Wharf Life, Oct 12-26, 2022

or Advice

Images by James Perrin – nd more of his work at jamesperrin.com or via @millerjamesperrin on Insta

in

Where?

Museum Of London Docklands West India Quay

KIDS | Many East Ends Celebration

The Museum f London Docklands will be putting on a week of events over half term themed on historic and contemporary east London. Ages 5+. Oct 22-29, times vary, free, museumo ondon.org.uk

Where?

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf

Cabot Square

GIG | Eban Brown

Hear the high-pitched vocals of the lead singer of The Stylistics. Expect such classics as You Make Me Feel Brand New and Stone In Love With You Nov 5, 9.30pm, from £29, boisdale.co.uk

Where? East Wintergarden Canary Wharf

EVENT | The PA Show Canary Wharf

Aimed at PAs, EAs, VAs and o ce managers, this show brings together a community with suppliers and plenty of training opportunities. Nov 2, free to attend, thepashow.com

Welcome to the 74th issue of Wharf Life. There’s something di erent about this paper. Normally famous faces are not a priority for coverage in our pages, but when they’re using their celebrity to do good, then we take notice. Turn to page 10 to nd out how the BGC Annual Charity Day makes an impact

Enter the world of ceramicist and maverick Manos Kalamenios as he explains the mindful joy of learning to create and experiment with clay at Made By Manos on Greenwich Peninsula

Discover Northeastern University London at St Katharine Docks

55th oor homes are released at Wood Wharf’s One Park Drive

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art with frozen water is set to return to Canary Wharf as the Winter Ice festival

on the

noon, daily on Nov 17-19, Wharfers and visitors will be able to watch experts

and have a go themselves

new

2-4-1

inhaling

oxide

linked to damaging your nervous system

For all Liz Line watchers – Nov 6 may be the big day when Elizabeth Line services start running all the way through to Reading with no change at Paddington, but mark October 24 in your diary as the date trains nally start stopping at Bond Street station crossrail.co.uk

to our

and get Wharf Life content in your inbox each week for free

£40

From Lacoste to serving up Perky Blenders in Royal Victoria Dock

how Roxanna Lyssa’s Good Vibes cafe

more than

you don’t know you need eprings

noun, fake, from Old Norse

The faint echoes of a plot in a TV drama that has been so bloated by its budget that almost every scene looks like a perfume commercial while simultaneously failing to move the story forward at all. Amazon, I’m looking at you

You are determined to love yourself

You are more beautiful than you ever have been

Your name will be buried in someone’s heart

As long as you are still here – undead – still breathing You have done enough

Today, by Sarah Aluko

divagate

verb, real, from Latin

Not, as many might assume, some sort of scandal deriving from diva-like behaviour, but the action of straying or digressing from a set course or subject. Anyway, what’s for tea? Sausages or hotpot?

Scan this for more the performances at Poets Corner

in celebration

>> To mark Black History Month, Canary Wharf Group has teamed up with creative collective SXWKS to amplify the voices of underrepresented black poets. A live forum – Poets Corner – has been set up at Crossrail Place Roof Garden, which will host free performances at 1pm by Roger Robinson (Oct 15), Joladé Olusanya (Oct 19) and Sarah Aluko (Oct 22).

A few clicks and  this new ‘me’ looks clean on white tiles  Carefully cropped self-assured photographs.  Grand prophecies of who I will be. Here  everything is so hollow, doesn’t get to the core of a thing.  Nothing of the journey or this crimson mouth,  or these hands, my god, these lthy hands,  who have they not had to be?

A bridge, a room for the night, a call back home.

At least give me credit for surviving this long.

For being  Dark (a threat)   Woman (a threat)    still breathing (a threat).

Today, by Sarah Aluko

loved

>> Poems featured – as well as works by Young People’s Laureate Theresa Lola and poet Inua Ellams – will also be available to print out for free from the estate’s Short Story Stations in Canada Place, Crossrail Place Roof Garden and Jubilee Place throughout October. On this page we’re featuring two works by Sarah Aluko for readers to enjoy and re ect on

#TrainDays

awards celebrating the

by Jon Massey

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf recently hosted its annual music awards, with a roster of 14 honours for individuals and groups presented. While the event recognised the talents of the winners and brought together a diverse crowd in celebration – where else can you see Black Sabbath’s guitarist casually chatting with actor and crooner Hugh Laurie? – it perhaps best served to draw attention to the breadth and quality of the artists Boisdale regularly draws to its stages in Canary Wharf and Belgravia

Effervescent owner Ranald Macdonald plus hosts Jools Holland (patron of music for Bois dale) and boisterous jazz saxo phonist YolanDa Brown, presided over the proceedings including awards for the following:

Tony Iommi

Lifetime Achievement Award

As co-founder and the only constant member of ground-

breaking heavy metal band Black Sabbath, Tony’s contribution to music alongside Ozzy Osborne, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler is well documented.

Their work includes genre-de fining releases such as their eponymous first album and its follow-up, chart-topper Paranoid, named for the song that remains their only UK top 20 single.

Having lost the tips of two of his fingers in an industrial accident at the age of 17, he was inspired to keep playing after listening to a recording of guitarist Django Reinhardt. After being told the gypsy jazz great was only using

two digits having been injured in a fire that left two of his fingers paralysed, Tony redoubled his efforts, going on to make musical history himself.

He said: “Getting this award feels lovely. I’ve got five lifetime achievement awards now, but it’s great – I think any recognition is fantastic, I love it.

“Music is a different way of life now to when we started. I’d always say, get a lawyer and then get going, to those beginning a career now.

“My real advice though would be to love what you’re doing, enjoy it and then whatever else comes is a bonus. You have to enjoy what you do.

“

I have always believed in what we do and that’s why we’ve been around a long time. It’s because we don’t change from what we love

Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath

Paranoid the song was on the second album – we’d had the first one, which was in the charts for a long time and then we did Paranoid went to No.1.

“It was a throwaway single but it got to No. 4 – we didn’t have enough songs for the album and the producer said we needed another one,

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Black Sabbath guitarist and heavy metal legend Toni Iommi, pictured at the awards ceremony, below

just a short track. I came up with this idea, then we played it and recorded it in a few minutes and that was that.

“The whole thing about this business is about believing in what you do. I have always believed in what we do and that’s why we’ve been around a long time. It’s because we don’t change from what we love.”

Cleveland Watkiss Jazz Artist Award

composer Cleveland was named best jazz artist for 2022. Having studied at the London School Of Singing and subsequently at Guildhall School Of Music And Drama, his career took off in the 1980s as a member of the Jazz Warriors with the likes of Courtney Pine and Dennis

He has since gone on diverse and varied collection of artists including The Who, Bjork, Bob continued on

how the Boisdale Music Awards lit up a starry night with a showcase of performers honoured, acting as a cross section of the talent regularly gracing the venue’s stage

Lifetime achievement awards Tony Iommi has received so far for his work with Black Sabbath

Hackney-born jazz singer Cleveland Watkiss performs at the Boisdale Music Awards

by Amy French

Last month we were delighted to host Tech She Can’s first birthday celebration at Level39. Tech She Can was founded in 2018 by Sheridan Ash – PwC’s technology innovation and women in technology leader – with the aim of improving the pipeline of women going into technology roles.

Now, it celebrates one year of officially being a charity. So, why is Tech She Can so important, not only to us at Level39, but to the entire tech sector? The charity recognises the potential of all girls and women and works to collectively inspire them to study relevant subjects and pursue careers in technology so that they have an equal opportunity to participate in the jobs of the future.

This is hugely important for the UK’s future pipe line of diverse technology talent because finding women with digital and STEM skills to recruit is becoming increasingly tough.

According to PwC UK research, an alarming 3% of women and girls surveyed cited technology as their first-choice career and only 27% (compared to 63% of men and boys) at A Level and university age, were interested in a career in the sector.

Today, over 200 organisations are members of Tech She Can, working alongside industry leaders and ministers to shape new, inclusive education, skills, and workplace policies, as well as initiatives such as the Tech Talent Charter to shine a spotlight on the issues and barriers surrounding progress.

