alpha lipoic acid and 

CoQ10. 

Research show glutathione 

primes the white blood 

cells of the immune system 

and helps them produce 

more infection-fighting 

substances so they can 

control both bacterial and 

viral infections. 

Foods to increase 

glutathione 

Eating the right foods to naturally increase 

glutathione will help keep you fighting fit. There 

are a small number of foods that naturally 

contain glutathione. These include asparagus, 

avocado, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, spinach, 

broccoli, garlic, chives, tomatoes, cucumber, 

almonds, and walnuts. 

Some other foods contain the building blocks 

needed to make glutathione (they are the precursors 

– the warm-up act); the foods containing 

cysteine, and others containing sulphur and 

selenium. 

Good foods to choose are onions, spring onions, 

shallots, leeks, kale, bok choy, rocket, spring 

greens, watercress, radishes. Some spices, such 

as turmeric, cinnamon and cardamom, have 

compounds that can also help to restore healthy 

Photo by William Felker on Unsplash 

12 LOVEEAST

| Wellness 

levels of glutathione and its antioxidant enzymes. 

Alpha lipoic acid – glutathione’s reloader 

Alpha lipoic acid (also called ALA) is a critical coenzyme 

that helps to recycle many antioxidants, 

including vitamin C, E and also glutathione. It is 

well known for its anti-ageing effects on our cell’s 

energy factories, the mitochondria. 

Good food sources of alpha lipoic acid include: 

• Organ meats 

• Beef 

• Brewer’s yeast 

• Broccoli 

• Spinach 

• Brussels sprouts 

• Peas 

• Tomatoes 

Selenium – building block of antioxidants 

Selenium is an important trace mineral that is 

key in the production of glutathione (it also 

happens to be great for thyroid function so, if 

yours is a little off, consider getting more of this 

antioxidant: another double win). Good dietary 

sources of selenium include: 

• Seafood 

• Oysters 

• Brazil nuts 

• Eggs 

• Mushrooms 

• Whole grains 

• Organ meats 

• Dairy products 

Michele Scarr is a registered 

Nutritionist, Health Coach and 

Lecturer, and the author of 10 

Steps to Superhealth 

E: nutritioneast@gmail.com 

W: utritioneast.london 

FB: @nutrition.east.london 

10 STEPS TO 

superhealth 

Take charge of your health and rev up your immunity with these easy ideas 

Thanks to everyone for your support; we 

hope to be back soon! In the meantime 

follow us on social media to stay updated. 

@easthambread 

@breadclub@central_park_cafe 


| Community 

The race is on to raise funds for The Common 

Room in Roman Road 

The Roman Road Trust has until 25 May to raise 

funds for the transformation of The Common 

Room, a temporary community structure built in 

2014 in a neglected corner of Roman Road. The 

aim is to turn it into a fully functional, multicultural, 

learning and cultural facility for local people. The 

Mayor of London has pledged £50,000 towards 

the project – one of only two such high-value 

pledges by the Mayor. 

3D Architecture drawing of the proposed renovation 

For the past six years, The Common Room 

has played a key role in community events on 

Roman Road but it is now dilapidated and needs 

a complete overhaul to create a functional and 

usable space all year round. Once renovated, it will 

be used for an evolving programme of educational 

and cultural initiatives for local people. Themes of 

the first learning programmes will be sustaining 

healthy high streets and community organising for 

local groups. 

The project is part of Crowdfund London, a 

programme delivered by the Mayor of London and 

Spacehive, to back Londoners’ ideas for improving 

their local area. Pledges are collected only if a 

project hits its fund-raising target. As of 13 April, 

Transform The Common Room had reached 82% 

of its £74,337 target. 

Encounter Bow Festival, September 2019 

“Receiving the maximum pledge of £50,000 

from the Mayor of London proves how vital this 

project is to help benefit residents, businesses and 

community groups in Roman Road,” says Rosie 

Vincent, Managing Director of Roman Road Trust. 

“The crowdfund campaign is all-or-nothing. 

This means we still need more pledges to reach 

the total target and actually make the project 

happen. So, it is more crucial than ever to pledge 

your support to transform The Common Room 

into a place for all of us.” 

Jumble sale at The Common Room 

To find out more about the project and pledge 

support: 

www.spacehive.com/transformthecommonroom 

Photos courtesy of Roman Road Trust 

14 LOVEEAST

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L o n D o n E X P ERT I S E . L o CA L K nLOVEEAST oW LED Lockdown.01 g E 15

| The Gentle Author 

Val Perrin’s 

16 LOVEEAST


Empty Brick Lane 

Something curious has happened 

in Spitalfields. As the streets have 

emptied of people and shops have 

closed, it is as if we have passed 

through a time warp and the place 

is returning to how it was when I 

first knew it in the seventies. In this 

selection from Val Perrin’s superb 

pictures of Spitalfields taken 

between 1970-72, I have focused 

on his atmospheric photography 

of the deserted streets, evoking 

the sense of abandonment which 

prevailed at that time. 

OPPOSITE: At Shoreditch Station, looking 

through to Brick Lane 

TOP: Sclater Street 

BOTTOM: Brushfield Street 

FOLLOWING PAGES 

(Clockwise, from top left): 

1. Brushfield Street 

2. Cheshire Street 

3. Brick Lane 

4. Cheshire Street 

5. Brick Lane 

Photographs © Val Perrin 

The Gentle Author writes daily 

about the culture of East London at 

spitalfieldslife.com. You can also follow 

@thegentleauthor on twitter. 



