Why AI must not just lend weight to a user’s existing views
Page 12
inside issue 116
Ben Goldsmith - Sudoku
AGL Airsoft - NHG Homes
FEC Dragon Boat Race
Jonathan Ganesh - Gail’s
People, Places And Things
BelEve - Crossword
Firepit Gallery - Hacks
Ada Infrastructure Hypha Studios
how The North Face Climb Festival is set to see athletes clamber 16 metres into the air before plunging into the dock beside Harbour Quay Gardens Pages 10-11
celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - foolishness
on the radar
One of the architects of Docklands regeneration, Sir George Iacobescu has announced he’s to retire, stepping down as chairman of Canary Wharf Group. His 36-year tenure has seen a derelict wasteland turned into a thriving city. What a legacy... canarywharf.com
Welcome to @homepizza, now open at 1 and 5 Bank Street. This outlet sees the children of a South African pizza dynasty join in the family trade, offering New Yorkstyle creations priced from £10.50 with a very diverse range of toppings including bananas athomepizza.co.uk need to know Boats in, boats outdon’t miss a pair of tall ships in South Dock
Comms business founder and comedian-by-night Ben Goldsmith talks affection for mob movies, wise guy antics and taking CrimeLandTown to Edinburgh after Bermondsey
get more for less on and around the Wharf
Enjoy a selection of seven cocktails for £7 until 7pm at Chai Ki in Crossrail Place. Drinks on offer include a Mango Aperol Spritz and a Maza Margarita chai-ki.com
50% doing the deals
Visit Levi’s in Canada Place and get discounts of up to 50% on selected items. Ideal for anyone keen to, erm, stock up on denim now the warmer weather is here... levi.com
subscribe to our Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
Firepit unveils its summer exhibition
write me words you don’t know you need
adjective, fake, from North American
To be crazy enough to believe that just because you have insider knowledge of something you should use that for personal nancial gain, especially if it looks like your lucrative role with a political party is doomed
noun, real, from French
The state of nonexistence, you know, like the career of a political candidate or advisor who thought a harmless utter on something they already knew was ne. Lemmy was right, gambling’s for fools...
Family Gaming
Canary Wharf Big Screens, free canarywharf.com
Play the likes of Overcooked 2, Mario Kart and Just Dance at sessions on June 29 and 30 and August 17 and 18 on Canary Wharf’s giant screens. The weekend events are free to participate in and run from 1pm-3pm. Participation will be on a rst-come, rst-served basis. The sessions are weather dependent and aimed at families with children aged ve and over.
GIG
DJ Luck + MC Neat
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf boisdale.co.uk
Following So Solid Crew’s set this month, with a little bit of luck the nostalgia-fest will continue at Boisdale’s terrace on July 18 with an appearance by the UK garage duo. There will be music from 6pm-1am, with the stars hitting the decks at 11.30pm. Tickets for the event, which is sponsored by Innis And Gunn, start at £5. Beers cost £5 during happy hour from 5pm-7pm for those early birds.
GIG
Al Fresco Arts: Music Crossrail Place Roof Garden + Jubilee Park, free canarywharf.com
Musicians from Docklands Sinfonia continue their series of free Wednesday lunchtime gigs with tunes appropriate for the coming heat. First up on July 10 is Tango Siempre, a quintet of players who promise to transport audiences at Crossrail Place Roof Garden to the sweltering streets of Argentina. Then, on July 24, back down at ground level Docklands Sinfonia Jazz are planning to take Wharfers to the Hot Club Of Jupiter, an interplanetary take on gypsy jazz and hot swing. Quite what this means, we’re not really sure. Spaceman Grappelli, perhaps? Anyway, all shows run from 12.30pm-2pm, so maybe all will become clear next month
how BelEve helps
girls and young women achieve their dreams through love and
making it
support
by Jon Massey
Marsha Powell grew up in Brockley with the flashing light on top One Canada Square visible from her bedroom window. Despite starting her career with only GCSEs on her CV, she made it to the estate, working in HR for the Financial Services Authority (now the Financial Conduct Authority) for more than 13 years.
“I’d done work experience in human resources and it was my dream to work in that sector,” she said. “When I joined the FSA aged 19, I decided that was what I wanted to do and, through hard work, I was afforded that opportunity.
“I made sure I had good mentors and cheerleaders and I went back to college, did my degree and a masters, and that put me in a good place educationally on the career path. I also had two children at that time.
“I became an HR business partner, living my dream, and supporting people like Andrew Bailey – who’s now the governor of the Bank Of England.
“I was working at 25 North Colonnade in Canary Wharf and it was at the time when the FSA was being separated from the Bank. I had to decide whether I wanted to stay or go as my role was moving to the City.”
It was also a period of great tragedy in Marsha’s personal life.
“My mother, Delores Diana Hay, had been diagnosed with gall bladder cancer and, about 10 weeks later, she passed,” said Marsha. “My sisters, Chyloe, Rochelle and me had been talking about developing a mentoring programme for girls before my mum died, and her death gave me the opportunity to be bold.
“I had a bit of money to try something and two children – a daughter aged 10 and a son aged five. For me, it was either do this now or never.
“That’s how BelEve was born, on my dining room table – I just used all my transferable skills and started it with the help of my sisters. We keep our mum’s name alive through our organisation, and through our pain has come purpose.”