It was fantastic to join the team to celebrate the significant progress achieved in just one year – the charity has provided educational resources, including animated lessons, role models (young women in tech) and champions (volunteers) for sessions in schools with the aim of inspiring more than 10,000 children across the UK.

At Level39 – a community of tech entrepreneurs and businesses in Canary Wharf – we know women are under-represented at an industry level, but we hope that with the support of the community, initia tives like Tech She Can will continue to scale and thrive, enabling positive change.

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 Level39’s work and the activities of its member companies and tech startups

Dylan, Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis and Robbie Williams, to name just a few.

Cleveland said: “It’s always good to feel that your art and your work is appreciated. These awards are really encouraging, they give you a lift – especially in these tough times.

“It’s my wish and desire to keep performing and this award is just more encouragement to keep doing what I do.

“You know that saying – give people their flowers while they’re alive? Well not everyone gets those flowers, so I want to dedi cate this to some of the people who inspired me coming up.

“There were a few people who passed away during the pandemic including my aunt, whose funeral I wasn’t able to attend because of Covid. She was like a second mother to me.

“She was one of these people who regardless of the situation would have a positive outlook on life. She was always encouraging us when we were growing up. I lost my father when I was nine and I stayed with her as a kid. She was always inspirational and, even though she suffered with illness, she’d lift you up.

“There’s other people too like Ray Carless, a fantastic tenor saxophonist in the community in Hackney where I grew up.

“He recently passed away but he was such an icon in terms of the work he did in east London and beyond.

“He was a hugely celebrated musician who played in some of the most iconic jazz bands in the UK. We’d be here all day if I sat

hot picks

here and named them – top artists like Adele and Elvin Jones.

“Ray was a big inspiration to me when I saw what he was doing. I watched him at Ronnie Scott’s when I was in my late teens and I thought: ‘Wow, if he could do that, playing with one of the greatest musicians in the world – Elvin Jones, who played with John Coltrane – then maybe I could too’.

“I want to dedicate this to people like that – people who never really got their flowers when they were alive.”

Gina Larner

Best Up And Coming Artist Brighton born singer songwriter Gina is set to release her first and, as yet, untitled album later this year.

She said: “It feels really good to win. I sang Heavy Heart, the first single from my new album, which should be out in a few weeks. I sing and write Americana and country pop.

“People often see the pink hair and assume punk, but I’ve just loved Americana and country since I was a kid – I really like Stevie Nicks, KT Tunstall and Kacey Musgraves and I listen to a bit of Dolly Parton too.

“I’ve been writing for a long time – don’t get me wrong, my songs were shit originally, 14-year-old me did not write bangers – now, hopefully, 24-year-old me is writing better songs. I like to think what I write is very honest – that’s what I aim for. I’ll be back at Boisdale supporting KT Tunstall when she plays here on November 11.”

Go to clevelandwatkiss.co.uk, iommi.com or ginalarnermusic.com for more information

Boisdale hosts gigs nearly every day – here are our picks

GIG The Blackbyrds

Oct 25-29, 9pm, from £24

Audiences can expect jazz-funk and r’n’b from The Blackbyrds, who are set to play five nights at Boisdale Of Canary Wharf in October. Assembled in the mid-1970s in Washington DC by legendary trumpeter Donald Byrd, their output has been sampled by everyone from De La Soul to Massive Attack.

GIG Mica Paris

Nov 3, 9.30pm, from £49

The UK Queen Of Soul is set to bring her velvety vocals back to Canary Wharf. Known for hit singles including My One Temptation, Breathe Life Into Me and Where Is the Love, audiences can expect

a track or two from her critically acclaimed album Gospel, released in 2020.

GIG KT Tunstall

Nov 11, 9.30pm, from £75 Known for Suddenly I See and Big Black Horse And The Cherry Tree, the Scottish singer-songwriter, pictured, returns to Cabot Square with support from award-winner

Gina Larner.

Scan this code for more info on Boisdale or to book tickets

Awards presented by Boisdale to musicians at its annual awards

This work is hugely important for the UK’s future pipeline of diverse technology talent

Amy French, Level39

Tech She Can works to inspire girls and women to consider careers in technology

People often see the pink hair and assume punk, but I’ve just loved Americana and country since I was a kid

Gina Larner, singer songwriter

Each year financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald and its affiliates BGC Partners and GFI Group give away 100% of their global reve nues to good causes. The event is held in memory of the 658 friends and employees of Cantor and 61 Eurobrokers who were killed in the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in 2001.

Since 2005 – and not including this year’s efforts – Charity Day has generated $192million, distributed to more than 150 charities. Celebrity patrons of these organisations are invited onto the businesses’ trading floors, including BGC’s offices in Canary Wharf’s Churchill Place to close deals over the phone and raise awareness of the causes they’re representing.

This year’s participants in London included football manager Sam Allardyce for Muscular Dystrophy UK, former footballer and pundit Rio Ferdi nand for Wellbeing Of Women, TV presenter Amanda Holden for Battersea Dogs And Cats Home and Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore for Choose Love – an organisation that provides aid to and advocacy for refugees around the world.

But what does the day really mean to the organisations that participate? For the Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation, which works to inspire and equip children with the tools they need to develop and pursue lifelong artistic passions, it’s a lot.

Its courses at after school clubs and in school holidays cover disciplines such as street art, photography, film making, music, sculpting, drama, songwriting and poetry. They are all funded through donations and via fundraising events.

Two of its ambassadors – actor and producer Sadie Frost and actor Damian Lewis – attended BGC on its behalf this year, a day that is crucial to its ongoing operations.

“We get a huge amount in funding from it in comparison to what we get in grants,” said Debbi continued on Page 12

$192m calls making the

Funds generated for good causes by the annual Charity Day between 2005 and 2021

Scan this code to for more about the work of HVH Arts Foundation

by Jon Massey

how BGC Partners’ annual Charity Day has an enormous impact on one of its beneficiaries

Actor and producer Sadie Frost attends the BGC Partners Charity Day 2022 in Canary Wharf on behalf of the Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation

Image by James Perrin – find more of his work at jamesperrin.com or via @millerjamesperrin on Insta

by Nadia Bazzaz

In August, the Home O ce introduced the Scale-Up Worker Visa, which enables certain skilled individuals who have been sponsored for two years and have worked for high-growth businesses for six months or more, to continue living in the UK without a sponsor in order to support and contribute towards the growth of the UK economy.

The Skilled Worker Visa and Scale-Up Visa share the same primary requirements of having a sponsorship certi cate from a licensed sponsor or employer, together with the English language and maintenance.

Both routes may lead to settlement after ve years of continuous living in the UK and allow family members of the workers to join them in the UK and receive the same rights and leaves.

Unlike Skilled Worker, the Scale-Up route provides more exibility and opportunity for high-growth businesses to recruit certain talented workers including scientists, engineers, researchers, architects and IT experts to remain and work for them in the UK without the need to obtain a sponsor licence.

However, the downside of Scale-Up is that the licensed employers might hesitate to sponsor those individuals and pay the costly procedures, knowing that they have the exibility of leaving their employments or sponsor after completing six months of employment.

In addition, while the Scale-Up Visa attracts talented individuals to live and work in the UK in order to boost UK businesses post-pandemic, it would still be very di cult for those talented workers to secure the initial two years sponsorship.

Despite that, Scale-Up Visas provide more exibility for highgrowth businesses and talented individuals in comparison to the Skilled Worker Visa.

However, we can conclude that both routes have their pros and cons for businesses and individuals who are looking to work in the UK.

Scan

out

Page 10

Clark, a professional photographer and co-founder and CEO of the foundation. “We don’t know exactly how much we’ll be getting until the following year, but last year it was about a third of our total income of around £160,000.

“We did so many things with that money – we made a short film during Covid, a project that continued as we came out of the pandemic. We made a book and we also supported 80 children every day over the summer to help them discover the arts.

