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Good news on the
East London Line, not least because time is running out. The legal powers of
London Underground over the proposed extension expire on 8 February 2002. This means that
construction must have started by that date with the help of funds from the Strategic
Railway Authority. The other main motivator is that the London Mayor’s office of Ken
Livingstone has given it the go-ahead.
Local jazz singer Caroline Nin has just returned from a trip to the edge
of a Keralan jungle in India where she practised Ashtanga Yoga. Her teacher Jane Sleven
explains: ‘Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (aka Power Yoga) is an extremely dynamic, physically
challenging form of Yoga, currently practised by many famous personalities including
Madonna, Sting and Gwynneth Paltrow. I once found Ashtanga Yoga so difficult that I
visited India two years ago to do a six-week course led by a 70-year old woman.’ Jane
can be contacted from May 2001 on 020 7502 9471. Check out the Barracuda Restaurant,
Church Street, for Caroline's next appearance. The restaurant will be open for lunch from
7 May.
Fourteen year-old Lorenzo Naylor is no Eddie the Eaglet. He is
Britain’s first gold medal winner in international skiing. In Andorra last January,
in the under-16 category, he came first in the Giant Slalom against competitors from 27
other countries. He also won a bronze in the Super G event. He trains at the Saniscario
Racing Club in Northern Italy. His mother is Italian and his father David (‘pure
Stokey’) lives in Hawksley Road.
Relief is at hand for passengers on the 106 bus route. London Buses plan
to return to double-decker vehicles.
A spectrum of art at Sutton House. A wide ranging exhibition featuring
artists from the Pacific, the UK and Europe is at the National Trust’s Sutton House
(2/4 Homerton High Street, E9 6JQ) from 5-29 April. The two organisers are both artists
whose work is included in the exhibition. Alan Elliott has lived in east London most of
his life and he depicts personal memories and imaginative landscapes. Ian Logan is from
New Zealand and specialises in watercolour interpretations of London street scenes. Ian is
a versatile fellow; he also plays jazz piano and recently accompanied Magdalena Darby (see
photo) at the Vortex.
A Massage Establishment advertising in our favourite local newspaper
offers customers specialised services and ‘a discreet rear entrance’. What can
they mean?
‘Streets of Shame’ is the name of the new campaign about to be
launched by the Council. They will be naming the streets of Hackney where traders
persistently dump rubbish on the street outside their premises. Free skips will shortly be
placed in streets throughout the borough. The council has re-started the free household
collection of up to five bulk items. Phone 020 8985 6269. Around 2,300 vehicles were
abandoned in Hackney last year, double that of 1999.
N16 magazine has found an unlikely soulmate. The Liphook Community
Magazine covers the parishes of Bramshott and Liphook in Hampshire. The magazine contains
many interesting features including ‘Lady Rosamund Selina Skelhorn — an
adventurous lady and benefactor’, a ‘letter to all the splendid people of
Liphook past and present’, and ‘Flora Thompson’s Nature Notes.’ There
is a story about Barry with a photo of him sitting on a tractor ‘enjoying a
day’s haymaking’ and a later one showing a tractor and trailer bearing
Barry’s coffin. The caption says, ‘Barry’s last journey, to the
church.’ We shall stay in touch with our new friends from Liphook. Perhaps we can
arrange some exchange visits.
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Ian Dury was the dog’s bollocks and ‘New Boots
and Panties’ was the cat’s pyjamas, according to Jamie Spencer who co-runs
independent record label east central one. Jamie, who lives in Stoke Newington, spent the
last few years working with Ian who died in March 2000. Jamie has collaborated with some
of the UK’s top recording stars to produce ‘Brand New Boots and Panties’
which will be released on 9 April 2001. Singing the original numbers with The Blockheads
are Sinead O’Connor, Robbie Williams, Billy Bragg, Madness, Wreckless Eric, Cerys
Matthews (Catatonia), Grant Nicholas (Feeder), Shane McGowan and Keith Allen. Paul
McCartney is featured on ‘I’m Partial To Your Abracadabra’. Ian was
spokesperson for Cancer BACUP and all profits earned from the album will go to that
charity.
Scholar’s Yard has been re-named ‘Scholar’s Place’.
Apparently, the Council didn’t approve of ‘Yard’ being used for this trendy
new development. Did the 1960s rock group, The Yardbirds, have to change their name when
they played Hackney gigs? Placebirds? Probably not.
Two local councilors, one Lib Dem and one Tory, have been caught fiddling
the vote in marginal seats, probably depriving Labour of an overall majority on Hackney
Council. They are due to be sentenced in April.
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