18 LOVEEAST



| Community 

Putting the art into community partnerships 

Anyone who’s ever met Bablu Miah, founder of Trapped in Zone One (TIZ1), knows that grass never 

grows under his feet, not even in lockdown. He is one of the most community-minded people I’ve ever 

met, and I’m continually amazed at what he and creative director Natalia Suvorova accomplish with 

scarce resources. They’re both all about creativity and connecting with people, and here’s just some of 

what they’ve been up to recently: 

Limited edition print by @boogiesml donated to the 

Just Type Covid-19 fundraiser 

Lettering and graffiti artist @fourlettercword at work 

Just Type Covid-19 Fundraiser 

Several lettering artists have donated prints for this 

fundraiser in aid of Bow Food Bank and First Love 

Foundation. The fundraiser will continue through June 

with all of the proceeds split 50/50 between the two 

organisations and you can buy prints on the website. 

They’ve also got prints available to raise money for Art 

Against Knives. 

Amplifier Open Call 

TIZ1 has recently joined the global open call for art 

by Amplifier, a global public-health awareness project in 

response to #Covid19, by putting forward the bespoke 

stained glass work from Annahita Hessami of Cut Glass 

Studio Ltd & Philip Bradbury Glass Ltd. 

Shape Newham 

Over the past several months TIZ1 has been working 

with the youth at Forest Gate Youth Zone as a part of 

Shape Newham, a council initiative to engage residents 

in finding ways to improve public spaces in various parts 

of the borough through art. During the course of the 

project, participants from the Youth Zone were invited to 

work together with lettering and graffiti artist 

@fourlettercword to come up with a mural design for 

the outside of the building. Lots of ideas were exchanged 

and it was especially good to see these young people so 

engaged with the project. The project is on hold for the 

time being for obvious reasons, and we look forward to 

when it can be brought to fruition. 

FYI: Illuminating Awareness of Homelessness 

This exhibition was a collaboration with Cut Glass 

Studio and featured several artists in aid of YMCA North 

London, running initially at Great Art in Kingsland Road 

in November and then this past March in Crouch End. 

Trapped in Zone One is a BAME led arts collective that engages with community groups and organisations through creative 

practices to help and improve the wellbeing of London’s diverse communities. They do this by hosting workshops and exhibitions, 

as well as curating public murals in England and across Europe. TIZ1 has worked with a number of graffiti and lettering artists, 

using creativity to break down barriers and bring people together. 

TO FIND OUT MORE 

https://www.trappedinzoneone.com 

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/trappedinzoneone/ 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/TrappedinZoneOne/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrappedZoneOne 

20 LOVEEAST 

Photos courtesy of Trapped in Zone One


| It's Art baby, Art! 

'Harry the Pencil' Harrison's portraits: 

putting a name to the face 

Harry's paintings of disenfranchised people are timely, haunting, and a 

reminder that everyone has a name, a personality, and, above all, feelings. 

We are all human beings, after all, and it goes without saying that everyone 

deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter what their 

circumstances. Harry's work encapsulates that and provides yet another 

reason to appreciate the power of art. 

TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE BOOK 

Harry the Pencil - sharp and to the point 

https://bit.ly/2KoRY18 

https://issuu.com/jtp_placemaking/docs/harry_the_pencil 

The Gentle Author also has a lovely post of Harry's sketches: 

https://spitalfieldslife.com/2019/04/19/harry-the-pencils-lunchtime-sketchbook/ 

Follow Harry on Instagram: @harry_the_pencil 

Photos courtesy of and © David 'Harry' Harrison 

Tim 

Angus 

22 LOVEEAST

I am a retired architect who has drawn and painted as a hobby all my 

life. My drawing and draughting skills, (more or less redundant in today's 

digital world), were an asset in my architectural career and earned me 

the sobriquet 'Harry the Pencil'. I moved to the East End in 1978 and 

have lived here ever since. I believe the East End is undoubtedly the best 

place to live in London and have never, ever considered moving. There 

have been many changes from a mono-cultural to a much more diverse 

neighbourhood in the last forty-two years but despite gentrification the 

area has retained its unique sense of place. 

The portraits of homeless men Tom, Andrew, Tim and Angus and of 

Mick Taylor, a well known East End character, were inspired by a sense of 

compassion. I wanted to record the harsh reality of homelessness in our 

neighbourhood despite the increased affluence for some; many still 'fall 

through the cracks'. The paintings were exhibited in a cafe in Clerkenwell 

to raise money for the homeless charity Crisis. 

Since retiring three years ago, I have had the opportunity to devote more 

time to art and I work in a variety of mediums, pencil, watercolour and 

oil across a wide variety of subject matter. I have recently been doing 

a series of oil portraits of fellow dancers at a Northern Soul club called 

'Walls of Heartache' held at the Luna Lounge in Leytonstone, which we 

frequented prior to the current lockdown. 

| It's Art baby, Art! 

Tom Mick Andrew 


| Community 

What a Load of Rubbish - Jen Wight sounds off 

Are they rubbish collectors? Nope, they are our unsung heroes. 

Last week, someone was sick 

outside the door of my building. 

