08 16 21 Major Remembering Class achievement Silvertown loss act issue 358 // 27 January – 9 February 2017 // Every fortnight Free tickets for schools Legacy boost for children (p25) Look out for the next issue from 10 February 2017. Contents. On the cover 08 NEWHAM’S PRIDE – war hero engineer honoured 16 REMEMBERING THE FALLEN – Silvertown explosion centenary 21 PROUD TO HAVE SERVED – teaching campaigner honoured 08 In this issue 11 RECOGNISING BRAVERY – how a driver went beyond call of duty 13 STADIUM LEGACY – chance to see para athletics, for free 19 LANDLORD IN THE DOCK – harassment of tenant led to court 20 BIG EVENTS – make a date in your diary 13 Regulars 03 NEWS – three pages of news from across the borough 06 MAYOR’S VIEW – news from Sir Robin Wales 15 CAUGHT ON CAMERA – help find these litter droppers 22 OUR NEWHAM – community news 24 KIDS’ CORNER – jokes, pictures and puzzles for our younger readers 26 WHAT’S ON – five pages of activities and events for you to try – most of them free 16 Find us online at www.newham.gov.uk/mag For information on all Newham Council services visit www.newham.gov.uk @NewhamLondon www.facebook.com/newhamcouncil If you do not receive the Newham Mag at home, or know someone who doesn’t, please call 020 PUBLICATIONS OFFICER: Kay Atwal 3373 1517, write to The Newham Mag, West Wing, 4th Floor, Newham Dockside, Dockside Road, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Andrew Baker London E16 2QU, or email [email protected] Call the Mag team on 020 3373 1517 Publication of an advert in the Newham Mag does not constitute endorsement of any goods or To advertise in the Mag call services offered. The Newham Mag is printed on 100% recycled paper by Garnett Dickinson Print Ltd Julie Madell on 07890 529 090 and distributed by Letterbox Distribution. 02 newham news New s Pupils are best in class Newham’s 11-year-olds are making the ten better than the rest of England and five In reading, 69 per cent of Newham pupils best progress in the country in terms of better than London. It ranked the borough achieved the expected standard, the same writing and are in the top ten nationally third nationally. score as the rest of London and three across a range of Government In grammar, punctuation and spelling, better than England. It ranked the borough indicators that measure their 82 per cent of Newham pupils achieved 45th nationally. performance during primary school. the expected standard, three above Councillor Quintin Peppiatt, Cabinet This year the Government introduced London and nine above England, ranking member for children and young people, a new national standard at Key Stage 2 the borough fifth nationally. said: “These results are very good news. that all pupils should achieve in reading, In mathematics, 80 per cent of Newham is in the top ten nationally in 13 writing and maths combined; in the three Newham pupils achieved the expected of the 17 official Government measures at subjects individually; and in grammar, standard. That was ten points better than this stage, including first in the country for punctuation and spelling combined. the rest of the country and three better progress at writing. Teachers, parents and The progress made by pupils in than London, ranking Newham sixth pupils should be hugely proud of what is individual subjects was also measured, nationally and fifth in London. being achieved.” with a positive progress score meaning that, on average, pupils made more progress than those with similar prior attainment nationally. For writing, Newham’s overall progress score was +3.2, which was the highest in England. For mathematics, Newham’s score was +2.9, which was the second highest in England. In reading, the score was +1.6, which was the tenth highest in England. The statistics also showed 62 per cent of the borough’s pupils achieved the expected standard at Key Stage 2 in reading, writing and mathematics combined. That is three percentage points above the London score and nine above England. The score ranked Newham tenth nationally out of 152 local authorities. In writing alone, 84 per cent of Newham The borough’s 11-year-olds are making great progress pupils achieved the expected standard, 11-year-olds top in country for progress in writing 03 newham news New s Concrete plants plan on hold A plan to build three concrete batching plants and another for asphalt production on the edge of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has been put on hold following opposition from Mayor Sir Robin Wales and Newham councillors who handed in a protest petition with the names of 11,000 residents. The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), which is responsible for deciding on whether the applications should proceed, has asked developers to withdraw the applications for