convening to fight

The Big Cancer52 Conversation kicked off recently at Level39, bringing together leaders from the charity, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors to share best practice, exchange ideas and explore collaborations, with the aim of improving outcomes for people with rare and less common cancers.

There was a fantastic energy in the room, with a key focus on working together and innovation. The day was structured around three big conversations geared towards finding solutions to the challenges faced by people affected by these cancers.

These were collaborating with the NHS to help patients get diagnosed earlier, working with the pharmaceutical industry to improve patient outcomes and finally harnessing technology to best support patients.

Cancer52 is the common voice for rare and less common cancers that account for 47% of diagnoses yet 55% of deaths. Despite this, these cancers remain severely under-represented across all areas, including policy, services, and research.

The Cancer52 alliance has more than 100 cancer charities working together on matters that impact the rare and less common cancer community –defined as all cancers outside those of the breast, prostate, lung and bowel.

Conversations like this are critical for improving outcomes, as patients with rare and less common cancers are frequently diagnosed later due to more vague, non-specific symptoms in patients. There is also less public awareness of rare and uncommon cancer symptoms.

We were introduced to the Cancer52 team and mission by Level39 member, The Cancer Awareness Trust which is part of the growing healthtech and life sciences community here at Canary Wharf.

As supporters of this event, we look forward to working together to identify next steps to maximise its impact.

Amy French is director at Level39 in Canary Wharf – follow @Level39CW on Insta and Twitter and @Level39CanaryWharf on LinkedIn

Go to level39.co for more information about the One Canada Square-based tech community

Scan this code to find out more about Cancer52 or to donate to its work in battling less common forms of cancer

Cancer52 is an alliance of more than 100 charities that works together for better patient outcomes in diseases outside breast, prostate, lung and bowel cancers

Virtual Viewpoint

by Chris Ezekiel

As every football fan will testify, it’s always hard losing one of your star players – especially to an arch-rival team and even more so when the player started as a 14-year-old academy player and has been revered for nearly a decade. This is what all us West Ham supporters have recently experienced with the departure of Declan Rice to Arsenal.

We all know that football has become a big money business and it’s a sad fact that money now seems to trump loyalty.

There are rare exceptions. Mark Noble was a one club man and is known as Mr West Ham having spent 18 years playing for the Hammers before retiring in 2022. He is now the club’s sporting director. Mark epitomises an unwavering loyalty that is becoming increasingly hard to find in football.

I’ve been considering this recent change at West Ham from two perspectives. Firstly, from the perspective of children who support the team and have their idols, only to see their dreams dashed in a flash.

My two little Hammers fans are too young at the ages of two and six months to know much about it, but my friend’s boy, Jack, who’s coming up to seven, was upset that his idol had left the club.

Secondly, from a business perspective. Running Creative Virtual, I know that inevitably people come and go. This happens in all businesses and change is healthy for all concerned.

Companies need fresh ideas and thinking, and people need new challenges. Whatever changes and challenges emerge, however, what is important is that the fabric of an organisation remains intact – this is critical for its continued survival. For West Ham it’s the club’s history, the supporters, its East End heritage, I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles and the rare Mr West Hams.

Just like in our personal lives, a company needs a core team of unwavering supporters. I’m fortunate to have such key individuals at Creative Virtual and they form the fabric of our company.

So while Jack may have initially been sad, I know he has enough Mr West Ham-type people in his life to be absolutely fine. In any case, he soon bounced back with the comment: “at least he still plays for England”.

Fee reportedly agreed between West Ham and Arsenal to capture the signature of midfielder Declan Rice, making him the joint most expensive player in the Premier League £100m

Scan this code for more information about Creative Virtual l The Dockland Settlements aims to provide support to local communities who live close to our centres in Newham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets. l As a charity we provide sporting, social, recreational and educational activities as well as low cost playcare to help parents go back to work or remain in work. l The Calder’s Wharf centre opened its doors on the Isle of Dogs in January 2020. It hosts playcare services and its halls are home to a variety of activities for the community including sporting, social, recreational and educational activities. The centre also has a spa room which is used for massages and beauty related activities. Its halls are also available for hire.

Cost of an adult ticket to see Terrible Thames. Kids aged 3-15 cost £15, while toddlers and babies go free

Cast O

Jake Addley, The Teacher

Playing the role of The Teacher, Jake Addley is a member of the current rotating cast of Terrible Thames. Essentially the more sensible and serious of the two characters, whose pomposity is constantly pricked by his exuberant student.

Jake said: “I started o as a child actor, appearing in Shakespeare plays and pantomimes from about the age of 10 at an arts centre in Bracknell.

“Then I got an opportunity to attend the Brit School when I was 16 and my career went from there. I wanted to be a dancer for a long time, so I was in a contemporary dance group.

“From the age of 18, I was appearing professionally. About two years ago I was performing in another show and got asked if I wanted to audition for Terrible Thames – I did so and got the part.

“Having the river as your set is amazing, especially if it’s a nice sunny day – cruising up and down between all these iconic buildings and historic monuments. However, because the tide goes in and out the speed of the boat up and down stream can change completely so as performers we have to alter what we’re doing depending on that. Performing with James is great because initially I was coming into it new whereas he’s an old hand – when we’re chopping and changing things he’s a real pro.

“My favourite fact on the tour is that the Ministry Of Defence building still has Henry VIII’s wine cellar underneath it, which I had no idea about. I’m also embarrassed to say that before I got this role, I had no idea Cleopatra’s Needle was on the Thames, despite living in London.”

Having the river as your set is amazing, especially if it’s a nice sunny day – cruising up and down between iconic buildings

Jake Addley, Terrible Thames

by Jon Massey

There’s real depth to Terrible Thames not just talking about the part of this touring play that deals with Julius Caesar crossing the river with an elephant when the whole body of water was much wider and shallower.

