Opinion

Opinion

Gary Lineker is stepping down as host of Match of the Day at the end of this season (Image: PA)

'Gary Lineker leaving Match of the Day seems to show the BBC has lost its way'

There is a fascination with steampunk (Image: PA)

There is a fascination with steampunk (Image: PA)

Steampunk - a movement frequented by eccentrics

The Epping Forest Field Studies Centre was built by City Corporation in 1970 (City of London Corporation)

The Epping Forest Field Studies Centre was built by City Corporation in 1970 (City of London Corporation)

Epping Forest is helping overcome big societal challenges

Cllr Paul Donovan is concerned about the increasing amount of waste (Image: PA)

Cllr Paul Donovan is concerned about the increasing amount of waste (Image: PA)

Cllr Paul Donovan

The waste in Wanstead just keeps increasing

Grouse shoots are damage natural peat (Image: PA)

Grouse shoots are damage natural peat (Image: PA)

Cllr Paul Donovan

Public must take control of private land

In 2021, 6.98 million people ended up in A&E after a ‘fall’ in the home (Image: Pixaby)

In 2021, 6.98 million people ended up in A&E after a ‘fall’ in the home (Image: Pixaby)

The hidden dangers of wet wipes

Something as simple as going for a walk can improve mental health and wellbeing (Image: PA)

Something as simple as going for a walk can improve mental health and wellbeing (Image: PA)

'Learn to make time for you!'

Language is creating divisions in society (Image: PA)

Language is creating divisions in society (Image: PA)

Cllr Paul Donovan

Sloppy language is creating division in our society

Fishermen are to be called 'fishers' (Image: PA)

Fishermen are to be called 'fishers' (Image: PA)

How much offence do common phrases really cause?

Madonna has reinvented herself many times (Image: PA)

Madonna has reinvented herself many times (Image: PA)

'Let;s see upgrades for what they really are'

Manchester City's Rodri supports footballers going on strike (image: PA)

Manchester City's Rodri supports footballers going on strike (image: PA)

Manchester City FC

'The World Cup and European Championships are farcical'

Brett Ellis has looked into the naming of storms (Image: PA)

Brett Ellis has looked into the naming of storms (Image: PA)

'Storms always seem to have lacklustre names'

VAEF have a Benefit Support team to ensure pensioners are getting what they are entitled to

VAEF have a Benefit Support team to ensure pensioners are getting what they are entitled to

Community contribution

Voluntary Action Epping Forest

Support for pensioners to check their benefit eligibility

The Mermaid Inn in Rye was notorious for smuggling

The Mermaid Inn in Rye was notorious for smuggling

Cllr Paul Donovan

Banning things sends them underground

The George in Wanstead closed last Sunday (Image: Google)

The George in Wanstead closed last Sunday (Image: Google)

Cllr Paul Donovan

Wetherspoon close the doors on the George in Wanstead

Crowds used to turn up to watch the carnival at Hastings

Crowds used to turn up to watch the carnival at Hastings

Carnivals ain't what they used to be!

Brett Ellis hoped to surprise his children with a meal at Karen's Diner (Image: Newsquest)

Brett Ellis hoped to surprise his children with a meal at Karen's Diner (Image: Newsquest)

Surprise for kids ruined by a disclaimer!

There are over 1,500 fungi species in Epping Forest (Image: City of London Corporation)

There are over 1,500 fungi species in Epping Forest (Image: City of London Corporation)

Autumn has arrived at Epping Forest

Online security checks frustrate Brett Ellis (Image: PA)

Online security checks frustrate Brett Ellis (Image: PA)

Who would want to steal a hospital appointment?