It was mainly on the floor 

around the nearby lamppost, 

but some of it splattered 

onto one of the rubbish bags 

awaiting collection. I know 

this because I’ve not been 

sleeping, for reasons you can 

imagine, and I saw the rubbish 

collectors’ 5.00am pick-up 

through my window. I watched 

with admiration as a rubbish 

collector carefully put an empty 

rubbish bag over the sicksprayed 

one. He then heaved 

both into the waiting truck. 

Vomit is potentially hazardous 

waste in normal times but, now, 

definitely hazardous. 

He deserves either a medal or 

a pay rise or both 

When I checked it out a few 

hours later, I considered 

cleaning it up myself with a 

bucket of hot water and bleach, 

for about three seconds, but 

then thought what if I spread 

any potential virus-infected 

cells, or get ill myself? 

So, I tweeted Hackney Council 

to let them know, and Dianne 

Abbott MP to ask that Hackney 

refuse collectors be paid extra 

hazardous pay during this stressful time. 

And yesterday, these fantastic workers, fully 

suited and masked, cleaned up the rest of the 

sick. It makes my blood boil that so-called lowskilled 

workers, such as rubbish collectors or 

street sweepers, are risking their lives coming to 

work to keep us safe and clean. Because without 

them we’d be in serious trouble. 

24 LOVEEAST 

My parents moved to Hackney 

in the 1970s and I remember 

their tales of the rubbish 

collectors’ strike, when 

rotting rubbish piled up and 

rats moved in. Now, in 2020, 

according to Keep Britain Tidy, 

an astonishing 2.25 million 

pieces of rubbish are dropped 

on UK streets every day. 

In her impassioned and 

marvellous speech on 

Newsnight recently, Emily 

Maitlis praised many key 

workers, but rubbish 

collectors didn’t make the list. 

https://www.youtube.com/ 

watch?v=L6wIcpdJyCI 

To show my appreciation, I’ve 

put up a sign saying thank 

you to my rubbish team, just 

as others have done across 

the country, from Cardiff to 

Swindon to Birmingham and 

beyond. 

I love the NHS - I mean one 

of my best friends is a nurse 

- but couldn’t one of the 

heartwarming claps sessions 

be for the street cleaners and 

rubbish collectors who are 

also risking their lives doing 

essential, but much lower 

status, jobs? 

Jen Wight is a writer, fundraiser and social activist. 

She has raised millions of pounds for social justice 

causes and contributed to numerous magazines and 

websites. Trigger Press published her first book Rattled 

in 2019. She lives in Hackney, where she grew up and 

went to school. 

Photos (from top) courtesy of: Jay Clark on Unsplash, Alberto Frías on Unsplash, 

Karl Bewick on Unsplash

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| Walk Hackney with Sean Gubbins 

“...one of the most diverting things a man can read in 

London.” 

So said a French visitor in 1696 of the published 

accounts of trials at the Old Bailey. More than three 

centuries later, 197,000 court cases from 1674-1913 

are available to peruse at www.oldbaileyonline.org; 

another intriguing website to distract us as we are 

stuck indoors at this strange time. 

Do a search on your surname. More felons than 

victims? These trial accounts are full of testimonies 

by victims, defendants, witnesses, law enforcers 

and, in the cases of people condemned to death, 

the ‘Ordinary’s Account’ of the prisoners’ last 

dying speeches and stories of their lives. As well 

as telling us about past crimes and how severely 

they were punished, these proceedings are a 

fascinating source of information about the history 

of the parts of London we live in. They tell us the 

names of people who lived in 

our neighbourhoods, the types 

of work they had and often even 

how they dressed. You may well 

recognise some of the place 

names. 

The route taken by coachman 

Henry Tomlinson one moonlit 

night in September 1769 might 

be familiar to you. Passing 

Shoreditch Church, he walked 

up Hackney Road, turned left 

at The Nag’s Head (opposite 

today’s Hackney City Farm), 

up Goldsmith’s Row to London 

Fields. There he was robbed of 

his watch and money by two 

men, one holding a pistol to 

his chest. Tomlinson clearly remembered what his 

attacker was wearing: “a brown coat, a hat cocked, 

white stockings, yellow buckles, and shoes buckled 

pretty high up,” a tall stooping man. William Troy, 

claiming himself to be “as innocent as a child 

unborn,” was found guilty of highway robbery and 

sentenced to death, later changed to transportation 

for life. 

The same route was taken 55 years later by Sarah 

Drew one Sunday in October 1824. Coming out 

of Shoreditch Church she noticed the man she 

thought had robbed her master’s house the week 

26 LOVEEAST 

18th century print of St. Leonard’s, 

aka Shoreditch Church 

before. Advised by a police officer to go after him 

should she see him, she followed him up Hackney 

Road and then as he turned off the road, crossing 

the (recently constructed) canal to London Fields. 

There, two of the man’s accomplices seized her, 

stuffing straw into her mouth to keep her quiet. 

They dragged her across the Fields, threatening to 

hang her, before emptying her purse of 17 shillings 

and 6 pence and throwing her into a pond. Passersby 

rescued Miss Drew, wet and muddy up to her 

neck, and took her to the Cat and Shoulder of 

Mutton Pub (still there), where the landlord called 

her a coach to take her to the police ‘office.’ Edward 

Harris, a silk-weaver aged 37, was found guilty of the 

assault and sentenced to death. He was hanged the 

following February at Newgate. 