land near Pudding Mill Lane Station. Sir Robin said: “Residents and councillors have been concerned that these proposed factories would have a detrimental impact on people’s lives and increase levels of noise, dust and air pollution. Cllr Chowdhury presents the plaque “Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a bustling public space and should be protected. I urge the LLDC now to look at the future use of this land and consider carefully what type of Thanks for joining industrial use can be appropriately located close to people’s homes.” carnival Newham’s community lead councillor for Beckton, Ayesha Chowdhury, visited Kingsford School to hand out medals and a silver plaque to thank pupils for taking part in the 2016 Mayor’s Newham Carnival. More than 750 young people from 20 schools across the borough joined the parade around the streets of East Ham last July. Kingsford pupils Sussie Siaw-Ajubi, Destiny Eniston, Patricia Amponshah, Amari Webb- Martin and Ayan Yousuf spent many hours making costumes and props based on the carnival’s theme of Turning the Pages, a celebration of the power of literature. Councillor Chowdhury said: “The Mayor’s Newham Carnival is always a fantastic occasion and the Kingsford School pupils helped make the parade such a huge success. I hope this school and many others will take part Cllrs Terry Paul and Unmesh Desai with the protest petition again this year.” join the parade Invitation to schools to 04 newham news ...in brief Match day parking restrictions Gritters take to the streets Parking restrictions are in place around the London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park when Newham Council’s West Ham United play there. trusty team of Controlled parking hours in Stratford Central, gritters took to Stratford North West, Stratford South West, the streets on 44 Stratford South East and West Ham residential occasions since parking zones are extended and apply from 8am to the beginning 9pm. Only permit holders can park in them. of December to Event days are: 1 February (Manchester City); keep the borough 11 February (West Bromwich Albion); 4 March moving. (Chelsea); 18 March (Leicester). Fixtures are subject The council’s to change. Winter Maintenance Plan sees Newham’s Cllr Corbett at the grit pile Station closed for revamp roads pre-treated Custom House Station on the Docklands Light with salt to prevent a Railway will be closed from 3 February until build up of ice or snow on priority routes, starting with bus routes and main December to prepare for Elizabeth Line services. roads that carry more than 1,500 cars an hour at peak times. The work will include a new mezzanine deck above This winter the council stockpiled 2,642 tonnes of salt, with a further the platforms as well as two additional staircases. 564 tonnes just a phone call away. Priority gritting is also given to town Although the station will be closed, trains will continue centres, traffic interchanges, shopping centres and outside buildings such to run. For information visit www.tfl.gov.uk as schools, old people’s homes, day centres and GP surgeries. Councillor Ian Corbett, mayoral adviser on environment and leisure, No place for FGM said: “We are on standby and committed to working all the hours needed Newham Council is hosting an event at Stratford to keep the borough moving in times of cold weather.” Library on 8 February to mark International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Activities from 10am to 2.30pm include poetry, advice sessions and a celebration Fee error estate agents pay the price of the achievements of volunteer FGM community champions. To book a place, email The Stratford branch of estate agent Foxtons must pay a penalty charge [email protected] of £2,500 because an administration fee it charges to prospective tenants or call 020 3384 9413. was not being adequately explained. Agents have been reminded about their obligations to consumers as Ward panel meets part of Newham Council’s fair lettings policy. A trading standards officer The next meeting of police and residents on the warned Foxtons in January last year that the £425 administration fee was Beckton Ward Panel takes place on 1 February not being properly explained. It remained that way for several months. from 7 to 9pm to discuss matters of crime and Councillor Andrew Baikie, mayoral adviser for housing, said: “Agents anti-social behaviour in the area. Spaces are limited. must ensure that fees are transparent, that deposits are protected and that Email [email protected] for the agents have fair terms and conditions.” location. join the parade 3000 tonnes Invitation to schools to of salt available to beat cold 05 newham mayor Mayor ’s view Standing up for our schools It’s fantastic news that Newham’s demanding that no school