Working with girls and young women aged eight to 22, the charity has supported more than 20,000 people, offering support, education, guidance and positive solutions.
continued on Page 8
Marsha grew up seeing One Canada Square from her bedroom window
from Page 6
It aims to offer opportunities to those it works with, intending to boost their confidence, self-esteem and skill sets as well as giving them access to inspirational role models to help unlock their full potential.
“We founded the charity because we wanted to use all the core values our mum taught us such as sisterhood and love,” said Chyloe, BelEve’s chief finance officer. “We teach the girls that if they can lead themselves first, then they can have confidence and have all the attributes which they need to lead others around them.
“I worked in fashion for 12 years. Then, like Marsha, when we found out mum was ill, it changed my perspective on things. When she passed away, I realised that what I was doing was not meaningful – anyone can buy clothes.
“I felt I needed a bit of a break to process what had happened. We were all really young and it was challenging to navigate life without someone who had been our anchor.
“It got to a point where I wasn’t really enjoying work any more, so Marsha suggested I should just leave and join her.
“We grew up in south-east London and we work mostly in Lewisham, Southwark and Greenwich. We know that deprivation is high in these areas, so we wanted to offer something that wasn’t a cost to the parents – that young people could get free of charge.
“Our programmes are free to young people and we get funding through sponsorship or donations.
“BelEve is about feeding back into the local ecosystem of our community. We wanted to make sure that young people were not stuck because of their beginnings, to give them options and opportunities.
“About 80% of the girls we work with are black or from ethnic minorities and we want them to see role models that look like them – you can’t be what you can’t see.
“In Brockley where we grew up there’s an affluent part and an area with an estate. We want to assure the girls and young women we work with that starting on the estate side doesn’t mean you can’t cross over to the area with the coffee shops.
“Often those we work with are the first in their families to go to university and get high paid jobs – which has an impact on everyone. We want that effect to be systemic in those families.”
For Marsha, who runs the charity as CEO, BelEve is about generating those opportunities as well as helping those it works
20k
Number of girls and young women BelEve has helped since its foundation in 2012
with see themselves in roles at large firms and organisations.
She said: “I worked in HR for a long time and diversity and inclusion has long been a thing.
“But for some organisations it was a quota – a top-down, rather than bottom-up approach to that commitment.
“I do think the George Floyd situation and the emergence of Black Lives Matter was a big shift in that space. I think a lot of white execs were suddenly thinking they had a lot of responsibility –that they couldn’t say they were supporting diversity when they weren’t actually doing much about it.
“Has it changed the way that organisations recruit? I think younger people are very committed to it. For example, I’ve been to so many panels where people openly say they are autistic or have ADHD.
“People would never have talked about that in a workplace before, but now it’s accepted and we’re working in a diverse space where we can employ anyone and can get the best from them. Ultimately it’s always about the bottom line and difference always brings profit.
“At BelEve, everything we do is centred around love because, when you have a sense of belonging, then anything is possible.
“We deliver workshops in primary and secondary schools. We also deliver mentoring and what is important to us is that girls get an opportunity to experience true role models.
“If you want to work in the city, then you need to meet the women who work there. I have got a good network and a lot of that has come from my time working in Canary Wharf.
“It’s about creating opportunities and experiences for girls to see how they can create career prospects, which can ultimately improve their life chances.
“That is all very big, but it is doable with the right support, the right network, the right opportunities and experiences. I use myself as a blueprint. We are selling hope, possibility and transformation.
“We’re always looking for women who are prepared to give time and share their experiences.
“Luckily for us we have a good array of people who want to give back to the next generation.
“The most beautiful thing is when you see a young girl who is displaying low confidence coming to a workshop and blossoming like a flower or a butterfly.
“That change is so rewarding. I’m not even thinking about the business side, I’m thinking about the lives that we’ve touched – the girls whose prospects have
The most beautiful thing is when you see a young girl who is displaying low confidence coming to a workshop and blossoming like a flower
Marsha Powell, BelEve
altered dramatically through our intervention.
“We had an event in March and one of the girls stood up and spoke on stage. She said that she’d joined BelEve at 14, was very shy and not even thinking about university.
“Now, at 19, she’s going to Cambridge, and that’s because she had a mentor through our organisation. She’d had so much opportunity because people around her made her believe she could do it.”
Chyloe added: “One of our success stories is partnering with the Civil Service who contacted us because they’d seen women from black and ethnic minorities weren’t getting through their assessment centres.
“We built a programme and have seen six girls find roles that way and that’s when I think we’ve done a good job.”
As a charity, BelEve is always looking for fresh support and partnerships to expand and grow its activities.
“The support we get from our donors and partners is very much appreciated,” added Chyloe. “We have a campaign at the moment where we want to support at least 50 girls aged eight-15 on a summer programme and offer it for free.
“It’s called the Summer Of Love and we ran it last year. It was a huge success, with workshops, activities and trips for three weeks. A lot of those on last year’s programme are now a part of our community so it’s something we want to do again.
“We’re asking people to donate £25 and £250 gets each girl three weeks of non-stop summer activities.”
key details
You can find out more about BelEve’s progrmmes and workshops online including ways to donate or get involved as a company.