“We’ve run a music mentoring project that is supporting kids at risk from grooming and gangs, and that’s becoming a hugely successful programme. We also do a band jam for kids who can’t afford to buy instruments, that’s held every Saturday.

“We work on a grass roots basis, project-by-project, so having the money from the Charity Day is a massive help because it enables us to plan what we’re going to do.

“We work mainly with children in Camden, but have done a project in Deptford as well and last year we were able to support an extra 255 kids throughout the 12 months.

“All the money we receive goes on our projects so we can help disadvantaged and vulnerable children.”

The foundation is named in honour of the work of Sir Hubert Von Herkomer, an artist, playwright, actor, composer and

film director known for his social realism and founding an art school in Bushey that encouraged students to ignore conventions and develop their own individual talents. In 2011, Debbi and her husband, Mark Von Herkomer (Sir Hubert’s great grandson), set out to create a charity that celebrated his approach, resulting in the foundation.

“Our programmes give kids access to projects that they would never be able to afford to participate in otherwise,” said Debbi.

“For example, we do photography and Olympus sponsor us and send cameras so the kids get to use SLRs and different lenses.

“Our courses are free, so it’s giving kids opportunities that they should be getting at school but aren’t.

“I think that the arts are one of the most beneficial things you can teach, because it really does accelerate a child’s growth. In my opinion creativity empowers confidence and collaboration. continued on Page 14

Years since Debbi Clark and her husband, Mark Von Herkomer registered the Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation as a charity

Companies can use Scale-Up Visas to recruit scientists, engineers and IT experts among others

“

We can conclude both Scale-Up and Skilled Worker Visas have their pros and cons for businesses and individuals

Nadia Bazzaz, Kidd Rapinet

Nadia

Rio Ferdinand works to close a deal at the BGC Partners Charity Day as he attends on behalf of Wellbeing Of Women

Below, Sir Hubert Von Herkomer Arts Foundation cofounder and CEO Debbi Clark

Our programmes give disadvantaged kids access to projects they would never be able to participate in otherwise

Debbi Clark, HVH Arts Foundation

Image by James Perrin –nd more of his work at jamesperrin.com or via @millerjamesperrin on Insta

150+

They’re building new friendships and can say: ‘I’m a photographer’ working with proper equipment.

“It’s about putting them on the same platform as everybody else, so when they do leave school, they feel able to hold their own.

“All of this stuff is building up their confidence and putting them on an even keel. Four years ago they hadn’t seen a camera. Now they’re coming back with creative ideas – I’m really proud of them.

“I have always suffered with anxiety and I think that creativity saved me. When I did find my art, I felt free, it was a whole new world.

“Being able to be creative is so important for mental health and that’s why these donations matter. The arts are so important for the next generation – they give people freedom and that’s a beautiful thing.”

The foundation has also developed the McCrory Award in memory of its patron, the actor Helen McCrory, who died from breast cancer in 2021.

Debbi said: “We did this for my dear friend Helen, awarding three 14-year-old scholars funds to support them with one-to-one mentoring and a bursary to pursue their chosen field.

“On a wider level we’d love to expand what we do, but that means we need to find more funding. There’s a real need for the work we do. In Camden, for example, there’s a lot of knife crime and we see it first hand.

“We know which of the kids we see are at risk, the ones who are being groomed by gangs and we do everything we can to make sure everybody’s safe.

“Work like this opens up other avenues for people. A group who came for the first time two years ago were swearing and going outside for a smoke. We got some really cool people in to participate in their project and they became a bit empowered.

“The kids wanted to come to the sessions because they were really cool. Then they stopped swearing, they stopped being rude and started to have some respect for themselves and those around them. Some of those kids are now working in good jobs.

“I’ll be honest, it doesn’t work for everyone – but it does work and the money we get to do these projects is vital for that.”

Go to hvharts.org or bgcpartners.com for more information

this code for more about

Day

Good causes supported by Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC Partners and GFI Group through their annual Charity

Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore attends the BGC Partners Charity Day on behalf of Choose Life

Image by James Perrin – find more of his work at jamesperrin.com or via @millerjamesperrin on Insta

travelling for and good cheer

how London Oktoberfest is back under canvas for its 2022 celebrations

by Jon Massey

Figures clad in lederhosen and dirndl are a common sight around London at this time of year as Germany exports its cele bratory traditions to the capital. While London Oktoberfest won’t be taking place on the Isle Of Dogs in 2022, the arrival of the Elizabeth Line means those seeking their fix of bratwurst,

steins and rousing drinking songs are still able to access its attrac tions with ease.

This year, the event will be split across two locations – Walpole Park in Ealing from October 20-23 and Lillie Road Recreation Ground near Barons Court from both October 27-30 and November 3-5.

The former is located close to Ealing Broadway station – less than half an hour from Canary Wharf via the Elizabeth Line

allowing for one change at Paddington.

The latter is close to Baron’s Court, which is also about half an hour from Canary Wharf via the Jubilee and Piccadilly lines.

“This year we are back in wonderful parks – London Oktoberfest takes place in an enormous marquee” said Carsten Raun, a former banker who has been organising the events in the capital since 2011.

“That gives a very different feeling to the events and stands in contrast to the hall we were in last year. In a way, for us it’s back to normal – the Oktoberfest that people know and love, unaffected by Covid restrictions.

“People are ready to party without being nervous and that’s what we’ve seen in cities around the UK.

“We’ve been in Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester and now three weeks in London. After 12 years we have a long tradition in the capital.

“I’m glad we are back in the tent, with a capacity of 1,800 people. It’s a special mood in there, you really have to experi ence it to understand.

“People are really happy –they’re out of the office, out of their homes, just somewhere

Thousands of litres of beer are brought over from Germany for the events

completely different. You drop out of the normal world for an evening. People put on the costumes or a hat and for a night they can be a different person.

“This year we’re very much sticking to tradition. The style is Bavarian and we’re serving German food and drink and presenting German music.

“Of course it’s a London twist on all that. We will be bringing our usual tanker with 23,000 litres of beer and more than 10,000 bratwurst for people to enjoy.

“For us they key thing is that people living in and around Canary Wharf who are familiar with the event should know that they can get to us easily using the Elizabeth Line or a range of other routes. We think it will be a really special party.”

General admission to Okto berfest starts at £5 with various packages available and corporate experiences also on offer.

Go to london-oktoberfest.co.uk for more information about the event or to book tickets

Scan this code for more on London Oktoberfest’s 2022 events

by Jon Massey

Iwant studying here to be filled with new experiences, meeting people and fun – a place which our students will remember as one where they grew intellec tually, socially and personally and which allowed them to have choices,” said Rob Farquharson, CEO of Northeastern University London (NUL).

Founded in 2012 by the philos opher and writer AC Grayling as the New College Of The Human ities (NCH), the institution has been through a period of growth and development in a relatively short space of time – not least its arrival at St Katharine Docks.

In 2019 it was acquired by Northeastern University, an American seat of learning based in Boston, but with 11 regional campuses in the US and a clear mission to expand globally.

Then in 2020, NCH was first granted the right to award its own degrees and then to legally call itself a university – both after lengthy assessment processes.

Having outgrown its original premises in Bloomsbury, in 2021 it moved to Devon House – a modern warehouse-style building on the banks of the Thames overlooking Tower Bridge.

It’s an apt location on the site of the historic Bull’s Head pub where it’s not impossible to imagine thirsty Brits finding refreshment as they prepared to emigrate to America over the Atlantic from the nearby docks.

Today, NUL’s presence repre sents fresh connection between the area and the US, as it looks to the future with the sensitive retirement of the NCH name. “Boston and London are the two pre-eminent seats of higher educa tion in the world,” said Rob. “One of Northeastern’s key drivers is international expansion – being able to offer its students and staff

a global experience. You have to connect with the world and understand it to make a positive impact and Northeastern doesn’t want to be constrained by a single location.

“We’re the first campus outside North America, but I can guarantee we won’t be the last. Northeastern wants to have a global student body and to give people the opportunity to study in different locations and experience different cultures – you need to have that physical presence on the ground to facilitate that.

