Month: August 2006

Tony Lee’s Legacy will Live On

Formidable former youth campaigner Tony Lee

It is with great sadness that I write this post about the sudden passing away of Tony Lee, one of Waltham Forest borough’s most formidable youth workers.

On August the 13th, Tony Lee Fielding, Director of our borough’s “Estate of the Arts” youth programme, lost his fight for life.

Tony Lee lived and breathed our borough’s young people and helped nurture and support the talents of thousands of kids from streets and estates all over Waltham Forest.

I am devastated by his passing Continue reading “Tony Lee’s Legacy will Live On”

Go Go Mighty Warriors!

The Beaumont's Mighty Warriors thrase their opposition!

Today I had the great pleasure of attending a kids’ football tournament arranged by the fantastic Leyton street wardens.

The Street Wardens arranged for children from estates all over the borough to get together for a kick about with other wardens and kids from outside Waltham Forest.

Seventeen teams of children aged between eight and twelve years old participated in the tournament, which was the culmination of football training that the wardens had put on for Leyton’s kids during their school holidays. Continue reading “Go Go Mighty Warriors!”

Restoring St Mary’s Church Yard to its Former Glory

Rev Tim Davies shows me church wall graffitti

One of the most prominent land marks in Leyton is St Mary’s Parish Church on Church Rd. It is a powerful, towering building that inspires affection among all of Leyton’s communities whether or not they attend the church.

Unfortunately, over recent years, the condition of St Mary’s glorious church yard has somewhat deteriorated. Where there was once wild life, now there are dangerous needles and syringes left lying about.

On Monday, I took a tour around the church yard with Reverend Tim Davies and church warden David Hughes to see its condition for myself Continue reading “Restoring St Mary’s Church Yard to its Former Glory”

Chilling with Socialism and Sofia

God Daughter Sofia strikes a pose

I did something I haven’t done for a year last week – I left Leyton! After the demanding local election campaign and enjoyable, but challenging, council work I’ve thrown myself into, I finally took a short break from the leaflets and the town hall, to spend a relaxing week in Italy with my God daughter Sofia (the little girl pictured above and with me in the “About Me” section of this site) and her mum, Sabine, dad, Ferdinand and sister, Julia Continue reading “Chilling with Socialism and Sofia”

What’s the Hidden Agenda?

I have recently begun to write a column for fab youth website ‘Hidden Agendas’ to share my experiences as a new “young” local councillor.

Hidden Agendas is the website where young people go for political opinion, debate and action. It offers a place to explore ideas, discuss a broad range of issues and make contact with campaigning organisations. It provides progressive young people with a gateway from single issues to the wider world of politics Continue reading “What’s the Hidden Agenda?”