efog-blog
A visit to Cody Dock
You may remember that EFOG gave £200 to the Cody Dock project - the Gasworks Dock Partnership - from money raised at last year's Rodings Rally. On Saturday 9th May, fourteen of us had a very interesting visit to Cody Dock, arranged by Duncan.
We were invited by Simon Myers - the CEO of the project - on board the Docklands Community Boat, The River Princess, which at present is out of the water and being used as a centre for meetings and talks. It is being repainted, and it is intended that eventually it will go back afloat.
Simon gave us an extremely interesting talk about the history of the site and how he happened to see the dock from his boat on the Lea and thought that something could be made of the area. He explained that the Lea riverside in these parts is a very under-used resource. Some few years ago a riverside path for pedestrians and cyclist was constructed as part of the Lea Valley Way. However, there are various aspects which have not been completed and make the path difficult to find and access - not least the fact that there is no suitable bridge across the entrance to Cody Dock itself, thus splitting two parts of an otherwise good riverside walk. This - with encouragement and assistance from the Cody Dock Project - is due to be remedied very soon, it is hoped. Once this and the other difficulties are overcome, the path and Cody Dock could be a wonderful place for people to relax, stroll, look at the quite amazing wildlife that occurs here and just generally enjoy in the otherwise quite deprived areas on the old Middlesex and the Essex banks of the Lea.
has been cleared - by volunteer labour! The area immediately around the dock has been "greened" by means of plantings in containers, and a sensory garden has been created. We were told about a YouTube film which includes a short interview with Duncan, made when the dock was visited by the RHS, with representatives from Kew Gardens, some notable "television" gardeners, and various news-crews as well.This can be viewed HERE.
Much of the dock had been in-filled with hundreds of tons of waste material - much of it illicitly - and one of the first tasks of the project was to find a means of clearing this. Although the dock is shorter than it used to be when in use, the remainderIf you go to Facebook, put "Cody Dock" into search and click on "Cody Dock Community Organisation". This shows all the Cody Dock posts, including photos dated 10th/11th April of the BBC visit for the London News. The film is "The RHS at Cody Dock - #Greening Grey Britain"posted on 7th May. Whilst we were having tea and coffee aboard the River Princess, Simon told us that Cody Dock will be opening officially to the public on 23rd May.
After looking round the dock area and seeing what has been done and what is intended, we left the dock to walk along the river path. This is the grand, wide path that made walking or cycling a possibility for pedestrians along this stretch of the Lea probably for the first time since before cycles were invented. This is the path that was designated in official project plans with the ludicrous name of "The Fatwalk". This has now - thankfully - been dropped. The path lies between the river and the Prologis Business Park - which itself is separated from the path by a 20ft fence. On the business-park side, lots of shrubs and trees have been planted - which is very nice except that they seem to be decapitated to form something of a hedge. On the river-side, there are strips of grassy areas which are full of wildflowers. Or they would be but for the fact that the grass seems to be close-mowed so much that it verges on scalping. Simon had mentioned this, and there is hope that Cody Dock may be able to take over the management of these verges so that they may become more ecologically friendly and thus more attractive for creatures and people.
The river is tidal here, and the rise and fall is quite dramatic. As we walked along, the tide was more-or-less out, so a variety of birds - particularly gulls - were feeding on the muddy banks. One gull was having a good go at a flatfish - probably a Flounder - that it had found. There were Cormorants, Mallard - including the local dark-form ones that we'd been advised about - Carrion Crows and probably other things down by the water, lots of finches by the path. A Kingfisher was heard and Reed Warblers singing in the Phragmites beds that occur here - all within easy reach and sight and sound of the jumble of car-breaking industries and the like on the Poplar bank. This was all backdropped by the money-towers of Canary Wharf - and the "flats" of Poplar.
Gas Light and Coke Company from 1906 to 1916. An interesting fact: before the Gas Works the site was the gunpowder rocket factory of William Congreve. This factory provided the rockets fired by the British against the Americans in the bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814. Those rockets inspired the line in the Star Spangled Banner: ‘and the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air’. Later, experimentation and production of gunpowder and associated weaponry was moved to Waltham Abbey.
We walked as far as Twelvetrees Bridge - which is a road bridge that was used to access the gas industry site that was the reason for the dock being there. Now it is used for vehicles to access the business park, but only on business - it isn't open to general traffic. however, you can walk across it, and either get to Bromley-by-Bow station - which some of our group did - or to Bow Locks and Three Mills. Or indeed to the Blackwall Tunnel approach road, if you are so inclined. Just here are seven magnificent gas-holders. These are Grade 11 listed buildings - as is the bridge. Nearby is a small "secret" park. This is a memorial garden, laid out to commemorate those who worked at the Bromley by Bow Gasworks who died in the two world wars. There is also a statue to Sir Corbet Woodall who was Governor of theSome of the group left us there, the rest returned the riverside way we had come, to Cody Dock, our cars or Star Lane DLR station, and home.