“We moved to St Katherine Docks for more space and we’re just about to take another building here for use as office space so we can grow even further.

“We’ve added a lot of non-hu manities, non-social science subjects to the ones we already teach – we now offer courses in business, engineering, chemistry and physics, for example.

“There’s a big emphasis on artificial intelligence, partly because that bridges the history we have in humanities and the strengths Northeastern has in Boston, such as computer science and data science.

“At the moment we have about 1,200 students in London and we aim to have about 1,500 by the end of the year.

“In September 2023, we’ll be launching dually validated degrees, which we’re very excited about. It means students will be studying for degrees that are accredited in both the UK and the US. The structure for those at the moment is that in the second semester of the second year, students will have the option to study in North America – in Boston or at a West Coast campus, although it’s not compulsory.

“Students will also be able to do a fourth year in the US as their degrees tend to be four years and there will be an option to do a masters there too.

1,500

global growing a seat of learning

In September 2023, we’ll be launching dually validated degrees –accredited in both the UK and the US – which we’re very excited about Rob Farquharson, NUL

“One of the reasons we need more space is so we can create facilities such as wet labs for students who want to come over here from the US to study as part of their course.

“We won’t be able to cover the full range of courses they have in Boston, but we do want to allow students to have some time in London and we want to be able to support them.”

At present, NUL offers under graduate degrees, masters degrees and apprenticeship courses

The number of students Northeastern University London expects to have on its books by the end of the current year

how Northeastern University London is creating fresh connection with the US from its Docklands base

Northeastern University London is based at Devon House on the Thames in St Katharine Docks

on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where?

Troxy Limehouse

CLUB | Halloween By Access

Following a sold-out show in 2021, Access is back in London for a costume-friendly, fully haunted evening of dance and ghoulish enjoyment. Oct 29, 9pm-4am, from £17.70, troxy.co.uk

Where?

Half Moon Theatre Limehouse

designed to help businesses develop their workforces.

Scan this code for more about NUL’s digital boot camp

NUL is also eager to play its part in the local community as it grows and expands its offering, whether that’s welcoming local residents on its degree courses or helping others gain new skills.

NUL is also eager to play its part in the local community as it grows and expands its Tower Hamlets, but we’re

groups have the ability, the ambition and the understanding to be able to go to university.

KIDS | Dragon’s Tale

Rick loves poetry, but all across the land poets are being silenced by a dragon. How can our hero avoid being eaten and help save his village from the end? Nov 5, 11am, 2pm, £7, ages 5+, halfmoon.org.uk

“We have students with us who are residents of Tower Hamlets, but we’re keen to get local people from all the boroughs around here and we want to be a valued member of the community,” said Rob. “If anyone has any ideas how we can do that, then we’re more than happy to hear from them.

from all the boroughs around here and we want to be a valued

“One thing that we do is work with the GLA and the Department For Education to run free digital boot camps. These are open nationwide, but we’re particularly keen for local residents to join.

“The next one starts in anuary and it’s a 13-week programme for people aged 19 and over, to help them understand a bit more about the digital skills they may need for a career or a new or different job.”

The boot camp is run in partnership with cloud platform ServiceNow, which counts government agencies, prominent consultancies and major brands among its clients.

“We love being here at St Katharine Docks,” said Rob. “It’s a little oasis – close enough to the busy areas of the City, The Highway and Commercial Road if you want to go there, but uiet so you can study.

“We feel we’ve become part of the community but hope to go further still. One of our key priorities is widening participation, to make sure that under-represented

“We have staff whose job it is to spread the word locally. They visit primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in Tower Hamlets and other boroughs to demystify university – especially for those whose family members have not been. We want them to know that they can come here, meet a diverse group of people and have choices. Some might want to make money in financial services while others might want to be social workers. What we want is to give them the ability to make those choices. Once they are here, we have a careers team that supports students from the practical side of things – writing C s and interviews – through to clubs and societies.

“We’ve just launched an entrepreneur club, which will bring in recent graduates who have started businesses as well as people from funding organisations.

“We also have programmes which give students an idea of how businesses work. Your passion might be English Literature, but it’s useful to know other things as well. You may want to be an English professor, but that involves working at a university, which is a business that pays people and spends a budget – It’s about having that depth.”

NUL is set to host an open day for prospective students on November 26.

Go to nchlondon.ac.uk for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about studying at NUL

STAGE | A Dead Body In Taos

This new play is billed as an unsettling piece of science ction and an intimate study of loss and bereavement through the lens of AI progress.

Oct 26-Nov 12, times vary, from £13.50, wiltons.org.uk

diary date

If you’re looking for some family entertainment, musician and storyteller David Gibb is set to launch his latest album, Pedal Onwards, at the Half Moon Theatre with two daytime shows on October 29. Tickets cost £7 halfmoon.org.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the performances or to make a booking for one of the shows

Where? Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping

Northeastern University London

CEO Rob Farquharson

by Jon Massey

How do you feel about your nervous system?

How do you feel without your nervous system?

Jokes might seem appro priate here – after all, this article is about laughing gas. Nitrous oxide, which comes in canisters of various sizes, is sold ostensibly for use in the baking industry as a means of creating robust whipped cream.

You have to be over 18 to buy it, but there are few practical obstacles to obtaining large quantities.

That’s perhaps why the gas is now also the most popular recreational drug for those aged 1 -2 . The effect of inhaling it – typically from a balloon – is described as a rapid rush of euphoria and a feeling of oating or excitement for a brief period.

Fits of giggles and laughter can also occur, hence the nickname.

Anyone walking around the Isle Of Dogs or east London will have seen multiple discarded canisters. It took me five minutes to find some to photograph for this piece.

A quick search on Google reveals a number of “baking websites” that subtly embrace a new found source of revenue, offering text alerts for discounts on cream chargers and next-day delivery for those who need their ingredients quickly.

Users have little trouble getting their hands on the canisters locally and antisocial behaviour associated with its use led to Tower Hamlets Council bringing in a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) covering the whole borough last year.

This allows officers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £100 or launch prosecutions with fines of up to £1,000 for using the drug and engaging in behaviour such as littering, noise nuisance and vandalism. Since the PSPO came into force in April 2021, there have been 125 enforcement actions taken by officers, including a man who was fined 00 in court after failing to pay a fixed penalty notice.

The council says tackling use

The neurological risk is to do with the gas’ e ect on your spinal cord.

Symptoms can include di culty in walking or an inability to walk at all Devan Mair, Queen Mary University

of the gas is a priority and that its enforcement officers regularly patrol the borough and take action against those using it. It is also looking into boosting awareness around the dangers of inhaling the gas and the antisocial behaviour it can lead to.

Nevertheless, widespread nitrous oxide use continues locally. That may partly be because there’s a perception the gas is safe for recreational use.

This ignores the very real danger of inhaling the stuff directly from a canister, which can lead to a spasm in the throat that stops the user breathing.

More worryingly, there’s emerging evidence that use of nitrous oxide is leading to spinal injuries.

A steep rise in cases observed by Alastair Noyce, professor in neurology and neuroepidemiology at Queen Mary University’s Wolfson Institute Of Population Health, led him to launch a campaign this year to educate teenagers on the neurological risks of using the gas.

N20: Know The Risks is being led by students in the university’s Public Health And Preventative Medicine Society – supported by Professor Noyce – and has started to deliver sessions in Tower Hamlets through youth groups and housing associations.

Fourth year medical student Devan Mair, who is leading the campaign, said: “Our campaign focuses on

the neurological dangers of taking nitrous oxide because they’re not very well known.

“This substance is a colourless gas which people inhale into their lungs. The way it creates a high is to deprive a user’s brain of oxygen for a few seconds – it’s a very short high. That in itself can create a risk, because people who do it a lot have been known to pass out and faint.

“The neurological risk is to do with the gas’ effect on the spinal cord – the clump of nerves running down the centre of the back that is connected to branches all the way around the rest of the body.

“Users of nitrous oxide risk damaging the myelin sheath – an insulating layer that forms around nerves made up of protein and fatty substances that allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells.