Go to beleve.org for more information
Scan this code to find out more about BelEve
Chyloe, left, and Marsha Powell, co-founders of social mobility charity BelEve
how
The North Face Climb Festival is set to see athletes plunge into the dock waters
what’s happening?
The North Face Climb festival is set to arrive in Canary Wharf, with events running at Harbour Quay Gardens in Wood Wharf from 10.30am on July 12 and 13.
what does that mean
A giant floating climbing wall, some 16 metres high, is set to sail into West India South Dock so a selection of top athletes can race head-to-head on it. As the wall is over deep water, there’s no need for ropes.
there’s more?
Of course. There will also be workshops from professional athletes including climbers Caroline Ciavaldini, James Pearson and Solenne Piret as well as a clothing repair space, an immersive retail experience (that’s a shop, in case you’re confused) and a live dyno competition. The latter refers to big, explosive climbing movements, dinosaur outfits are best left at home.
is that all?
No, there will be plenty of music to keep the crowds entertained including DJ sets from the likes of Ross From Friends, Laurence Guy, NiNE8 Collective, Anu and JJESS.
what else do I need to know?
Not much. Tickets for the event are free. XPLR Pass members at The North Face can win VIP tickets which include a festival T-shirt. Full listings, set times and registration details can be found online via Canary Wharf’s or The North Face’s website Go to northface.co.uk or canarywharf.com
Scan this code to find out more about The North Face Climb Festival, which is arriving in Canary Wharf for two dates in July
don’t ever down
A 16-high floating climbing wall is set to come to Canary Wharf
Tickets are free, but attendees should register for access
The 370ft-long Juan Sebastián De Elcano is expected to arrive on June 30 beside Canary Wharf
welcoming a pair of tall ships to West India South Dock
A pair of naval training ships are set to arrive in the Canary Wharf area just before the oating climbing wall comes to West India South Dock.
First to arrive will be the Spanish vessel Juan Sebastián De Elcano, which is expected to come into port on the evening of June 30. She boasts four masts and stretches to 370 feet.
Visitors should be able to tour the ship on July 2 (from 3pm-8pm) and July 4 (10am-1pm and 3pm-8pm) before she casts o on July 5.
Also coming into port, and crossing over with the Spanish vessel, will be the Colombian Navy’s three-masted ship ARC Gloria. Measuring 210 feet in length, she is expected at an as yet undisclosed time on July 3.
Spectators can expect an enormous ag to be unfurled and a reception for local dignitaries to be held that evening. Public access is also anticipated, however details have yet to emerge.
While the Colombian ship dates from the late 1960s, the Spanish vessel is considerably older as well as being the larger of the two, having been constructed in the 1920s.
The latter also has the remarkable distinction of being the third largest tall ship in the world and the vessel that has sailed the furthest distance over her lifetime. Since she was launched in 1927, she has covered a breathtaking 2million nautical miles – tting perhaps for a vessel named after the captain of Magellan’s last exploratory eet.
ARC Gloria is expected to tie up at South Quay on July 3, just crossing over with the Spanish vessel
The festival will feature athletes competing and sets from a selection of DJs
viewpoint
by Chris Ezekiel
I’m always pondering what the future might look like as AI becomes more sophisticated and ubiquitous. Two recent events made me think about how artificial intelligence might change our perception of the world – perhaps without us even being aware that it is. I watched a recent Apple presentation where the company revealed its AI plans and spoke a lot about “personal intelligence”.
Here the technology would really understand a person and aim to help them in ways most relevant to their lives.
A few days later I was watching the news and there were two pundits debating something about the impending general election. I found myself being surprised that I was agreeing with both viewpoints. Then my mind flicked back to the Apple presentation and the possible implications of its approach.
I started to think about the augmented reality (AR) goggles that are emerging, where you can superimpose the virtual world onto the real world. I see a real danger that the ‘personal intelligence’ flavour of AI, combined with AR, will result in us immersing ourselves in a world where every piece of information that we consume, and every interaction we have, is personalised to the point where everything agrees with our viewpoint. It will be an inescapable echo chamber that we get caught in – whether we choose to or not.
Human advancement is based on healthy debate – where contrary viewpoints are put forward. The UK political system provides adversarial mechanisms such as the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions session – in theory an open, transparent way of scrutinising government.
It’s up to all of us to ensure we don’t fill our digital worlds with virtual people who are merely clones of ourselves
I know from building conversational AI business Creative Virtual how important it is to have different types of people and viewpoints within the team.
There is no doubting that AI and personal intelligence will make things quicker and easier, potentiall giving us back valuable time.
However, this may come at a cost of critical thinking capability if we are not confronted with differing opinions, views and perspectives.
Just like it’s the CEO’s responsibility to ensure a company has a healthy mix of different viewpoints and skills, it’s up to all of us to ensure we don’t fill our digital worlds with virtual people who are merely clones of ourselves.
That could easily lead to a very dangerous lack of scrutiny where power can manipulate individuals cut off from the ideas and thoughts of others.