Thank you, Duncan, for arranging our visit in advance of the masses - we had the place to ourselves on a bright and not-too-cold day. Another great EFOG day out! The people who attended were: Duncan, Cliff, Frances, Fred, Ken, Louise, Lynne, Marian, Maz, Parviz, Paul, Peter G, Phil, plus a friend
Maz Gamble and Paul Ferris 11th May 2015
St. George, the Dragon and the Maiden
Members of EFOG, well-fed and watered after a St. George's Day feast on 23rd April 2015, were well-entertained and thrilled by the enactment of a tale about St. George and the Dragon, not often seen in these parts. The fearsome Dragon was a sight to behold, spouting fire and poetry as it told the tale; Jess, the dog growled savagely in truth, the sound reverberating around the hall, even up into the rafters – but the dragon growled back. Thank goodness Jean was there to restrain the hound, otherwise a fearsome battle might have ensued.
Enter Lynne, fairest of maids in all the land. Those who know her will not have been surprised when she, gentle in manner and kind in heart, listened to the dragon's tale of woe and soothed his stormy heart. 'Twas indeed a sight to behold.
Then our noble St George (sometimes known as Clifftus) came on the scene, tall in stature, lithe and bold. Swiftly he unsheathed his long sword, leaping to protect the maid, as he bethought, to save her from a cruel fate (worse than death some say) in the clutches of the beast. His courage could not be denied, how well-deserved his fame.
Sighs of relief ensued when the plucky maiden quickly leapt free from the beast's embrace and used her lovely frame to shield the dragon from the cruel sword. 'This poor beast's reputation is maligned,' she announced. 'Full gentle is he, in truth misunderstood. To take his life you must first rob me of mine.'
Astonishment bathed the knight's bearded face, but he believed and sheathed his sword, to the relief of all who looked upon the scene. Surely that night will live long in the annals of EFOG. A St. George's day to remember.
Pam, 28th April 2015
Background to the story...
No, not the background to the story of St. George - you can find that elsewhere - the background to EFOG's version...
I had intended to present a Mummers-style play to the Group around Christmas time last year (2014), but circumstances prevented that. Mummers plays are traditionally English-speaking seasonal plays performed by a troupe of players often known as Guisers. They usually revolve around the idea of the death of a character and then the restoring to life of the character, usually by a "doctor".
I suspect that the ideas go way back to such times when the seasons were all-important to the life of the community, particularly relating to the shortening of the days as Winter falls, and then the lengthening as the Spring approaches. Hence, the death of the Sun and then the re-birth. Noticing these things - and appreciating them - would presumably been a lot more important, before electric lights and instant warmth for example, than it is for most of us now.
Cliff had made a wonderful dragon's head for the Christmas play, and I had one or two people lined up for the players, Lynne being one of them. So as not to disappoint either Cliff, Lynne or the dragon, the idea of a St Georges Day Mummers Play was developed.
Now I have always been a bit annoyed with George killing off a dragon - and in the usual St. George story there is no resurrection - so I decided on a decidedly bio-diversity-encouraging plot for our play - with the dragon not being such a beast and George only intending to act in the maiden's best interest. So - lonely dragon, not doing too much looting or burning people up, maiden seeking a companion (pet or otherwise), and George doing his rescue-rounds, but quite happy to sheath his sword if asked politely.
Cliff made all the costumes for the dragon and for George, and I left Lynne to design her own - no fear there - she looked lovely. All I did was write the script and sort of suggest the moves. We didn't do any rehearsal - hence reading our scripts in-play and a bit of hesitation en-route. Jess the dog's part was totally unrehearsed and unexpected, but I suspect she stole the show.
Paul Ferris, 29th April 2015
Thames Path Walk: Part Three - Putney Bridge to Westminster
Poor Brenda! Our newest member has been with the group only a couple of months, but in that short time, she has been injured in a team game and on Saturday, on her first walk, she picked up another injury getting off the train at the start! It is just coincidence, we promise!
Wisely abandoning ship to rest her injury, Brenda and Ray left the group who then crossed Putney Bridge to start the walk with a refreshment break in St Mary's Church cafe, where we finished on the last walk. The church has a long history, not the least bit of which was that the Putney Debates were held there in 1647, with the successful Parliamentarian Army members discussing the constitution they intended the country to have after the English Civil War.
Once we hit the path, in gradually clearing weather conditions, it was a pleasant walk through Wandsworth Park, moving ever closer to the hubbub of Central London. This part of the Thames still has some nicely converted warehouses and views of the more expensive conversions at Chelsea harbour on the north bank. We also passed Lotts Road Power station (on the north bank) which a few of the group confused with Battersea, a couple of miles further along the river. Lotts Road at one time supplied all of the power for the London Underground system, but is now, as most things are, being converted into luxury flats.
An obliging heron stopped and posed for us at Ransome Dock, and we broke step across Albert Bridge, as requested by the signs, to head into Battersea Park for a lunch break. As luck would have it, the fountains were on and the sun came out so we were able to enjoy a nice view from the park benches.