“Symptoms can include feelings of weakness, problems with balance, difficulty in walking or an inability to walk at all, constipation, urinary incontinence, pins and needles and in some cases a feeling like an electric shock going up the back.”

These problems stem from nitrous oxide’s ability to interfere with the body’s absorption of Vitamin B12 – a nutrient essential to a healthy myelin sheath.

The rise in cases has become so severe that Professor Noyce and local

Of people the campaign spoke to at a recent event had not heard nitrous oxide use could damage the spine

why students and sta at Queen Mary University are warning nitrous oxide users that they risk damaging their spinal cords

Devan Mair, a fourth year medical student at Queen Mary University, is leading on the N20: Know The Risks campaign

Discarded nitrous oxide canisters are a common sight on the Isle Of Dogs and throughout east London but the dangers of the gas are greater than the antisocial behaviour associated with its use

colleagues in east London are now working with neurologists around the country to establish the first national guidelines on treating nerve damage linked to laughing gas.

He said: “We are seeing more patients than even a year or so ago, and often the cases are more severe.

“We used to see people with tingling and numbness in their legs or difficulty walking, but this year we’ve had several people who literally can’t walk at all when they come to hospital.”

It’s cases such as those that have galvanised Devan and his fellow students into action.

“My motivation in getting involved is that I wasn’t aware of the risk until I was told about it – it’s something people simply don’t know,” he said. “After school I did a gap year, working in special educational needs, so I got a taste for working with young people.

“We’re not here to lecture or scare anyone – we want to empower people with knowledge of the risks of nitrous oxide, to inform them if faced with the decision to take balloons, so they can make educated choices. If they’re presented with the evidence, they can make decisions for themselves.

“Our campaign has two main ways of raising awareness. Firstly, there’s social media – we have accounts on Instagram and Twitter where we provide infographics aimed at young people to explain what’s happening and how to get help.

“We also run interactive sessions where we deliver activities in a fun and engaging way – we don’t do too much talking but get people involved to help them understand what could happen in their bodies and why the damage is taking place.

worth the

“We also give people cards with the acronym NERV on – ‘N’ for notice the symptoms, ‘E’ for emergency help, ‘R’ for replacement of vitamin B12 and ‘V’ for value your health.

“We need this campaign to constantly be there because the problem isn’t going away. We’d definitely like to roll it out over a wider area – it’s just students here at the moment, so it’s quite small – we would like to make it bigger.

“It’s definitely something that’s relevant. In June we had two days at an event in Tower Hamlets where we collected data from 246 people – 97% said it was the first time they’d heard about nitrous oxide causing spinal damage and felt confident after our session that they could tell their friends about the risks. We feel what we do works, now we want to grow it to reach more people.”

Follow @N20KnowTheRisks on Twitter or @know.the.risks on Insta

Scan this code to nd out more about N20 Know The Risks

Where?

Craft Central Isle Of Dogs

CRAFT | Introduction To Tambour Beading

Where?

Poplar Union Poplar

STAGE | Ten Days

ash black

Where?

The Space Isle Of Dogs

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

more?

whar ifelive

This is Stephen Dudeney who spent 31 years in the London Fire Brigade, rising to become borough commander for Hackney and then Tower Hamlets. He’s written a book – London Fire ghter – about his experiences amazon.co.uk

Scan this code to read our interview with Stephen at wharf-life.com and nd out where to get a copy of his

Join embroidery designer, maker and teacher Justine Bonenfant for a two-day session on this challenging, but rewarding technique. Nov 5-6, 10am-4pm, £190, craftcentral.org.uk

This slice of intensi ed history from the pen of journalist John Reed follows Lenin, Trotsky and Tsar Nicholas II in this modern retelling of a revolution. Nov 2-12, times vary, £15, space.org.uk

LEARN | DIY Filmmaking Course

Tower Hamlets-born lm and theatre director Stephen Lloyd will run three sessions for those who want to create a short movie or music video. Nov 4, 11,18, 10.30am-3pm, £24, poplarunion.com

Images by Jon Massey

by Laura En eld

We really have to push back now because we’re living so close to a dystopian future.” These are scary words from Julie McNa mara, but ones that ring true when you consider the Nation ality And Borders Bill passed into law in April. It allows the Government to strip individuals of their British citizenship without warning or reason. And no-one seems to be talking about it.

“It’s shocking what’s happening in this country right now,” said Julie, who has co-written and co-directed play Quiet Rebels with the aim of exposing ingrained racism in our society. It’s set to run at The Albany in Deptford from November 9-11.

“I can’t believe while we were picking the navel uff from our bellies, they put something in law about revoking your UK citizenship for any reason and there is no recourse to appeal,” she said. “How is this happening in our lifetime – and how are we not revolting?”

Quiet Rebels was inspired by her own family’s traumatic experience with the Home Office, which tried to deport her nephew back to Jamaica after two decades.

“It was the hardest time for us as a family,” said the 62-year-old. “Troy has been with us for 21 years, with my niece all that time, and they have four children.

“We had to prove they were in an enduring relationship several times over in four different cases and also that it would be unduly harsh for the children to have their father removed to Jamaica.

“The shocking and obscene language I heard at court just absolutely blew my mind.

“We spent five years and an awful lot of money fighting like hell. We finally won on October 28, 2020, in the Royal Courts Of Justice.”

Their battle was the catalyst for a project with Hassan Maham dallie, an internationally known senior policy maker and writer of The Crows Plucked Your Sinews, a play about the impact of British imperialism on Somalia.

Julie, founder of disability arts company Vital Xposure, based at Hackney Empire, kept being told she should work with him and went to hear him speak about his report for Arts Council England –The Creative Case For Diversity

“He quoted this beautiful poem by Langston Hughes – Harlem: A Dream Deferred and I knew then he was the kind of thinker I would love to work with,” said the Hackney resident.

They spent four years devel

oping Quiet Rebels, gathering stories from women who had been spat at, verbally abused and hounded just for marrying men of a different race. That included Julie’s niece Sophie.

“For me, the impetus has been to try and wake audiences up to what is happening around us, right here, right now, in our own courts,” said Julie.

“I wanted to start hearing from white women who fell in love with brown and black men. We went back to the Windrush years and said: ‘Is this where it began?’.

“We know black communities have been established in these islands for a long time, but you go back and think: ‘Alright, where has this nonsense come from? When did the racism really set in and why are we going back to a rising right?’.

“It’s embedded in British politics, the monarchy and the class system.”

Hassan comes from a mixed heritage family and his mother’s story is at the heart of the play.

“She was a working class secretary and met and fell in love with a young guy who came from Trinidad,” said Julie.

“Her mother was appalled and totally against the relationship. One day she put her daughter’s husband’s books out in the garden and burned them, which I think is such a fascist statement.”

They also spoke to a woman who was hounded out of Hull after raising her mixed heritage children there.

“She said this is the most racist country she’s ever lived in and she has lived in rural France, Greece and South Africa,” said Julie. “She talked about the violence that she had received on the streets, the terrible fear she had for her children. In the end, she was so frightened that she left and went to Australia.

“There are common themes that run through all their stories about the racism they experienced, being spat at on the streets, called n-lover, whore, slag.”

The Albany co-produced and staged an early version of the play in development in 2019 and the duo knew they were onto something.

“That show was only about 35 minutes long but the Q&A went on for over an hour and a half and in the end we got chucked out,” said Julie. “It revealed a great appetite for this work, for the stories we’ve touched on. One of the very common comments was it was refreshing to have white perspectives on the Windrush stories because there’s been so much black trauma staged repeatedly in British theatres and we’ve seen so much spilling out on our screens that it’s actually hugely wounding.

racism

Women shared their experiences of racism for the play

why dystopian love story Quiet Rebels is needed to break down race barriers with its forthcoming run at The Albany in Deptford – but shouldn’t be

Where did the racism really set in? It’s embedded in British politics, the monarchy and is ingrained in the class system

Julie McNamara, Vital Xposure

Julie and Hassan wrote and directed Quiet Rebels

Joe Conteh and Lottie Bell on stage

Image

Image by Rehan Jamil

“It’s one of the reasons that we have so many young black people overpopulating prisons and mental health systems – because of the pain and the violence of systemic racism.