Scan this code for more information about Creative Virtual or follow @creativevirtual and @chrisezekiel on X
beware the person in the
virtual
Chris Ezekiel is founder and CEO of customer engagement solutions specialist Creative Virtual based at Canary Wharf’s Cabot Square
Chris Ezekiel, Creative Virtual
Peter Fernandes is the founder and director of AGL Airsoft
how AGL Airsoft offers a potent mix of accuracy, speed and adrenaline at its subterranean base near Aldgate
by Jon Massey
t all started at a shoe repair shop in Camden. In 2016, Peter Fernandes was helping out in the family business while his dad recovered from a knee operation. There, he spotted a niche. While the area was busy, there was a notable lack of places to buy toys for kids. So he started selling remote controlled cars and helicopters from the front of the shop. It went OK.
“They were doing alright, but I went to one of my suppliers and he had cheap, spring-powered BB guns in bright colours,” said Peter. “They sold like hot cakes. Slowly, I started getting into Airsoft, which is more advanced.
“Those guns look more realistic and fire plastic pellets. They’re powered by electricity or gas and can be fixed if they break.
“They’re next level. You can get replicas of lots of different kinds of weapon and I wanted a place to test them – but we only had a tiny corridor behind the
weapons and combine them with digitally enabled target systems to test the accuracy and speed of the shooter. It’s essentially a competitive socialising experience.
That mission has massively expanded at its second site, just off Commercial Road in east London. AGL’s facility boasts target lanes, a fully-equipped shop for Airsoft enthusiasts (selling guns, clothing and accessories), a sniper alley for long-range competitions, digital simulators and, perhaps most crucially, a “close quarters battle” arena. The latter offers a fast-paced experience aimed at delivering a high-intensity game as players move around the arena to shoot lit targets.
Sniper contests use paper targets
“It’s all about reaction times and accuracy,” said Peter. “We’re the first facility in London and probably the UK to have the LED targets – the plan is to open more branches and perhaps offer franchises in the future, then to grow internationally.
ready, aim,
Eventually Peter rented a basement space, creating two firing lanes with targets so that customers as well as himself and staff could try out the weapons.
“It was really fun and we started putting up leader boards,” he said. “Then people who were just passing would come in and try it out. From there it was about finding new targets and creating packages. We got really good feedback, put some videos on social media and it went viral. We were doing something new for Airsoft and it was really popular.
“We were fully booked at weekends – I wanted people to have great experiences, but we only had space for two lanes, so we knew we needed somewhere bigger and better.”
Airsoft weapons are typically used for recreation in a similar format to paintball, albeit significantly less messy. The 6mm projectiles they fire are non-lethal, with an honour code system used to determine who has been shot during a game.
What Peter and the team at AGL Airsoft have done is to take those
“With our latest location, we wanted somewhere towards the City, that was also close to Canary Wharf and Shoreditch, so we could accommodate large bookings and work with corporate clients.
“AGL is something new and it’s great for team-building. It’s a lot of fun and there’s a lot of competitiveness, but anyone can do it.
“We get bookings from all types of people, every age and every gender.
“I think deep down we’re all big kids and we all have that competitive spirit. Growing up I always liked gaming and testing my skills and reflexes.
“Here we have leader boards and people who play can see exactly how well they’ve done against the party they are with and everyone else.
“Airsoft isn’t about violence, it’s actually a really great way to make and deepen friendships.
“For groups that come here, we offer food, drink and the games, which gives everyone a lot to talk about – especially the day after in the office.
“It doesn’t matter if you’ve never shot any kind of gun before. Our staff are really good and
Cost
person to play ve games at AGL Airsoft, ring pellets at digital targets
boasts a wide range of
Anyone can do it. We get bookings from all types of people. I think deep down we’re all big kids and we all have that competitive spirit
Peter Fernandes, AGL Airsoft
they’ll teach you how to hold the weapons, how to stand and give tips on ways to improve. They all play the games a lot and each one has their favourite – they all test different skills.
or example, the first game played on the lanes is usually about accuracy. Players are asked to shoot 20 targets in as much time as they like. ut they only get 25 shots. Time only comes into play if the score is perfect.
“Next comes a time trial where you’ll have 30 seconds to see how many targets you can hit. If you miss, they just stay lit until you shoot them successfully. Then there s a game with two different colours, where you have to only shoot the red targets that flash up.
“With all of these games, if players are doing well, we can increase the difficulty so there s always a challenge.
I knew the ldgate enue would be fun, but I didn’t realise how much until we opened. What we want now is to be fully booked with e eryone enjoying themselves.”
on target
L irsoft s ldgate branch is located just off Commercial Road on ower s Walk close to where Shadwell and Whitechapel meet the City. The closest station is ldgate ast, but the facility is within east walking distance of Tower ateway LR and Whitechapel station, which is three minutes on the li abeth
from noon until 11pm.
Prices for fi e games start at 0 per person and 0 for 0 minutes on the venue’s digital simulator. un rental, pellets and eye protection are all included in the price where appropriate.
L offers a range of options for groups and corporate clients including party packages, IP experiences and full venue hire. Those interested can email aglcontactus agl-airsoft.co.uk for more information Go to aglairsoft.co.uk for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about AGL Airsoft
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
Khan leads this collection of musicians who embrace a range of disciplines. Mary Lola will also be on the bill at the much-loved east London venue. Jun 29, 11am, 2pm, £7, thegeorgetavern.london
Where?