Further up, the path taken by Mr 

Tomlinson and Miss Drew comes 

into Hackney just where today’s 

Town Hall stands. Thereabouts in 

1802, 14-year old Thomas Cox was 

caught stealing two loaves of bread 

from Church Street baker, Edward 

Osman. “I was almost starving,” 

pleaded young Tom, “and seeing 

this bread I took it.” After being 

publicly whipped, the boy was 

discharged. 

Branding was another form of 

punishment until 1789. The thumb 

was branded with F for felony or M 

for manslaughter. In 1698 Hackney 

man Richard Robins was found 

guilty of stealing a cow worth 12 

shillings (60p). He would have been branded with 

a T for theft, carried out in the courtroom after the 

trial in front of spectators 

Just as we may be engrossed today by media 

presentations of True Crime, these accounts were a 

popular read from the outset, 346 years ago. 

Looking for something to do one weekend? 

Intrigued to find out more about Hackney? 

Look up walkhackney.co.uk and, once the 

lockdown is lifted, pick a walk that takes your fancy.

| Roger Love on Fitness 

If you haven't started exercising home during lockdown, don't worry. It is easy to 

get going. Just dive in. You could set yourself a time goal, for example to be active 

for 30 or 60mins a day. If nothing else, get walking, as many steps as possible. 

Here is a deliberately simple bodyweight circuit - if you are stuck where to start, this would be a 

good place. 

Also, make the most of your one exercise trip a day - get in as many steps as you can... your phone 

should record them (Health on iPhone, for example) even if you don't have a tracker. 

CIRCUIT 

Warm-up by walking on the spot, with some pressups 

in the air and punching up to sky, shallow 

squats, shallow lunges and then some gentle 

jumping jacks. 

10 Press ups (toes or knees) 

10 squats (feet hip width apart) 

10 sit-ups 

20 lunges (10 on each leg) 

10 Press ups with hands close together (form a 

diamond with hands under your head, on toes or 

knees) 

20 jumping jacks (or mountain climbers or 5 to 10 

burpees) 

Plank (between 20secs and 1min) 

(Repeat) 

As a wise client 

said as lockdown 

started: 

"Let's come out of 

this fitter than we 

went in." 

Photo: Jonathan Borba on unsplash 

Roger Love Is a personal trainer based in 

Netil House E8. rogerlovept.com 


| Gardening 

Five gardening tips from Project Green Thumb 

If you are one of the very lucky people to be blessed with a garden during this 'stay at 

home' period then I hope you have been able to make the absolute most of the sunshine 

and fresh air. 

Avid gardeners like me will be 

in their element right now with 

all the extra gardening time on 

their hands but for those of you 

who are sitting there, staring 

at a broken old fence, a carpet 

of weeds on steroids and few 

to no 'green thumb' skills, then 

don't despair. Anyone can learn 

to garden with a little bit of 

help and guidance. It's also a 

great support to your emotional 

wellbeing and a brilliant 

immunity booster. 

Right now it's almost impossible 

to get hold of garden supplies 

such as weed spray, plants, soil, 

plant food etc., but the good 

news is there are many things 

you can do to get started that 

don't cost a single penny. 

28 LOVEEAST

| Gardening 

Here are my top 5 handy tips to combat the 

lack of resources: 

1. Weeds - pull up as many as you can and pour 

boiling water over the roots to kill them so 

they don't come back. Job done! 

2. Snail and slug deterrent - mix up a teaspoon 

of garlic powder, chilli powder, salt and 

pepper and sprinkle this mixture over the 

base of your plants. No more nibbles. 

3. No plants available? No problem! Take 

cuttings from plants like hydrangeas, 

buddleia, penstemon, lavender, verbena 

(and more) and you will have new flowers in 

no time. See our FB or IG account for more 

instruction. 

4. Make a nettle and comfrey tea as a superstrong 

liquid plant food. Stinky but totally free 

and plants love it, especially tomatoes! 

5. Join an online community group such as 

the Nextdoor App so you can start swapping 

seeds and plants with your neighbours. 

I hope this helps with your garden dilemmas 

but there are plenty more tips like this, with a 

lot more info, on our Facebook and IG accounts. 

Feel free to follow along and ask any questions 

you may have. We'll be very happy to help. 

Happy gardening folks! 

Project Green Thumb 

East London Gardening Services 

W: projectgreenthumb.co.uk 

FB: projectgreenthumb/ 

I: @projectgreenthumbuk 

P: projectgreenthumbuk 

Photos courtesy of Project Green Thumb 

Circuit Queen 

Fighting Fit Studio 

1-1 personal training 

- studio or video calling 

michellept.co.uk 

07805 612127 

@fightingfitstudio 


| Eating in with Sophie Downer 

Sophie Downer's 

recipe for Demerara 

meringues, rhubarb 

and whipped cream 

is easy, inexpensive 

and uses minimal 

ingredients. 

Ingredients 

For the meringue 

4 egg whites 

100g caster sugar 

125g demerara sugar 

Squeeze of lemon 

For the rhubarb 

4 or 5 sticks of rhubarb 

A couple of handfuls of 

caster sugar 

A splash of white wine, 

125ml-ish, (optional, can use 

a splash of water instead) 

Double cream to serve. A 

300ml tub should serve 4 

meringues generously. 