“It’s getting worse and permissions, it seems to me, have been given since Brexit, so people are becoming more hostile.”

Julie said the white women who married men of a different colour were part of the cornerstone of building the multicultural societies we have today.

“It’s because of who they were and the love that they had for these men,” she said. “We met some amazing people and some ordinary people and one of the things we discovered about each of them was that they were all quiet rebels. Perceived as rebels not by us, but by their parents or local communities or peer group.

“The only crime was they fell in love. Is that a crime?”

Today’s version of the play takes the stories of four women –Margaret Chapman, Mary Khan, Elizabeth Grogan and Yvonne Ali – and sets them inside a racist future where Conservative MP Enoch Powell, who famously believed someone was only British if they were born here, became prime minister.

Clips of the women speaking open the show and snippets are spoken again by the actors.

The cast is made up of mixed heritage actors Joe Conteh and Deni Francis, Pickles ‘Wayne’ Norman, Lottie Bell, an actor with a hidden disability, and Fiona Whitelaw, who shared her experiences of being a “white pariah”. Her husband worked as a black detective in the Metropolitan Police and his experiences of racism helped inform the character of the detective.

Fiona leads the audience around the world, narrating what she can see as a form of integrated audio description. The play also contains pre-recorded sign language and creative captioning is at the heart of its design.

“I didn’t want traditional audio description with people set apart with headsets on,” said Julie.

“That annoys the hell out of me, because I feel like that’s a new kind of apartheid line.”

The plot follows an investigation into the murder of a white women who married a black man.

As a convicted race-traitor with four children, she has served time for miscegenation.

“It’s set in 2028, but the language you hear has come out of the mouths of politicians from this country in the last few years and from the Royal Courts Of

Justice,” said Julie. “Some people have complained about it, and quite right too, but we stand by it because I think it needs hearing. I feel this is a really important piece of work.”

Julie is appalled some of the “nonsense” they came up with for the play is now coming true.

“When we began writing this, we thought it was so dystopian – but we’re already living it, we have caught up with it,” she said.

“In this country, we didn’t have miscegenation laws, but the president of Hungary was saying recently: ‘We are not a nation if we are mixed’.”

Julie said events surrounding the ueen’s death also re ected issues in the play.

“We’ve been shut down and we’re not allowed to peacefully protest – somebody was arrested for saying: ‘Who elected him?’ at a proclamation for the King,” she said. “Why we’ve got the monarchy now, I do not know. It’s so out of date.

“You look at it and think: ‘Wow, your own son and his mixed heritage wife have had to leave this country because they feel so uncomfortable about the racism inside the monarchy’. Isn’t that a statement in itself?

“One minute we were watching this extraordinary wedding that gave a sense of hope and then it all unravelled in front of us.”

Quiet Rebels is also based on stories of love tinged by hate but Julie said the aim was to use them to open up conversations between families, friends, generations and communities about their experiences of racism.

“Some people come to the play hoping it’s going to be a story of romance and love and undoubtedly love is at the heart of the show,” she said.

“But there’s an awful lot we have to fight through and it’s about waking audiences up to the rise of this structural racism in England, which is bleak and needs dismantling.”

Transcripts of the interviews and from the court case will form part of an information pack they are building to go alongside the play. Julie said she wanted the conversation to continue even after the run ended.

“The play has an open endyou’re left with questions,” she said. “But it does end with a more positive moment as nobody would want to leave it like this –so what happens next?” For more go to thealbany.org.uk or vitalxposure.co.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about Quiet Rebels

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where?

The Albany Deptford

GIG | Test Dept

Formed in New Cross in 1981, Test Dept are one of the earliest and most in uential industrial bands. They return home for this postponed show. Oct 29, 7pm, £18.50, thealbany.org.uk

Where?

Canada Water Theatre Canada Water

ash back

Where?

The Shipwright Deptford

Recently opened Taca Taco in Deptford Market Yard is serving up treats inspired by Mexican and Californian cuisine from a brick archway. Expect plenty of punch and experimentation on the plates tacatacos.co.uk

Scan this code to read our interview with Taca Tacos owner Thorne Addyman at wharf-life.com

more?

EVENT | Camp re Club Outdoor storytelling from the Nest Collective to reignite and re ect on the importance of dissent in society on this meaningful date. Nov 5, 7-10pm, £18, theshipwright.co.uk

COMEDY | Alphabet Ma Ha!

A LGBTQ+ comedy night hosted by BBC New Comedy Award semi- nalist Harry Wright, featuring some of the best professional queers on the circuit. Nov 4, 7.30pm, £14, canadawatertheatre.org.uk

Real life couple Margaret Chapman and Astley Roy Thomas helped inspire the story

by Jon Massey

The world of ceramicist, alchemist and experimental creator Manos Kalamenios is filled with impossible things. I was going to use the word littered, but thanks to a relentless focus on sustainability, there’s practically no rubbish in his bin. His sink even has a filter that allows him to recover particles of clay for recycling in future projects.

And what projects they are.

ade By anos, his ground oor studio space at Design District on Greenwich eninsula, is filled with finished pieces. Its shelves are strewn with exotic vessels in bone china, porcelain and earthenware –pieces that light up and even ones made from ceramic foam, shaped and then solidified to give the appearance of a fossilised sponge.

There are improbably thin pieces, delicate as paper, and shards of material that seem perfectly solid until light shines through their translucent forms, radically altering their appearance. When I arrive, the table is filled with ghostly white Christmas baubles which are just being removed from their moulds.

Everywhere there are trial pieces, innovation and work – either Manos’ own creations or those of his students. It’s much more than just a showroom.

“Experimentation is paramount for me because it keeps me sane,” he said. “It would drive me mad if I had to do the same thing for the rest of my life, so that’s why everything is different.

“Of course, if someone really likes something then I will make another one and I’m always happy to try new colours or textures. I never say no to anything.”

£30

Experimentation is paramount for me because it keeps me sane. It would drive me mad if I had to do the same thing for the rest of my life Manos Kalamenios, Made By Manos

A Greek who grew up in Athens, Manos originally came to the UK in pursuit of his dream to become a chef at a Four Seasons hotel. Working first in Greece, then Spain, he achieved his aim, cooking at the brand’s Canary Wharf hotel from 2003 to 2005.

But the long hours took their toll and he left hospitality, initially to live with friends in the Isle Of Man. With the intention of pursuing a career as an artist (having never touched clay) he enrolled on a foundation course where he first encountered ceramics and a new passion.

Further study led to a degree in fine art and then an A in ceramics and glass at the Royal College Of Art as well as the chance to collaborate with an old friend.

“When doing my MA, I met up with a man I used to work with at the Four Seasons in Canary Wharf – Robert Ortiz – who had become head chef at Michelin-starred restaurant Lima, in Fitzrovia,” said Manos “We decided to do this collaboration with the restaurant’s menu on my tableware and it was magical. When I was a chef I was always excited by using unusual plates, so it’s nice to see pieces designed for food and not the other way around.”

making space to

Cost of a one-hour taster session at Made By Manos in Design District, located right next to North Greenwich station

how Made By Manos is part laboratory, part workspace and part classroom for eager ceramicists

A bowl made from Manos’ white bone china foam

Manos removes slip cast Christmas decorations from their moulds in preparation for one of his workshops

Above, a piece made by Manos for Lima. Below, tiles by participants at a recent taster event

Having worked out of a studio locally, Manos saw a sign on the door of Design District –Knight Dragon’s project to fill a plot with workspaces created by numerous architects –and applied for a studio.

“In the past, I was making work for myself, for clients and commissions,” he said. “But when I moved here, I found the potential was not just for me. My aim would be to see this place buzzing – I have the space to offer workshops, to teach and to help people with their projects.

“My tag line for Made By Manos is If you can’t find it, come and make it’. I want people who live or work locally to come because using clay is so nice, so relaxing – you can just get away from stress.