I’m referring to the sheer displaced tonnage of gruesome facts and aquatic curiosities that Horrible Histories author Terry Deary and Birmingham Stage Company actor manager Neal Foster have filled this 45-minute show with.

The former is well known for celebrating the brutal and shocking as a way to engage minds young and old in the study of the past. The latter has long been a partner in bringing his written works to the stage.

But this collaboration – running every day over the summer holidays – is truly something different, seating its audience on the top deck of a boat and taking them on a cruise through the landmarks its inspired by.

Passengers take to the top deck of Silver Sockeye – part of Woods Silver Fleet – for a 45-minute trip up the river to the Houses Of Parliament before heading back to Wapping and returning to base at Tower Quay Pier.

The show itself rests on the premise of a long-suffering teacher taking an excitable and enthusiastic student on a trip up the Thames as a treat for winning the school history prize.

The twist in the tale, of course, is that the teenager knows far more about London and the river’s horrific history than the

Tellingterrible

all played their parts in the city’s story over the years.

From the audience’s point of view, it’s a hectic barrage of information. Dozens of anecdotes and morsels bubble up to the surface as the two performers coordinate their material with the passing sights.

We learn about executions, plague, fire, suicide and even a boating disaster, in all their gory details as London slips by.

Perfectly timed sound effects provide aural punctuation as the actors dice and slice imaginary victims to the obvious delight of both adults and children.

And while there’s an inevitable

Terrible Thames takes place on board Silver Sockeye, a specially decorated boat operated by Woods Silver Fleet that there’s almost certainly going to be several tales they haven’t heard before – a new way to see the river that for so long provided the lifeblood of the capital and remains its twisting backbone. l Tickets for Terrible Thames start at £25 for adults and £15 for children aged 3-15. Babies and toddlers go free. Go to terriblethames.com for more

For example, Cleopatra’s needle is revealed to be nothing to do with its namesake but rather an obelisk carved in the time of Thutmose III. Similarly, we also learn that Waterloo Bridge was largely built by women during the war in the 1940s and that Vikings led by King Olaf of Norway (probably) pulled down a wooden iteration of London Bridge using cables and longships to help beat the Danes who had taken control of the city.

The flow of information is thicker than the Thames would have been during the big stink and even printing these spoilers doesn’t make a dent in the overall experience.

It’s a trip that works on many levels. For the kids there’s poo, songs, rude words and an irreverent youngster showing up his teacher.

For adults there are plenty of political references and opportunities to groan in a knowing way at the odd heavy handed pun.

For the tourists it’s a breathtaking barrage of information and tales that would never find their way into scripts for more staid, serious tours.

It’s also a testament to the writers that they haven’t tried to shy away from anything.

In addition to the gore and heads on spikes, there’s a poignant reminder that so much of London’s wealth and prosperity rests on Britain’s enthusiastic, mercenary appetite for the slave trade with slavers compensated for their losses when abolition eventually arrived.

All in all, this is a truly refreshing way to see the city with fresh eyes – oh, and there’s a good old shanty to round things off.

Scan this code to nd out more about Terrible Thames

James plays excitable Billy, the student with a very deep knowledge of London and the Thames

Crew The Scenery

James Elliott, Billy The Student

Ireally enjoyed Horrible Histories – the books and the TV shows – as a kid, so I was buzzing when I got an audition for Terrible Thames in 2021,” said James, who plays boisterous 13-year-old Billy in the production.

“They asked me to lm an interactive horror tour around a London at, so all my housemates helped out and we ended up with a really funny video that got me the job and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Having attended Stagecoach, James went on to attend drama school in Guildford, graduating into an acting world ravaged by Covid.

“There was nothing much going on, so I spent a lot of time sitting on my thumbs for the rst year before this role came along,” he said.

“The Thames is such a gorgeous place in the summer with the light shining o the water – it’s really magical. I really like that Billy gets to do a couple of songs during the show.

“There’s one about poo, which the kids really love, so I direct it at the adults who don’t quite know where to look, which is also good fun.

“Of course there are lots of other cruises and history tours on the river, but there’s nothing else like this. It’s fun, fast-paced and super informative – a show that’s great for kids and adults.

“It’s a play while also being a tour – audiences will learn about so many things from Execution Dock in Wapping all the way up to Parliament, two miles up the river. The reaction I’ve had from family and friends is that they’ve learnt so much about London from going on the trip.”

Wapping - Limehouse - Shadwell what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where?

The George Tavern Shadwell

GIG | Clementine March

The singer, songwriter and lmmaker pitches up at The George on a bill that also features the talents of Lorcan Swelt and Rosanna, Princess Of Kerry. Aug 13, 7pm, £6.50, thegeorgetavern.london

Where?

Tobacco Dock Wapping

EVENT | London Craft Beer Festival

Try more than 800 beers (all included in the price) at this festival. Tickets cover entry to the event for ve-hour afternoon or evening slots. Often sells out. Aug 11-12, from £57.50, londoncraftbeerfestival.co.uk

Where?

Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping

STAGE | Express G&S

The problem with Gilbert And Sullivan is their operettas are just too slow aren’t they? Thank goodness for this turbo-charged murder mystery show. Aug 15-18, 7.30pm, from £12.50, wiltons.org.uk screen spot

Get your black and white kicks with the Lucky Dog Picturehouse’s celebration of Buster Keaton at Wilton’s Music Hall on August 2-4 complete with live music and plenty of slapstick pratfalls. Tickets from £8 wiltons.org.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the trio of Keaton icks on o er at Wilton’s in August want more? @wharfwhispers