Method 

1. Have your oven ready at 110 °C to 120°C gas mark 1, and a baking 

tray lined with parchment (I use reusable parchment, its available 

in most supermarkets). 

2. Use a machine to whisk your whites, caster, demerara sugar and 

squeeze of lemon until stiff peaks are formed, this can be done by 

hand but I don’t think I’d recommend it (unless you can’t get to 

the gym and are in need of a serious workout!). 

3. Once your peaks are there, spoon your blobs (around 8 

depending on how big you’d like them) onto your parchment, 

bake for 90 minutes, until light and crisp, and a little gooey in the 

middle. 

4. Meanwhile, cut your rhubarb stems into two inch batons, pop 

them in a saucepan with caster sugar (I suggested a couple of 

handfuls but it’s up to your taste). 

5. Heat 3-4 tbsp of oil in a medium size pan, add the finely sliced 

rhubarb. Add the splash of wine or water and gently simmer until 

just soft, this takes around 5 to 10 minutes depending on how 

thick the rhubarb stems are. 

6. Finally, whip your double cream, or leave it for pouring if you 

prefer, and assemble your work on a plate. I like to smash the 

meringue and splat the cream and rhubarb on top, in a “I want to 

gobble it all up” sort of fashion. 

Then gobble it up and enjoy! 

Sophie is a trained chef and runs the Central Park Cafe in East Ham's Central Park. 

Follow Sophie on Instagram: @breadclub1 and on Facebook: @easthambread. 

30 LOVEEAST 

Photo: Sophie Downer

| Ordering in 

We may not be able to go out but there are a lot of local traders offering socially distanced 

collection and/or delivery and we list some below. Be sure to check your local pubs, bakeries and 

fave restaurants as well, and support them. They need you now more than ever. 

BEER, WINE, GIN ETC. 

How fortunate are we to have so many to choose from! 

Bevertown Brewery 

https://www.beavertownbrewery.co.uk/home/ 

Bottle Apostle 

https://www.bottleapostle.com/delivery-information.html 

Bottle & Blade (also delivers bread) 

https://www.instagram.com/bottleandblade_e9/ 

Burgess & Hall Wines 

http://burgessandhall.com 

Crate Brewery 

https://crate-brewery-ltd.myshopify.com 

East London Brewing Co 

https://www.eastlondonbrewing.com 

Exale Brewing 

http://exalebrewing.com/beers/ 

Five Points Brewery 

fivepointsbrewing.co.uk 

Hacha Bar 

https://www.hachabar.com 

Hackney Church Brew 

https://hackneychurchbrew.co 

Howling Hops 

https://www.howlinghops.co.uk 

Husk 

https://www.huskbrewing.com 

London Fields Brewery 

https://www.londonfieldsbrewery.co.uk 

Meantime Brewing 

https://www.meantimebrewing.com 

Nirvana Brewery **Alcohol Free** 

https://www.nirvanabrewery.com 

Pillars Brewery 

https://www.pillarsbrewery.com 

Pressure Drop 

https://pressuredropbrewing.co.uk 

Pretty Decent Beer Company 

https://www.prettydecentbeer.co 

Shoreditch Wine House 

https://www.shoreditchwinehouse.co.uk 

Signature Brew 

https://www.signaturebrew.co.uk 

The Real Ale Co 

https://www.therealalcompany.co.uk/distro 

To Be Consumed 

https://linktr.ee/tbcwine 

Trumans 

https://www.trumansbeer.co.uk 

Vinarius 

https://vinarius.london 

Wildcard Brewery 

https://www.wildcardbrewery.co.uk 

The Wanstead Tap 

https://taptakeaway.co.uk 

COFFEE 

Now is the perfect time to get a coffee subscription and support 

your local roasteries. 

Darkside Coffee 

https://www.darksidecoffee.co.uk/buy-coffee/ 

Perky Blenders 

https://perkyblenders.com 

Union Coffee 

https://unionroasted.com 

Wood Street Coffee 

https://www.woodstcoffee.co.uk/shop 

Square Mile Coffee 

https://shop.squaremilecoffee.com 

Ozone Coffee 

https://ozonecoffee.co.uk/?v=79cba1185463 

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD 

What's open and who delivers in your neighbourhood: 

The Dishpatch 

https://dishpatch.co.uk 

E5 Bakehouse 

You can pre-order bread to collect: 

https://e5bakehouse.com 

Hackney Essentials 

www.hackneyessentials.com 

My Virtual Neighbourhood 

https://www.localbuyersclub.com 

Sable Food 

Offers a discount for keyworkers and those who have lost their 

jobs due to the lockdown: 

http://www.sabelfood.co.uk/boxeswithbenefits 

Tryd 

Essentials delivered - from tinned foods to toilet roll: 

https://tryd.co.uk 

PACKAGE-FREE SHOPS 

Get Loose Foods in Hackney City Farm 

https://www.getloosefoods.com 

Re:Store in Hackney Downs 

https://restorerefill.co.uk 


| Little Green Duckie 

Little Green Duckie on ways to have a clean and 

chemical-free home 

Photo: Little Green Duckie 

I make a number of my own cleaning products, and you 

can too; it’s easier than you might think. Here are some 

reasons why I do it and some simple recipes to enable 

you to become a chemical-free household. 

Chemical issues 

I was shocked to discover the US Environmental 

Protection Agency found the average US house 

contains 2-5 times more air pollution than the air 

outside, and in some cases up to 100 times more. 