“It’s great to have something you’ve made or to give it as a gift – I want people to come here and to feel happy at that feeling of achievement. You can be a complete beginner, someone who has never touched the material before, and then leave with something you have made.

“For me, it’s amazing to pass something on and to give back to

the community. This isn’t that old mentality of not sharing a secret glaze or something. I think you can only make progress by sharing what you know.”

Manos is constantly developing his own practice, blending ingredients in different ways to create new materials and approaches.

His pieces have been widely exhibited and used, including pieces for Canary Wharf’s Winter Lights Festival in 2018, tableware for Tate Modern’s members club and work for Four Seasons Hotels And Resorts in Athens.

“About 99% of my work is slip casting, so I don’t have the mess with a wheel spraying the clay everywhere,” he said. “I also find the wheel very restricting because everything you make has to be round. With slip, I have the ability to get any shape I want, any size, any height and any finish.

“I love lighting and working on a big scale – I also like collaborating, doing things outside my comfort zone with glass, jewellery and metal. My favourite is probably working with bone china – I’ve even found a way to make it into a foam by adding extra air.

GIG | Kendrick Lamar

Where?

The O2 Arena Peninsula

The 14 Grammy-winning artist brings Mr Morale And The Big Steppers to the Peninsula as Kendrick’s star continues to ascend to new heights. Nov 7-9, 6.30pm, from £60, theo2.co.uk

Where? Beanfeast Woolwich Works

The latest in its Arsenal Of Sounds series, this gig combines music from Southern Italy and Gnawa music from Morocco and now the UK.

Nov 4, 8pm, £10.50, woolwich.works

making

Where? Greenwich Theatre Greenwich

also told never to add glass and I wound up making pieces for James Dyson

“As a student I was taught air was imperfection and my instinct is always to go completely the other way. That’s the most exciting thing to do. When I was making the foam, I was told I was looking for trouble but once you know the limits you can adapt it to what you want. I was also told never to add glass and I wound up making pieces for James Dyson after doing that, so I think you should listen to your gut and go with it.”

For those who want to have a go themselves, anos offers one-hour taster sessions at his studio for £30 per person, where small groups learn ancient techniques to handbuild vessels in stoneware clay.

He also offers three-hour themed workshops for £80, where participants in groups of five work on specific projects such as building mugs or cups or making Christmas decorations such as paper porcelain baubles for the tree.

One-to-one coaching and mentoring are also available on an hourly basis as well as a firing service for people who have made pieces but lack a kiln to finish them. Go to madebymanos.com for more

Scan this code to nd out more about Made By Manos

Suitable for ages 5-11, this play also features a turtle in the bathtub and a jaguar in the kitchen. Animal magic from puppet-masters Little Angel Theatre. Nov 4-5, times vary, £14, greenwichtheatre.org.uk

on things to do, places to go, people to see

whar

it

View the winning entries in the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Competition at a special exhibition at the National Maritime Museum until August next year. Tickets £10 rmg.co.uk/astrophoto

Scan this code to nd out more about the exhibition or to book tickets to see the images

KIDS | There’s A Rang-Tan In My Bedroom

GIG | Amaraterra And Simo Lagnawi

Manos is eager to pass on his knowledge and skills via workshops at his studio

The oral interior of a bowl made by a student

by Laura En eld

I

f Sadiq Khan is looking for a Londonmade caffeine fix near his new base at The Crystal by Royal ictoria Dock, then he’s in luck. All he needs to do is pop next door to Expressway and visit the hatch at erky Blenders Good ibes. The takeaway cafe serves coffee roasted up the road and is a collaboration between a Walthamstow-based roastery and entrepreneur Roxanna Lyssa.

You’ll see her behind the counter most days serving up lattes, toasties and cakes, and following in the footsteps of her grandma who served coffee and tea to dockers in the 1 30s. We lured her away from the grinder to find out more.

past vibe

I stepped away from a 15-year career to re-evaluate where I was going and got a part-time job as a barista with erky Blenders. Six months later, in November 201 , a franchise opportunity came up, so I put together a business pitch for Good ibes. We launched in une 2020

I worked in visual merchandising and product management for Lacoste UK previously, which was a fantastic part of my life and I ac uired so many trans ferable skills. I started that career on the sales oor and progressed to head office. But after 15 years, I wanted to go back on the frontline and do something on my own. I just wasn’t sure what.

A coffee shop was never in mind, but life seemed to push me in this direction. I got into coffee because I love the product.

y background really helps with what I do now. Small details all add up to the overall impact. I appreciate the impor tance of storytelling. I hope that, when we’re engaging with our customers, they feel part of the journey and understand what we sell and why we sell it.

Perky vibe

Because they knew me and my back ground they trusted me to establish the coffee shop under my own brand identity. As long as I serve the coffee to their standard and respect their brand guidelines, they’ve let me run with it.

present vibe

I’m pleased to say that, two years down the line, we’ve created a community and I do think we’ve got good vibes.

We’re known for being that authentic, open-minded spot where people can be themselves and talk about what they want or order whatever kind of coffee they want. We’re not going to judge.

It’s not just been about the coffee and the food, it’s also about the people. I love interacting and chatting and seemingly that’s my strong point. I’m known for my banter.

Royal Docks vibe

I wanted to drive culture and I could really see the potential for that in the Royal Docks with all the regeneration that’s happening here.

I grew up in east London but hadn’t been here before, so when I found out you can come to the docks and ride a cable car, go open water swimming or try wakeboarding it blew my mind. It was pretty surreal to find that in London.

Good ibes has just embedded itself in that. We do offers for the swimmers and for the wakeboarders because we want to be seen as part of the framework across the dock – we’re all in this together.

co ee vibe

In the office I was a person who had their own ground coffee and French press on the desk. I’ve always loved and respected coffee and now, doing this, I think I’ve found a bit of mad scientist in me. There are so many variables that you can control or manipulate in order to determine the end product – the temper ature of the water, the extraction time, the grind si e.

We sell a range of up to six different blends or single origins at a time. We also do drip coffee so we serve incoming blend on our espresso. But then we’ll feature single origins or coffee-of-themonth blends on our drip coffee.

food vibe

We are supplied by The Bread Station in Hackney and Cakesmith in Bristol. We sell croissants – almond, chocolate, raisin and buns – cinnamon, cardamom, ha elnut and vegan cakes - banana choc olate, carrot cake, blueberry Bakewell and chocolate brownie.

For lunch we’ve become known for our toasties. We use organic sourdough bread and fillings like chilli jam and spinach, tuna melt, chicken and avocado. I do really good homemade guacamole.

The secret is choosing the right ingredients and making it with love, care and also consistency. I’m a stickler for guidelines, because I was setting rules for the whole country at Lacoste. Customers getting what they expect to receive is so important to their experience.

We also do Brick Lane bagels with fillings including vegan cream cheese and, going into winter, we’ve added jacket potatoes and soups from Leytonbase uppe in avours like sweetcorn and coconut chowder, smoky roasted tomatoes and peppers and red lentil dhal.

natural vibe

I try to avoid any sort of artificial colours, avourings, emulsifiers and additives. You won’t get a caramel latte in my coffee shop.

I’m really against anything artificial and what’s good with a food and drink business is that you can encourage wellbeing through what people consume. You can educate people and advise them on how they can enhance their wellness.

caring vibe

During lockdown I had a lot of residen tial customers coming over who would sometimes spend 30 minutes chatting to me because they were trapped in their at all day without anyone else to see.

It’s not just physical wellness you can help through a coffee shop – it’s also mental health because that small trans action and a few minutes can actually change someone’s mindset.

You can make someone feel better about themselves or you can take them away from the stress of the phone or their computer.

I’ve really tried to build a coffee shop that is more than just a cafe – to make it a place where people can come to connect. personal vibe

I’ve definitely suffered with anxiety in the past. Being in the corporate world with higher responsibilities, you do get to a point where things just become too much. It built up over time.

I think there was a point where my to do list was three A pages and it was never going to be completed.