The magician is set to pitch up for a couple of dates amid the crumbing grandeur of the Wapping venue, his favourite in the capital. Expect wonderment. Jul 15-16, 7.30pm, from £12.50, wiltons.org.uk
Colombian singer, songwriter and actor is set for a date in east London. Championing traditional styles he’s sold more than 20million records. Jul 20, 7pm, from £87.21, troxy.co.uk
tales
Discover Trailblazers: Women At The Tower as the Tower Of London aims to celebrate notable individuals from its long, storied history. Until September 1, visitors can meet ve remarkable people and help them get in the guidebook hrp.org.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about Trailblazers, which is included with entry to the Tower
GIG | Pencil
Kamran
GIG | Carlos Vives
The
STAGE | Ben Hart
Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping
Where?
The George Tavern Whitechapel
Where?
Troxy Limehouse
Line from Canary Wharf. The facility is open daily
AGL’s facility includes a fully stocked bar to relax in after a session
AGL Airsoft
facilities at its Aldgate branch with multiple games and guns to try
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
STAGE | The Lost Lionesses
The Space Isle Of Dogs
why Jonathan Ganesh’s tireless work has been recognised by the University Of Sunderland In London
by Jon Massey
IBased on verbatim accounts from players in the 1971 women’s football world cup, this show has been written by the niece of one of the athletes. Jul 16-20, times vary, £16, space.org.uk
Where?
Goodluck
Hope Cinema Leamouth
FILM | Nye From The National Theatre Part of The Islander Festival, audiences are invited to the development’s screening room to see Tim Price’s new play beamed over from the Southbank. Jul 19, 7pm, £6.13, eventbrite.co.uk Where?
STAGE | The Void
Where?
The Space Isle Of Dogs
This absurd comedy show tackles meditation and spiritual enlightenment. Audiences can expect bu oonery, clowning and hypocrite skewering. Jul 24-26, 7.30pm, £15, space.org.uk
Mudchute Park And Farm is currently o ering Animal Experience Sessions, allowing visitors to get up close to some of the creatures that call the Isle Of Dogs home. Sessions last half an hour or 45 minutes and start at £35 for two mudchute.org
Scan this code to nd out more about experiences at Mudchute Park And Farm
t was Friday, February 9, 1996. In Germany, a group of physicists had just managed to create a single atom of the superheavy element Copernicum for the ery first time. They d fired inc particles at a piece of lead in a particle accelerator to synthesise the substance, which lasted just 0.24 milliseconds before its radioactive decay.
With an international team, the breakthrough was a triumph of collaboration and cooperation –an expression of the extraordinary things humans can achieve when working together for the good of the species.
But that same day is remembered in east London, throughout the UK and beyond for a very different reason. t just after pm, the IR detonated a massi e bomb on the Isle Of Dogs at South Quay, killing two people, injuring more than 100 and causing £150million of damage.
For Jonathan Ganesh, a law student and promising boxer, who was working as a security guard in the area at the time, it changed everything. But despite suffering life-altering injuries and the challenges of recovery, the east London resident has been determined to forge something positive from his horrific experience.
s co-founder and honorary president of the Docklands ictims ssociation he s been a tireless champion for those affected by that atrocity but also hea ily in ol ed in offering support to and standing in solidarity with all those affected by acts of terror around the world.
Constantly looking to help those around him, more recently he accepted a Pandemic Response Medal for his work as an NHS responder, delivering food and medication to local residents.
On Wednesday, June 12, the University Of Sunderland In London, which is based at South Quay, awarded Jonathan an honorary fellowship at its graduation ceremony in Southwark Cathedral – recognising his work alongside the achievements of hundreds of students collecting their degrees.
Vice chancellor Sir David Bell said: “We are delighted to honour Jonathan in this way and this is truly an inspirational moment for us as an organisation. We know, for people who become victims,
It’s very touching for the university to recognise us locally and that what we do has global reach, extending out from here
Jonathan Ganesh, DVA
it’s hard to rebuild their lives. But Jonathan is the most wonderful example of someone who has not only done that, but has actually helped to support literally thousands of people to rebuild their lives through the work he has done, not only in this country but around the world. I hope our graduates will follow his example and do things that will make the world a better place.”
South Quay has gone on to great prosperity with office blocks and some of the tallest residential towers in London rising on the strip of land directly opposite Canary Wharf. pt then that one of the organisations now based there is making this award.
“I’m quite overwhelmed, actually,” said Jonathan after the ceremony. “This award is a fitting tribute to all of the ictims – especially Inam Bashir and John effries, who lost their li es.
“This is recognition for me but also for the and the work we do in Tower Hamlets and globally. This has been a day I’ll never forget. I’m happy to receive any awards, but this is something special.
“We plan to do a lot more work and help as many people as we can here and around the world. We successfully managed to secure a pension for the IR s victims from the Government as it was unfair to leave these people with no financial support when those from other countries such as merica were recei ing money.
“It’s very touching for the university to recognise us locally and that what we do has global reach extending out from here.”
Go to london.sunderland.ac.uk or docklandsvictimsassociation.org
Scan this code to nd out more about the university
Jonathan Ganesh, centre, receives an honorary fellowship from university chancellor Leanne Cahill and vice-chancellor David Bell
Students and their loved ones receive their degrees at Southwak Cathedral
Years since the IRA bombed South Quay, killing two people and injuring more than 100
marked achievements
in full
University Of Sunderland In London’s citation
Before an assembly of students, their relatives, sta and guests, University Of Sunderland in London director Alan Hardie gave the following address:
Chancellor, vice-chancellor, and distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am privileged to present Jonathan Ganesh for the conferment of an Honorary Fellowship.