Household cleaning products, air fresheners, personal 

care products and pesticides are contributing factors, 

and are best avoided where possible. Also, it might 

seem obvious, but it’s worth pointing out that fresh 

air and good ventilation are important in terms of 

maintaining a healthy indoor environment. 

Saving money 

The average UK household in 2018 spent £140 per year 

on cleaning products. Using items that most of us have 

to hand anyway will cost a lot less than this. 

Animal testing 

It is strange that after all the anti-animal 

testing cosmetics campaigns of the 90s 

most mainstream UK cleaning products 

are still tested on animals. To ensure 

you are using animal-free tested products look for the 

leaping bunny logo on the packaging. 

What I use 

A cheaper solution to buying commercial products is 

to make your own. My cleaning arsenal is very simple; 

lemon, white vinegar, bi-carb, natural washing up 

liquid and tea tree oil. I have spray bottles from when I 

used to buy cleaning products and refill them with the 

appropriate combination of items as I need to. 

32 LOVEEAST 

My cleaning product recipes 

• Floor mopping spray – 1/4 cup of white vinegar to 1 

cup of water 

• Shower spray – 1/4 cup of white vinegar to 1 cup of 

water, a few drops of essential oil of your choice 

• Window cleaning – mainly water with a bit of white 

vinegar and a little washing up liquid 

• Anti mould – 1/4 cup white vinegar, few drops of 

tea-tree oil, 1 cup water 

• Lemon to remove water marks and limescale – keep 

lemon halves left over from cooking in the fridge 

and use as needed. Or a bottle of lemon juice. 

• Bi-carb (baking soda) – a mild abrasive, for 

anything a bit stubborn. Make into a paste with 

water for cleaning the oven and baking trays. 

Where to get ingredients 

I am able to get all of the above, apart from tea tree oil, 

from my local plastic-free, organic shop, Get Loose in 

Hackney City Farm, using containers I already have as 

refills. 

https://www.getloosefoods.com 

If you’re near Hackney Downs, there’s also Re:Store. 

https://restorerefill.co.uk 

If you don’t live near a bulk shop, 5 litre bottles of white 

vinegar can be bought online for around £5. 

If you don’t have any essential oils hiding at the back 

of the bathroom cupboard, your local health food shop 

should have a good range. 

For washing up liquid I use Bio-D, as it is plant-based, 

made in the UK, does not pollute the water system and 

is not tested on animals. Many health food shops stock 

a natural washing up liquid so shop around to see what 

suits you. Better yet, buy online in 5 litre containers 

(you can then refill a smaller one) saving money and 

packaging. 

Little Green Duckie (Justine) lives in Stratford and is a 

Sustainability blogger who envisions a disposable plasticfree 

city. Challenges rail companies on water fountains, 

book swap guardian and loves a litter pick. 

W: littlegreenduckie.com 

T: @LttlGreenDuckie 

FB: @LittleGreenDuckie

P R O J E C T G R E E N T H U M B 

M ICHELE S C ARR 

CNM DIP NUT CNHC mBANT 

I help people struggling with 

energy, hormones, weight & 

07453 421 377 

and attractive again. 

www.nutritioneast.london 

nutritioneast@mail.com 

(+44) 7984 149089 

T H E ' U R B A N G A R D E N ' 

S P E C I A L I S T S 

www.projectgreenthumb.co.uk 

@projectgreenthumbuk 

Project Green Thumb 


SERVING UP A 

CREATIVE FEAST 

OF IRRESISTIBLE 

DESIGN TREATS. 

Visual Identity | Graphic Design | Exhibition Solutions 

07590 609 557 

karen@chomp.me.uk 

www.chomp.me.uk 

34 LOVEEAST

| Culture 

Telling the story of 

London in lockdown 

The Museum of London is seeking to collect both objects and first-hand experiences to reflect Londoners’ 

lives during this time, in order to keep a record and to ensure future generations will be able to learn about 

and understand this extraordinary period. 

The museum is keen to focus on three strands of collecting: how the physical spaces in the city have been 

transformed – from a bustling metropolis to hushed streets - while the social and working lives of many 

have moved digital; the effects on key and home workers and how children and young people are reacting 

to and coping with the changes now that many schools are closed. 

They are hoping to collect both physical and digital objects, reflecting the voices and experiences 

of a broad range of Londoners. From those working on the front line to those quietly working in the 

background, from parents turned home-school support to young people online gaming, the museum 

wants to collect objects from those that can tell the story of London in lockdown. 

Individuals and organisations who would like to donate objects should get in touch via social media 

@MuseumofLondon or email enquiry@museumoflondon.org.uk. 

"Wherever 

you are, 

be all 

there" 

- Jim Elliot 


| Thoughts on a grey day 

What are you waiting for? 

She's waiting for a delivery. 

He's waiting for his shift to end. 

They're waiting for the TV show to start. 

I'm waiting for the kettle to boil. 

We used to hate waiting for the bus. 

She's waiting to find out if she's pregnant. 

He's waiting for the Zoom meeting to begin. 

They're waiting for their PPE. 

You're waiting for a letter. 

He's waiting to hear from his girlfriend. 

I'm waiting for the files to upload. 

They're waiting to see if it all works out. 

She's waiting to hear from her mum. 

He's waiting for the game to download. 

