A COUNCILLOR has apologised for losing his temper with a competition winner during a celebration marking the arrival of the Olympic Torch in Walthamstow.


Chingford Conservative Cllr Laurance Wedderburn said a combination of work stress and "a few glasses of wine" caused him to lose his temper during a conversation with photographer Katherine Green on Saturday (July 21).


Ms Green was one of around 10,000 guests who attended a free show in the grounds of Waltham Forest Town Hall to mark the day's torch relay after winning a ticket in a contest held by Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy.


Ms Green said she was introduced to Cllr Wedderburn by Ms Creasy, but when she tried to engage him in conversation he became confrontational.


She said: "I told him about the Image17 [photography] exhibition at Walthamstow Library - which had just opened to the public that day - and how great it was that the council was involved.


"He started asking me ‘are you lobbying me?’ in a really aggressive tone.
"I was very taken aback".


Ms Green said he became more abusive despite her attempts to change the subject, and she eventually walked away when he allegedly began swearing.


Ms Green, who has made a formal complaint to the council, added: "I strongly suspect he somehow completely misunderstood something I said.


"I do not know what else would provoke such abusive language. No matter what went on in his mind, this is completely and utterly unacceptable."


Cllr Wedderburn told the Guardian: "It was a combination of being very tired and stressed about my job, and I had a few glasses of wine and obviously it went to my head in the sunshine. I wasn't in the right frame of mind.


"Being quite a decent man I have been trying to get in contact with her to talk about it and I have offered my apologies to her."


Cllr Wedderburn said he did not think he swore, but added: "I can't remember the exact nature of the conversation, but I was very abrupt. I'm human and we all make mistakes, I want her to know I'm not normally like that".


Ms Green was one of several nominees in a contest by Ms Creasy asking for readers of her newsletter to vote for a deserving person to attend the concert.


Ms Green won in recognition of her project photographing athletes who took part in the 1948 London Olympic Games.


The Guardian has asked Ms Creasy for a comment. 


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