in a deprived cuts are lower than we feared, Newham 11-year-olds are making the best area be worse off as a result of the new schools are still set to lose about £8 million progress in the country in terms of formula. We also called for pupil mobility if the final formula is fully implemented. writing, and are in the top ten nationally to be included in recognition of the high Most of our schools will lose 1.4 per cent across a range of Government indicators turnover of students in our schools. of their funding in the first year, rising that measure their performance during For example, 17 per cent of Newham ultimately to about three per cent. primary school. students who sat GCSEs last year did These cuts are wrong and risk setting Their Key Stage 2 results demonstrate not sit examinations here at Key Stage 2. back the tremendous achievements how well our schools are doing in Evidence shows mobility costs London of our pupils, parents and schools. delivering improvements in education. I schools £35million per year and hold Education enables children in Newham to congratulate all the head teachers, staff back attainment. achieve their aspirations. That’s why we and pupils for their continued hard work. The Government have now published will continue to stand up and fight against their plans in full, and heeded our call to this unjustifiable formula on behalf of our add a pupil mobility factor. While total children and our school leaders. “ Newham will continue to support all our schools to help them improve standards even further.” Newham will continue to support all our schools to help them improve standards even further. That will involve standing up to proposed Government funding cuts to school budgets that could jeopardise the futures of our young people. A number of local authorities from affluent areas have been campaigning for many years for a new National Funding Formula (NFF) that would cut support to deprived areas like Newham. Their plans would have seen our schools lose more than £30million. In November I led a group of 23 local Government cuts could jeopardise our children’s futures authorities in writing to the Prime Minister 06 newham mayor Tragedy that is not forgotten One hundred years ago Silvertown was a major industrial hub – a place of hard work and invention. It was said at the turn of the century that every household in the country had at least one product that came from Silvertown. “ We will never forget our history, or the tragic event that occurred there 100 years ago.” Thousands of homes were clustered together around the factories and the docks, but it was much more than just a place to live and work – it was a community. Tragically, 100 years ago at 6.52pm on 19 January, that community was torn apart by one of the largest It is vital that we remember explosions ever seen in the UK when a factory manufacturing TNT for the war effort exploded. The blast killed 73, Reg was a small child, and the blast explosion, you cannot help but be moved injured hundreds more, and damaged blew him right off the table he was sitting by the bravery and community spirit of more than 60,000 buildings and homes. on at his grandmother’s home in Custom the people of Silvertown. In March 2014, I was privileged to House – throwing him hard against a gas That community spirit is still vital as meet one of the survivors of that blast oven. He received injuries to his head, we stand on the cusp of a bright new to wish him a happy 100th birthday. On which he said “swelled to the size of a future for the area. The multi-billion my visit, Reg Batten was bedbound at pumpkin”. pound regeneration projects under way home but still bright and articulate. He Reg has sadly since passed away, but there and across the Royal Docks will remembered when Ghandi came to his memories of the explosion are well bring new homes, new businesses, and Canning Town in 1931, but one of his known to his family. It is one of many new opportunities to the area. But we earliest memories was the Silvertown stories survivors have shared with their will never forget our history, or the tragic explosion. descendants. In all accounts about the event that occurred there 100 years ago. 07 Plaque commemorates visionary engineer As part of an ongoing programme to celebrate Newham’s heritage and links with the past Newham Council unveiled a blue plaque at the former home of the engineer who made the D-Day landings of 1944 possible. Major Allan Beckett MBE, designed Tim’s firm, until his eighties. He married and planning; Councillors Bryan Collier floating roadways which connected the his wife Ida in 1949 with whom he had and Forhad Hussain; Mr Beckett’s widow Mulberry Harbours to help with the rapid two sons and a daughter. He died in 2005 Ida Beckett and other members of