They're waiting for an update. 

We used to be waiting for our waiter. 

You're waiting in a queue. 

He's waiting for his eggs to boil. 

They're waiting to hear the results. 

We actually miss waiting for the train. 

She's waiting for the toast to pop out of the toaster. 

You're waiting for the damn money to be deposited. 

He's waiting for a text message. 

We're all waiting for the lockdown to end. 

You're trying to wait patiently. 

We're all tired of waiting. 

We may be waiting quite a long time. 

And all we can do is wait... 

36 LOVEEAST

| Community 

Essential listening with East London Radio 

East London Radio has been passionate about ‘Getting East London Talking’ since first 

going on air in 2013. Run entirely by volunteers, the online community station is a mix of 

talk and music, with shows that reflect our diverse community. 

Characterised by promoting a positive image of East 

London as well as supporting local businesses, charities 

and community events, there is something for everyone, 

including interviews, a variety of music from reggae to 

rock, grassroots football, entertainment and more. It's 

also been the starting place for many who've wanted to 

get involved in 'making radio'. 

Pre-lockdown, ELR's studios provided open access to 

East London residents with a desire to learn about and 

be trained in radio skills. ELR uses a hands-on approach, 

sharing knowledge and expertise on anything from 

presenting to production. They've also run workshops in 

conjunction with schools and community groups, with 

many benefitting from the exposure a radio platform 

provides. 

In spite of the studios being shut due to lockdown, 

ELR is as busy as ever, producing shows, providing 

entertainment and continuing to be a voice for East 

London. Founder Ian Chambers says, "We're on air 24/7 

and we're adding new, live content during lockdown, 

which has been really exciting, especially since everything 

is being done remotely at the moment." 

ELR's shows are also uploaded to MixCloud where people 

can listen at their leisure. 

The station is funded by advertising as well as donations, 

and they've just launched a crowdfunding campaign with 

the Mayor of London's Pay it Forward scheme, whereby 

people can pledge their support. 

SUPPORT THE CROWDFUND CAMPAIGN 

payitforward.london.gov.uk/eastlondonradio 

TUNE IN 

eastlondonradio.org.uk 

mixcloud.com/EastLondonRadio/ 

T: @EastLondonRadio 

FB: @ELondonRadio 

GET IN TOUCH 

yes@eastlondonradio.org.uk 


| What's Open? 

Your online 'essential shopping' guide 

Many of our local businesses are offering collection and/or delivery and while this is by no 

means an exahaustive list, it's a place to start, and hopefully will spur you on to checking 

out others in your area. Be sure to check websites for dates, times and delivery zones, as 

this is a moveable feast. Most importantly, support your local traders. 

ART, CRAFT & HOMEWARE 

Hackney Arts delivers art and craft 

materials 

https://www.hackneyarts.com/shop 

Hackney Flea Market's twitter feed 

and Facebook page has info for online 

sales - fnd the links on their website: 

http://www.hackneyfleamarket.com 

Hooksmith Press - prints can be ordered 

online: 

https://www.hooksmith.com 

Jealous Gallery - prints can be ordered 

online: 

https://www.jealousgallery.com 

Local Makers Market's instagram feed 

is doing 24 hour Lockdown sales: 

@localmakersmarket 

Snap is taking online orders for stationery 

and other bits & pieces: 

https://snap-store.com 

Trapped In Zone One has prints 

available online and proceeds go to 

various charities: 

https://www.trappedinzoneone.com/shop 

Urban Makers has an online shop of 

local designers & makers: 

https://urbanmakers.co.uk 

BEER, WINE, GIN ETC. 

See page 33 

BOOKSHOPS 

Order books online from any of our 

independent bookshops: 

Brick Lane Bookshop 

https://www.bricklanebookshop.org 

Newham Bookshop 

http://www.newhambooks.co.uk 

Pages of Hackney 

https://pagesofhackney.co.uk 

Spitalfields Life Books 

https://spitalfieldslife.com/bookshop/ 

38 LOVEEAST 

BUSINESS HELP 

Businesses can now submit their claim 

for the Small Business Grant Fund and 

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant 

Fund online: 

https://bit.ly/2Xwji5x 

COFFEE 

See page 33 

HOME & GARDEN 

Empire Security in Well St for any 

locksmith needs 

020 8986 7921 

Halo Floors & Carpentry 

http://www.halofloors.co.uk 

Project Green Thumb is offering virtual 

garden planning 

https://www.projectgreenthumb.co.uk 

Scott Whitehead Trees 

https://www.scottwhiteheadtrees.co.uk 

INDEPENDENT ESTATE AGENTS 

available for advice and information: 

April Properties 

http://www.aprilproperties.co.uk 

Butler & Stag 

https://www.butlerandstag.uk 

Outlook Properties 

https://www.outlookproperty.com 

LEARN A SKILL 

London Software Training is offering 

online courses for all sorts of computer 

skills: 

https://www.londonsoftwaretraining. 

co.uk 

Bobby Seagull has a great YouTube 

channel with quizes, study aids, 

motivational clips and more. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClNF95OSxTtfnUfTNJdEzg 