I never had a feeling of accomplish ment. Now, when I’ve made a lovely cup of coffee and handed it over, I do feel a sense of achievement.

I don’t know what changed, but I just couldn’t do it anymore. I needed to slow down and find myself, because I started working there when I was 1 . It was my first job and I’d always been Roxy at Lacoste.

Suddenly, 15 years later, I was like Who is just Roxy ’. I think I’ve found her now and Good ibes is my happy place.

spreading vibe

We do wellness workshops with Yoga and meditation called ibe And Flow. I’m due to start an event series from November, which is exciting, because it goes back to that idea of creating a culture.

Expressway has got 200 businesses in it, so the range of people that I get to meet and collaborate with is unreal and I’m just trying to connect those dots.

We also spread the love by selling products from my customers like Beinsense in Royal Docks and England reserves in Bermondsey. Going into Christmas I run a campaign called Give The Gift Of Local.

future vibe

All my costs have gone up significantly this year. I got through Covid and thought I can survive anything’.

But then we came into this year and people are spending less money and we have fewer customers. It then makes operations very difficult because I’m running a very tight ship.

But I’m still here, still working. I’ve got myself going in the right direction and I just want to try to grow the community aspect and collaborate with the people that I’ve got to know to see how we can all try and do better with what we’ve got.

y brand tagline is ake waves to change the tide, not dominate the ocean’. I was never trying to come in and take over or be on top of anyone or be better than anyone. Good ibes is about trying to change direction for people, show them a different way and just contribute to something positive.

Go to wegotgoodvibes.com

That small transaction and a few minutes can actually change someone’s mindset. You can make someone feel better about themselves

Scan this code to nd out more about Good Vibes

Cost of a at white or a cappuccino at Good Vibes

positivity brewing

how the founder of Good Vibes jumped o the corporate ladder to join the Royal Docks wave

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where?

Excel Customs House

EVENT | Comic Con 2022

Unlike Tony Stark, this celebration of pop culture just keeps on going, so get your face paint bulk ordered and your welding iron at the ready. Oct 28-30, from £20, excel.london

Where?

Royal Docks

Learning and Activity Centre North Woolwich

TALK | Black History Newham

Focusing on local achievers’ stories, speakers include Brian Belton who wrote a biography on West Ham (and England)’s rst black player, John Charleson. Oct 26, 6-9.30pm, free, royaldocks.london

Where?

The Beams Factory Road

A techno-infused day to evening led by The Hacienda and Cybotron Live with support from The Orb Live and room two hosted by iconic party Faith. Oct 29, 12-10.30pm, from £24.50, royaldocks.london

last chance

Roxanna says she overcame her anxiety to nd her happy place

why Royal Docks? what attracted Perky...

Co-founder of Perky Blenders, Victoria Cozens, said: “When we arrived at Royal Victoria Dock before the pandemic to view the site, we could see immediately the potential for the area to develop and thrive.

“It really is a little hidden gem of London. We knew of the plans The Expressway had and really wanted to be part of their journey.

“It has been wonderful to be working with Roxy and GoodVibes to make this happen and we are all excited to see the area continue to bloom.” Go to perkyblenders.com

Immersive retelling of The Aeneid, Dido’s Bar is set to run at The Factory in Royal Docks until October 15 as Dash Arts blends immigration and Roman myth into an epic suitable for the UK in 2022 dasharts.org.uk

Scan this code to read our interview with Dido’s Bar director Josephine Burton at wharf-life.com

want more? @whar ifelive

MUSIC | FAC 51 The Hacienda

Images by James Perrin – nd more of his work at jamesperrin.com or via @millerjamesperrin on Insta

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LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS LICENSING ACT 2003 - NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE

Notice is hereby given that: The following applications have been submitted to London Borough Of Tower Hamlets Council for the grant of a premises licence and late night refreshments in respect of Dougall O Licence Ltd

Premises: 70 Harbord Square, Wood Wharf, London, E14 9QH

Licensable activities and timings are: A. To make application for the grant of a premises licence to permit the ‘o ’ sales of alcohol by retail. The proposed hours are between the hours of 06.00hrs and 02.00hrs daily. B. To make an application for a late night refreshment during three hours daily, between 23.00hrs to 02.00hrs.

Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to these applications must give notice in writing no later than Thursday, November 2022 stating the grounds for making said representations to The Licensing Section, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG

The Application Record and Register may be viewed between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday during normal o ce hours at the above address. It is an o ence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly to permit or make a false statement in connection with an application punishable upon conviction by an unlimited ne

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Cinemas operated by Everyman in the UK, with the company

to

by Jon Massey

Stratford is getting a new cinema. Everyman, which operates 39 cinemas, predominantly in London but also in cities across the UK, has signed up for space at Lendlease’s International Quarter London (IQL) development.

The company will be the main leisure tenant in the scheme’s Turing Building – a 21-storey structure designed to provide 350,000sq ft of o ce space and amenities.

Lendlease Europe head of place assets Guy Thomas said: “IQL is becoming one of the most exciting destinations for forward-thinking businesses in the UK.

“We’ve now let over 1million sq ft of o ces –

welcoming world-leading organisations to Stratford – and construction on The Turing Building is well under way.

“As well as responding to corporate and consumer priorities of sustainability, wellbeing and exibility –having the right amenity mix is critical to ensuring we create places where workers, residents and visitors want to spend time.

“That means we have to get the ground oor right, and when the decision was made to have an integrated cinema to support the cultural boom in Stratford, Everyman was top of the list.

“We’re delighted to have them here, as part of a landmark building that will de ne IQL for generations to come.”

Lendlease hopes The Turing Building’s facilities will complement the neighbouring East Bank cultural district – which will house operations by Sadler’s Wells, UCL and the BBC among others – and the wider Shift Innovation District centred on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Film fans will have to wait a while for the popcorn to start owing, however. The Turing Building is not expected to be completed before 2024. In the meantime, there’s always the Crossrail Place branch at Canary Wharf.

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where?

STAGE | When This Is Over

This play, about hope and future, is a celebration of uncertainty and possibility, forged alongside more than 50 productions in the UK in response to Covid. Nov 1-5, times vary, £13, theyardtheatre.co.uk

Where?

Theatre Royal Stratford East Stratford

STAGE | Much Ado About Nothing

Ramps On The Moon – a company dedicated to putting deaf and disabled artists at the centre of their work – present a raucous Shakespeare adaptation. Nov 1-5, times vary, from £10, stratfordeast.com

Where?

SPORT | Rugby League World Cup East London gets a bite at the tournament, staging six wheelchair rugby games at the Copper Box featuring Spain, England, Ireland and Australia. Nov 3, 6, 9, times vary, from £10, rlwc2021.com

ash back

With the purchase of a building at Three Waters, Bow Arts has found a forever home providing artists with a ordable studio space to support creative communities in east London as regeneration marches on bowarts.org

Scan this code to read our interview with Bow Arts founder and CEO Marcel Baettig at wharf-life.com

more?

Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick

whar

The Yard Theatre Hackney Wick

Copper Box Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Everyman is set to open a cinema in Stratford at IQL’s Turing Building

residents are set to get a branch of Everyman as International Quarter London grows

show us the

How to play

board

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Notes

beating the

skin

around

York headgear

resident of an

(11)

takes a brain to name

country

Sophia is the actress in

size of 9 (6)

may hear them in

(6)

no is what we hear, when she’s confused (5)

Fred takes in a step or two (7)

This woman is the Dickens of a mystery! (5,6)

the rest! (3)

Decimal amount for pre-decimal coin (3,1,5)

you’re

sleuth or synonym solver in

for quick wins, this should satisfy

Quick Down

other

confused

gods are hardly a

Ivor has produced

it out

car loses

Very hot days! (9)

Female bird (3)

Secret (11)

Group of people (7)

Pasta sauce (5)

Wide open spaces (6)

Prophet (6)

Images (5)

Large wine jar (7)

Rowing skill (11)

Tattered cloth (3)

Modern medication (9)

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Sponge (5)

Solution

CHRISTMAS SPARKLE IN CANARY

the season with festive

of Canary Wharf