Our honorary guest today was born in Westminster in the late 1960s to an Irish mother, who worked as a chef, and a human rights lawyer father from Sri Lanka.
Jonathan spent his early childhood in County Limerick, leaving him with a deep connection to Ireland. At the age of seven, he moved back to the UK, settling in the Docklands area.
Following his father’s ethos that “no education is ever wasted”, in the mid-1990s, Jonathan was studying law at college while working as a security guard in South Quay.
On February 9, 1996, though, Jonathan’s life changed forever as a result of the horri c IRA bombing of the South Quay Plaza building – which he described as “like being hit by a meteorite”.
Despite facing life-altering injuries and a daunting mental and physical recovery, Jonathan was determined “to turn something bad into something very good”.
Coming together with fellow survivors and their relatives, the need for ongoing support for bombing victims was clear and, in spring 1996, the Docklands Victims Association was formed.
For nearly 30 years, as the association’s honorary president and co-founder, Jonathan has led e orts in supporting and providing resources for victims and those a ected by terrorism, in London and worldwide.
The association has also lobbied government leaders to keep the rights of victims of terrorism on the agenda, as they can too often be forgotten once the media limelight fades.
As a long-term Docklands resident, Jonathan remembers the South Quay area in the 1990s when it was mainly deserted docks. Since then, he has witnessed its transformation into a commercial hub. With the University Of Sunderland In London’s opening, in 2012, being praised by Jonathan for “enhancing the area’s social fabric and helping it thrive further”.
With a strong desire to support his local community during the pandemic, Jonathan became a volunteer NHS responder in 2020, collecting patients from hospital and delivering food and medication to local residents, which included fellow victims of terrorism.
In recognition of these e orts, Jonathan received a Pandemic Response Medal in September 2023 - to which he can now add an Honorary Fellowship from the University Of Sunderland In London.
Chancellor, vice-chancellor, and distinguished guests, I present Jonathan Ganesh for an Honorary Fellowship.
Jonathan celebrates with Alan at the ceremony
how Ben Goldsmith’s CrimeLandTown promises an hour of affectionate gangster comedy
by Jon Massey
Like many involved in the murky world of organised crime, Ben Goldsmith leads a double life. By day, he’s founder and director of Goldsmith Communications – a public relations consultancy specialising in serving tech and venture capital clients. But, by night, he can be found indulging his other passion –trying to make people laugh.
“Comedy is never a fork in the road decision – as a kid you know you’re a bit of an idiot and that plays out at school,” said Ben. “You just have it in you.
I was used to teachers telling me off that we should be getting on with maths rather than telling jokes. But my A-Level theatre studies teacher, Coral Walton at Monk’s Walk School in Welwyn Garden City, just thought it was great – that I was good at these things and she encouraged me.
“I don’t come from a family of performing people and it was Coral who, as a director at the local theatre, told me I should audition for a play she was putting on. This was never on my radar and I thought: ‘No way’ – it just wasn’t cool at 16.
“But she insisted and even drove me to the audition. I got the part and then, up until the age of 21, I did a bunch of acting stuff alongside uni ersity, where I worked on student papers and got into the world of journalism and PR.”
Ben’s career in communications then took over, seeing him move through various roles including running the PR operation for Canary Wharf’s tech community, Level39. But he remained interested in the performing arts and especially comedy.
“Every August I’d go to the Edinburgh Fringe and I loved it,” he said. “It was like my perfect theme park, seeing comedians I liked and discovering new performers.”
fter fi e years concentrating on his career, an encounter with Graham Dickson’s improv show at the festival sparked something in Ben and he returned to London, enrolled on a comedy class and started performing again.
“For years I did improvisation alongside my work,” he said. “When I was 27 I set up Goldsmith Communications and the comedy was incredibly helpful because, when you’re setting up a business, every day is completely new and you have to adapt to it.
“The other brilliant thing about improv is that there are no lines to learn, so it fits in if you’re busy. It’s a huge part of my life – I met my wife through comedy.”
The success of his PR business means Ben has a bit more freedom now to once again pursue comedy and he’s indulging another of his passions afia mo ies in a move away from improv.
“I’m making a show and taking it up to Edinburgh, which is massive,” he said. “I took a piece called Steve’s Last Day to
cracking
the Prague Fringe, which was all about a copper s final shift with all the action taking place in the village hall. I did it six times and it went down really well, but I decided to put it aside because I knew what I really wanted to do.
“I’ve always loved mob movies. The characters are so much larger than life – they’re such a bunch of goofballs – so you can play with those stereotypes.
“I’ve been working on CrimeLandTown for the last year or so, building it up and presenting it as a work in progress. If you enjoy afia mo ies, you ll enjoy the show. The idea is the audience is involved in what’s happening – you’ll always be a part of what’s going on.
“You might be part of a heist that one of my characters is leading, or guests in a club. You’ll meet mob bosses, the FBI and a bar singer who gets in too deep, then wants to clear his name.”
For Ben, the show is a labour of love, poking fun at a genre rich in tropes and silliness, but from a place of respect. Playing all the parts himself, it’s structured as a series of sketches that all combine to tell a story of wise guys and dodgy accents.