RESTAURANTS & TAKEAWAY 

See page 33 

STUFF TO DO ONLINE 

COMEDY 

London Fields Brewery Comedy Nites 

https://www.instagram.com/ 

londonfieldsbrewery/ 

COMMUNITY RADIO 

East London Radio 

https://eastlondonradio.org.uk 

Hoxton Radio 

http://hoxtonradio.com 

London Fields Radio 

http://www.londonfieldsradio.org 

Shoreditch Radio 

https://www.shoreditchradio.co.uk/ 

listen-live/ 

KID FRIENDLY 

Baby Broadway 

https://www.facebook.com/ 

babybroadwayuk/ 

Bring Your Baby 

https://bringyourbaby.org 

MUSIC 

Estelio String Quartet 

https://www.facebook.com/pg/estilostring4/ 

posts/?ref=page_internal 

GigsGuide 

https://gigs.guide/live 

Jam Sandwich 

https://en-gb.facebook.com/ 

JamSandwichLive/ 

The Nest Collective 

https://thenestcollective.co.uk/newssinging-nightingales-live-at-home/ 

PUB QUIZ 

Lots of pubs are doing online quizes, 

cocktail master classes and more. Check 

out your local to see what's on offer and 

to support them.

| What's Open? 

WELLNESS AND SELF CARE 

Annie Yoga London 

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Annie-Yoga- 

London-504016622978278/posts/?ref=page_ 

internal 

Cassius Powell is streaming dance 

classes on his Instagram feed: 

@cassiuspowell 

Community Psychotherapy Network 

in Bethnal Green is doing online 

consultations: 

https://communitypsychotherapy.org.uk 

Fighting Fit Studio has 1-1 personal 

training online: 

https://michellept.co.uk 

HempSmile has an online shop for CBD 

products: 

https://www.hempsmile.co.uk 

KanKan London has an online shop with 

organic soaps in re-fillable cans: 

https://www.kankan.london 

NutritionEast is offering online 

nutritional consultations: 

https://nutritioneast.london 

Move Studio is offering online yoga 

classes: 

https://www.movestudiolondon.com 

The Refinery streams online yoga and 

fitness classes 

https://therefinerye9.com 

Skin & Sanctuary is sharing skincare 

tips on their Facebook and Instagram 

feeds - check their website for links: 

https://skinandsanctuary.com 

SootheMe online shop for organic, hand 

made skincare products: 

https://soothe-me.com 

Roger Love has some working from 

home workouts on his website: 

https://www.rogerlovept.com/bloghackney-personal-trainer 

Upload your 

virtual events 

for free on 

myeastlondon.online 

WORTH CHECKING OUT 

The Leytonstoner 

https://www.leytonstoner.london 

Roman Road London 

https://romanroadlondon.com/ 

shops-open-for-business/ 

SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY RETURN 

Below is a list of just some of the many businesses that have supported 

the East London community as well as LoveEast itself. You can support 

them by purchasing a gift card to be used at a later date, or by making 

a donation either directly or to a crowdfunding page if they have one, or 

simply getting in touch to see if there is anything they might need. Don't 

forget your local restaurants, pubs and coffee houses.. 

Abbotts - flooring, carpets & blinds 

http://www.abbottsflooring.co.uk 

Abbi Florists 

Plaistow - 020 7476 5576 

A.G. Price Florists 

http://www.agpriceflowers.co.uk 

Applecart Arts 

https://applecartarts.com/index.php 

Arcola Theatre 

https://www.arcolatheatre.com 

Bluebird Pictures 

http://bluebirdpictures.org 

Branch on the Park Jewelers 

https://www.branchonthepark.co.uk 

Brewclub 

https://www.brewclub.uk.com 

The Castle Cinema 

https://thecastlecinema.com 

Central Park Cafe 

https://www.facebook.com/ 

easthambread/ 

Coffee Afrique 

https://www.coffeeafrique.co.uk 

Eleven 98 

https://www.eleven98hackney.com 

Flow Architecture 

https://www.flowarchitecture.co.uk 

Genesis Cinema 

https://genesiscinema.co.uk/ 

GenesisCinema.dll/Home 

Hackney Empire 

https://hackneyempire.co.uk 

Spitalfields Life has updates every 

Wednesday with what's open in the area: 

https://spitalfieldslife.com/2020/04/15/ 

list-of-local-shops-open-for-business-b/ 

Tower Hamlets Council has all sorts of 

stay at home resources: 

orlo.uk/zyZkG 

Hackney Picturehouse 

https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/ 

hackney-picturehouse 

Husk Coffee & Creative Space 

http://www.huskcoffee.com 

Launch22 

http://www.launch22.co.uk 

Lizzie Thorne Flowers 

https://www.lizziethorne.com 

London Fields Fitness 

https://www.londonfieldsfitness.com 

Oxford House 

https://www.oxfordhouse.org.uk 

RichMix 

https://richmix.org.uk 

Rio Cinema 

https://riocinema.org.uk/RioCinema.dll/ 

Home 

Spotlight 

https://wearespotlight.com 

St Margaret's House 

https://www.stmargaretshouse.org.uk 

Stratford East Picturehouse 

https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/ 

stratford-picturehouse 

Tessa Crighton Miller Garden Design 

https://www.tessacrichtonmiller.com 

Walk Hackney 

http://walkhackney.co.uk/about/ 

Wonderland Ceramics 

https://wonderlandceramics.com/wp/ 

The Yard Theatre 

https://theyardtheatre.co.uk/ 


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| Parting shot 

42 LOVEEAST

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LoveEast.55

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