On leaving the park, we continued along the south bank until we reached Chelsea Bridge where, to avoid the building site that is Nine Elms, we crossed to the north bank to get much better views of the goings on around Battersea Power Station. Proceeding along past Lambeth Bridge, the group stopped at the Tate Gallery for an almost end-of-walk cup of tea, and to allow some of the group to stay in the gallery. Everyone, though not all at the same time, finished the walk along the Embankment, through Parliament Square and to Westminster tube station, where we shall start the next leg.
Sue C., 27th April 2015
Redbridge Lakes and Claybury Woods.
A bright though slightly chill-wind 12th April became a bright and not un-warm very-Spring day as Jacky led a group of 10 of us on a visit to Redbridge Lakes and Claybury Woods.
I'd known of the Redbridge Lakes, but had never visited, and it was a new area to most of us, I think. It is really planned for the benefit of anglers, I would say, but is called a conservation area and is a nice place for a family visit, with bee-hives to see, tadpoles to dip for and a bird-hide to hide from birds from. There is also a cafe, so of course that was our first objective.
After walking around one of the two lakes, we made our way across an adjacent playing-field then up Roding Lane North to enter the west end of Claybury Woods, crossing a Roman Road as we did so. Although probably two or so weeks early for the best show of bluebells, the sunshine and warmth had encouraged enough to begin to flower to at least give a tinge of blue. There were chiffchaffs singing all around, and a few butterflies, too.
Jacky gave us a choice of two routes to cater for different levels of ability; with a number of recent injuries and ops. amongst our contingent this was a sensible thing to do. One of the routes began with an uphill climb and was more strenuous and the other was a lower-level route and easier underfoot. Always for some odd reason wanting to go uphill rather than down, I choose to join the group of 6 who took the higher one. This led us up and through the woods - where wild garlic wasn't yet in flower, but wood anemones were. We met up briefly with the others, arranged a meeting place further on and continued through the ancient woodland, with a surprising amount of green-leaf showing on the hornbeams.
Meeting the others – who were relaxing by the pond – we made our way back to our cars from where some of us went to a nearby inn for a meal.
Not at all a bad day. Thanks to Jacky for organising it and being aware of people's needs. Those of us who did the whole circuit covered 3 miles.
Paul Ferris, 13th April 2015
First Night
So - our last evening at the "old" hall of Rovsco last Thursday, and our first evening at our temporary accommodation at Endeavour Hall this.
For most, it was a question of finding it in the first place. Explicit instructions sent by email by Maz and posted on the website - together with a map and even a direct link to Google Maps, enabling you to walk almost to the hall, at least virtually.
The next issue was parking, with only road-side rather than hall-side being available, and "feeling" where might be convenient.
The chairs weren't much of a problem, with plenty available - as well as tables - in a cubby hole adjcent to the room itself. The kitchen facilities were felicitous, but requiring some sorting and a little getting used too. Fear of setting of an alarm by allowing the water-boiler to over-steam were carefully considered. Heating was adequately provided for by an adjustable thermostat by the door - but with a real need to remember to re-set it to its off position before we left.
Pam organised a seminar-warm-up-style session for our evening's entertainment. We were all asked to write on a card a memory of a "First" in our lives. When these were read out - by Pam - we had to try to guess whose first it was. Ian G. got them all right, but he was lying, some got about eight correct - which I thought was remarkable because I didn't even get my own one - but I believe Cliff got something like twelve. Some wonderful money prizes in the form of gold-wrapped chocolate were awarded to Cliff and also to Maz, who was the only person to come up with a poem about the move from the old hall - the original suggested activity for the evening. The poem is appended below.
The hall was OK - my personal reservation about it being the terrible sound-quality. It is one of those places where you can hear everybody speaking at equal volume at the same time. The other problem I foresee is the necessity of clearing the hall (and leaving it in clean and tidy condition) by 10pm. We are so lucky in our Rovsco Hall that we can over-run more or less as we wish. It makes for a much more social atmosphere.
Paul Ferris, 10th April 2015
Here is Maz' poem (and her first, by all accounts!)
FAREWELL TO ROVSCO HALL
Rovsco Hall has been EFOG's home for roughly 20 years,
So saying a fond farewell to it was bound to bring some tears.
The animal paintings on the wall have given us some pleasure,
The hall has seen activities which have given us all much leisure.
Our food evenings have always been an important part of the fun,
And I know they will continue - bangers and mash is the next one.
We rescued most of the primroses with Marian's help and advice.
They are spread around all over the place - but we had to leave the squirrels and mice!
Endeavour Hall will be our home for the next few months or more,
Then we hope to return to Rovsco Hall, rebuilt and with a new floor.
We'll have to take care with a brand new place, and not leave marks anywhere,
But it will be our home for many years, so I know we'll take some care.
So farewell to old Rovsco Hall, we'll look forward to your rebirth.
I am sure you will give us much pleasure once more, and we'll have many good evenings and mirth!