I describe it as an affectionate spoof,” he said. “People are familiar with these
Ben is taking his ‘ rst proper show ‘ to the Edinburgh Fringe this summer
movies, which are often a bit like a high wire act because while they are about serious topics, many of them are also super funny. If you’re parodying anything, it’s important to work out what people already know – if you’re a nerd about those things, you’ve got to be aware how geeky you are.
“I’ve watched the movies and the TV shows, so I know what will be familiar to people who like the films, but hopefully a lot of the stuff will be funny to those who are not so familiar.
“In the show, the main character – a bar singer who always wanted to be a wise guy – sees the impending heist as a chance to live his dream of becoming a mobster.
“We’ve all had dreams and made compromises, so this guy takes a singing job in a mob-adjacent industry – then gets his chance to become part of it and it all ends one way or another.
“Of course, people who like the genre don’t want to see me take the piss out of them. CrimeTownLand just aims to cele-
Scan this code to nd out when and where to see Ben’s forthcoming show
When you watch a mob movie, everyone in it is rejecting the conventional. They’re living outside the legal norms. There’s a thrill in that
Ben Goldsmith, comedian
brate the funny things about them. When you watch a mob movie, everyone in it is rejecting the conventional. They’re living outside the legal norms and everyone is transgressing. There’s a thrill in that.
“Personally, I’ve always wanted to push against the everyday too. Comedy is funny when people are trying to skewer the world and look at everything from a sideways perspective.
“Being at Level39, I was around a lot of business founders and it dawned on me that many of them just wanted to kick the crap out of the nine-to-fi e and do their own thing.
“Similarly, people doing comedy want to see what’s out there and then to try and bend or break it, just like the characters in mob movies.
“Starting my own business totally changed my life. It’s now given me the time and the bandwidth to create shows and do these festivals. There’s a lot to do, but it works if you plan things.
“I know a bunch of comedians who are working and went into it without a safety net, but I needed to have the security of having the career side sorted.
“Right now I just love that I’m able to do it. When I first went up to the Fringe I didn’t know anyone who was performing. I wasn’t doing improv and my local theatre days were behind me.
“However, the people I met up there ultimately put me in the position to make this show now. Compared to others, it’s tiny – a 60-person room for 24 days in August. But hopefully it will be a step on the way to the next thing, whatever that is.
“Either way, it’s been a dream to take a show to Edinburgh – it’s worth a go and it might just pay off. fter the ringe, I d love to take it to more places round the neighbourhood. I’m keen to keep going because it’s just a really fun thing to do.”
So, you’ve got the dates. Just remember, don’t forget about it.
our thing
Ben Goldsmith’s CrimeLandTown will be performed at The Pen Theatre in South Bermondsey on July 11 at 7pm. Tickets cost £8.30.
Ben will also be performing his show at Watford Pump House on July 20 and Aces And Eights in Tufnell Park on July 25 before taking it to the Edinburgh Fringe at JustTheTonic from August 1-25. Go to linktr.ee/bengoldsmith90 or thepentheatre.com for more information
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
SWIM | RD5
Royal Docks - Canning Town
210
Megawatts of power will be available for Ada’s customers to use for their computing needs when the facility is operational
An artist’s impression of how the new data centre will look
Where?
Royal Victoria Dock
Royal Docks
Race round ve laps of Love Open Water’s course in Royal Victoria Dock for a 5km swim. Organisers allow 4.5 hours for completion of the full challenge. Jul 13, noon, £40, loveopenwater.co.uk
Where?
Excel
Royal Victoria Dock
EVENT | Formula E
The Excel is set to welcome back indoor-outdoor motorsport as the electric race cars once again descend on London for the season nale. Jul 21-22, 9am, from £25, aformulae.com
KIDS | Summer School
Where?
Brick Lane Music Hall North Woolwich
The iconic Royal Docks venue is hosting its rst ever kids summer school aimed at budding musical theatre superstars. Rehearsals plus performances. Jul 22-27, from 10.30am, £225, bricklanemusichall.co.uk
ash back
Cody Dock’s plan to create a heritage centre for Newham with a rather unusual roof is set to go ahead thanks to a £1.6million grant from the National Lottery. Expect a new structure and plenty of activity over the next three years codydock.org.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about the project, via our interview with Simon Myers
keeping the data
how Ada Infrastructure is set to house computing power needed for arti cial intelligence in Royal Docks
by Jon Massey
Cloud computing and the internet age often create the illusion that digital entities somehow exist apart from the world around us. However, a recent Royal Docks planning application is a reminder that even arti cial intelligence needs a physical home.
Residents of Britannia Village are likely to soon nd themselves living just across the road from one of the largest data centres in the capital, following Newham Council’s decision to grant permission for the North Woolwich Road scheme on the former Allnex site.
Ada Infrastructure is set to build three 70 megawatt blocks on the site, o ering customers a total capacity of 210 megawatts. It’s a complex speci cally designed to meet the intense computing needs of AI operations.
“This new data centre development embodies our commitment to driving positive change through the use of sustainable technology and materials, a
robust environmental, health and safety program and an ongoing investment in the communities in which we work and live,” said Jennifer Weitzel, president of Ada Infrastructure.