his unloading of cargo on to the beaches of aged 91. family and representatives from the Royal Normandy during the D-Day landings in Major Beckett was awarded the MBE Engineers. June 1944. in 1949 for his essential wartime work. He They were hailed as Britain’s “wonder lived in Montpelier Gardens, East Ham, “I am very grateful to for warfare” and played a central role in until the family were bombed out in 1941. the London Borough of the success of the Allied invasion. He went to Central Park School and East Newham for Ham Grammar before attending London University where he graduated with honouring the memory “He was a visionary in honours in engineering. of my husband with his field and it is right A special ceremony was held to unveil this impressive plaque.” we honour his the plaque at the house in Montpelier Gardens where Mr Beckett and his family achievements with a used to live. Blue plaques are placed Councillor Clark said: “Allan Beckett’s lasting memorial in at sites to highlight historical links with historic and ingenious designs for the the form of a blue people. In addition to the plaques, as floating roadways made the D-Day landings part of its heritage programme, Newham possible, ultimately helping lead to the plaque.” Council is also replacing road signs with beginning of the end of the war. significant links to the borough’s history. “He was a visionary in his field and it is right Major Beckett developed the plans for The current resident of the property, we honour his achievements with a lasting the floating bridges which were tested for had no idea of the history of its former memorial in the form of a blue plaque.” severe weather in Scotland. occupants. Carol Miller said: “I have Ida Beckett, said: “I am very grateful After leaving the Army, Mr Beckett lived here for 19 years and didn’t know to the London Borough of Newham for continued to work as a civil engineer, the story of Major Beckett. It makes me honouring the memory of my husband and designed and advised on major port immensely proud and I am honoured to with this impressive plaque. My husband developments and flood protection projects have been asked to have a blue plaque had many happy memories of his throughout the world. He also carried out on the house.” childhood growing up in Montpelier design work on the Thames Barrier. The event was attended by Councillor Gardens and he enjoyed living in the After retiring in 1989 he continued to Ken Clark, Cabinet member for building lively community of East Ham before the work as a freelance consultant for his son communities, public affairs, regeneration Second World War.” 08 Extended family members were joined for the plaque unveiling Major Allan Beckett, MBE by council representatives at the former home of the Becketts The plaque honours Major Beckett Major Beckett’s widow Ida Beckett (left) with Carol Miller Relatives of Major Beckett joined representatives from Newham The Beckett family in 1918 Council, the Army and Police for unveiling the plaque with Allan in the centre 09 We are activeNewham Your fitness goals, our community, the best facilities in Newham! We have everything you need and more to get fit and active in 2017. To find out more call 0300 124 0123† or visit www.activeNewham.org.uk Atherton Leisure Centre, 189 Romford Road, London E15 4JF Balaam Leisure Centre, 14 Balaam Street, Plaistow E13 8AQ East Ham Leisure Centre, 384 Barking Rd, East Ham E6 2RT Manor Park Fitness Centre, 464 High Street North, Manor Park E12 6QN Newham Leisure Centre, 281 Prince Regent Lane, Plaistow E13 8SD †This number is charged at the same rate as calls to normal landlines (those that start with 01 or 02). It is included in call allowances, bundled talk time or “free” minutes the same way as regular landline numbers. ROYAL DOCKS TRUST FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS 2017/2018 The Royal Docks Trust invites voluntary and community For further information and an organisations, which serve the Docklands area of Newham application pack, please (south of the A13 Newham Way), to apply for funding. contact John Johnson on Priority will be given to projects that: 020 7277 8667 or email: > contribute to the growth of personal, community and [email protected] economic resilience in the area of benefit > enable the community and voluntary sector to provide www.royaldockstrust.org.uk services contributing directly to the regeneration of the area and access to jobs Closing date for > include youth work and cultural, sports and leisure applications: activities for children and young people > benefit older people and/or disabled people and present 5pm on Tuesday 28th sustainable opportunities to improve quality of life February 2017 > demonstrate value for money > maximise long term benefits for local residents