“In addition to collaborating with local partners to provide job training and employment opportunities, the project’s future-ready design –including energy-e cient systems, net positive landscaping and strict physical and cyber security protocols – will set new standards for safe and sustainable development in the age of AI.”
In addition to the data centre buildings on the edge of the Thames, the plans include provision for a multi-purpose facility that will be made available for community use such as training programmes.
In addition, the heat generated by the complex’s core operations – which feature air and liquid cooling systems– may be used to warm homes locally, via connection to a local heating network.
Director of the University Of East London’s Royal Docks
Sustainability Centre, Robert De Jong said: “We are pleased to note the signi cant public realm improvements that will be of huge bene t to those who live, work and study in the local area, as a result of the new data campus.
“These proposals are highly sustainable, in line with UEL’s own values, and have evolved to improve the design and architectural approach, as well as enhancing access to public space and the Thames.”
key details
With planning permission granted, the data centre is expected to open some time in 2027. Ada’s scheme joins similar facilities already operating in east London run by the likes of Telehouse, Equinix, Digital Realty and Global Switch. SineQN and IXDS have plans for a data centre at Bidder Street on the River Lea in Canning Town, o ering 77megawatts. Go to adainfra.com for more details
Scan this code for more on Ada’s Royal Docks scheme
spaces making
how Hypha Studios is set to host free art shows at Sugar House Island’s gallery spaces until mid-2025
by Jon Massey
what are these people doing in this picture?
They’re celebrating the launch of Hypha Studios’ project at Sugar House Island in Stratford.
oh, what’s that then?
It’s an organisation that nds empty commercial units and arranges to host art exhibitions in them for an agreed period.
great, so that’s coming to the development?
Yes. Hypha has agreed to put on shows at two sites on Vastint’s Sugar House Island scheme with a rolling programme of work by local artists scheduled.
when’s it on until?
A series of exhibitions has been arranged at both locations running on various dates until mid-2025. There’s a particular focus on local creatives with a collective from Woolwich and a group of
Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
STAGE | Birthmarked
female, Indian artists lined up to display their pieces.
so what’s rst on the list?
The 107 High Street gallery will be hosting Rinse And Repeat, from June 28 until August 3. The show brings together a group of eight female, Indian artists living and working in London –namely Alamelu Annamalai, Meghana Gavireddygari, Shivangi Ladha, Smriti Mehra, Vasundhara Sellamuthu, Divya Sharma, Asha Vaidyanath, and Darshana Vora. Expect a diverse range of media and plenty of references to labour and repetition.
and the other location?
Disrupting Mythologies is set to run at 6 Sugar House Lane over the same period. This exhibition is billed as combining a selection of new
Scan this code to nd out more about Hypha
and radical works by a collective of multidisciplinary artists, all exploring myths with a raucous edge. Participating artists include Linghui NG, Marta Paula, Laura Crosbie, Estelle Simpson, Gabe Duarte, James Lang, Ellis Berwick, James Reynolds, William McLucas and Issie Liddiard. Expect plenty of attempts to nd meaning in absurdity, divine profundity in the inane and develop connection through stories in this eclectic collection of works.
anything else?
A series of more than 60 free workshops and events will also be held in addition to the exhibitions.
key details
details
Hypha’s shows kick o on June 28 at both 107 High Street and 6 Sugar House Lane on Sugar House Island in Stratford. All shows are free to visit and are typically open noon-6pm (days vary).
Go to hyphastudios.com for more information and full listings
GIG | Silent Knight The Australian metal band, now on third album, Full Force, top a packed bill with Toledo Steel, Lord Adder and Stuka Squadron also set for sets. Jul 18, 6pm, from £8, cartandhorses.london
A youn Jehovah’s Witness comes to terms with his sexuality and nds his feet in a world he once believed would be destroyed by Armageddon. Jul 10-13, 7.30pm, from £10, stratfordeast.com STAGE | Pure Froth
This play explores sticky truths, shattered dreams and crumpled bills as an usher reveals their tale of precarious scurrying between jobs. Jul 25-26, 7.30pm, £9, theyardtheatre.co.uk
back
Big things are happening on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and East Bank director Tamsin Ace is right at the heart of them. 2024 is a watershed year for the project as Sadler’s Wells East opens its doors queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk
Scan this code to read our interview with Tamsin and nd our more about her plans to foster collaboration
Artists and creative pose outside space at Sugar House Island soon to be lled with art
Sudoku
Take a break from that phone
How to play
To complete Sudoku, ll the board by entering numbers one to nine such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.
More to play
You can nd more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection of other brainteasers available to download for free at puzzles.ca
Notes
crossword
beating the whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
Cryptic Quick
Across
1. Mix up the Greek cheese? It’s kismet! (4)
3. See 17 acc..
9. Keeps an eye on the money, we hear (7)
10. Sounds like an exam for ears? (5)
11. Illuminations sought to light up the sky (12)
13. Stolen US coin? (6)
15. Criticises the hammering (6)
17, 3. Good Shakespearean conclusion? (4,4,4,4,4)
20. Rural violence, sort of (5)
21. More certain pub pays money for cover (7)
22. End of the slaughter is too much? (8)
23. Kitchen appliance is in time (4)
Down
1. People employing sharp concentration, we hear (8)
2. Thanks to the definite article! It’s all Greek! (5)