Cllr Paul Donovan has many memories of the Mercy Sisters in Wanstead (Image: Google)

Cllr Paul Donovan has many memories of the Mercy Sisters in Wanstead (Image: Google)

Cllr Paul Donovan

Wanstead says a fond farewell to the Mercy Sisters

People born after January 1, 2009 will never legally be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco (Image: PA)

People born after January 1, 2009 will never legally be able to buy cigarettes or tobacco (Image: PA)

'The unworkable tobacco and vapes bill created by simpletons'

Cllr Paul Donovan is looking forward to the return of the Wanstead Beer Festival (Image: Paul Donovan)

Cllr Paul Donovan is looking forward to the return of the Wanstead Beer Festival (Image: Paul Donovan)

Cllr Paul Donovan

A bigger, better Wanstead Beer Festival next month

Police are not the only answer to solving crime (Image: Met Police))

Police are not the only answer to solving crime (Image: Met Police))

Cllr Paul Donovan

'Police are essentially social refuse collectors'

SZA on the Pyramid Stage at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival Image: PA

SZA on the Pyramid Stage at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival Image: PA

1

'2024 Glastonbury line-up was the weakest in the history of the festival'

One in three children live in poverty (Image: PA)

One in three children live in poverty (Image: PA)

'Child poverty should be a cause for national shame'

Dynamic ticket pricing meant that standing tickets for Oasis doubled in price (Image: PA)

Dynamic ticket pricing meant that standing tickets for Oasis doubled in price (Image: PA)

Looking back in anger at Oasis dynamic ticket pricing

Like most people, Brett Ellis shops onine (Image: PA)

Like most people, Brett Ellis shops onine (Image: PA)

Nostalgic for the traditional way of shopping

Wetherspoons are still advertising The George in Wanstead for sales (Image: Google)

Wetherspoons are still advertising The George in Wanstead for sales (Image: Google)

The George, Wetherspoons Wanstead pub future still hangs in the balance

A lot of youngsters turned out for the children's litter pick at Chingford (Image: City of London Corporation)

A lot of youngsters turned out for the children's litter pick at Chingford (Image: City of London Corporation)

Celebrating the volunteers of London's Green Lungs

Street parties have been a traditional way of bringing communities together for a long time

Street parties have been a traditional way of bringing communities together for a long time

Cllr Paul Donovan

Bringing neighbours and the community together with a street party

England cricketing cricketing legend Graham Thorpe (Image: PA)

England cricketing cricketing legend Graham Thorpe (Image: PA)

Cllr Paul Donovan

Graham Thorpe's death is a stark reminder to take care of our mental health

Team UK on a boat going down the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics which Brett Ellis switched off (Image: PA)

Team UK on a boat going down the River Seine during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics which Brett Ellis switched off (Image: PA)

2024 Paris Olympic Games

'The Olympic games opening ceremony was barely watchable'

There are a lot of hopes resting on the shoulders of new West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui (Image: PA)

There are a lot of hopes resting on the shoulders of new West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui (Image: PA)

West Ham United FC

Challenges ahead for new West Ham United manager

Brett Ellis is concerned about the return of medieval diseases (Image: Museum of London)

Brett Ellis is concerned about the return of medieval diseases (Image: Museum of London)

The return of medieval illnesses is not welcome

the Epping & Ongar Beer Festival took place on the Epping Ongar railway line

the Epping & Ongar Beer Festival took place on the Epping Ongar railway line

Paul Donovan raises a glass to the local beer festivals

Brett Ellis admits to getting excited over a kitchen gadget (Wikimedia)

Brett Ellis admits to getting excited over a kitchen gadget (Wikimedia)

A middle-aged man and a kitchen gadget

Brett Ellis says that there is nothing finer than a well cooked Full English breakfast

Brett Ellis says that there is nothing finer than a well cooked Full English breakfast

'Care and love taken over breakfasts is becoming outdated'

Epping Forest have won a Green Flag award for the 22nd year running (Image: Yve Woodhouse)

Epping Forest have won a Green Flag award for the 22nd year running (Image: Yve Woodhouse)

Epping Forest gets Green Flag award for 22 years running

Children are not given the same freedom today that they were in the 1970s

Children are not given the same freedom today that they were in the 1970s

I hardly ever get to say 'be back in time for tea'!

The recent global IT outage caused problems with airlines (Image: PA)

The recent global IT outage caused problems with airlines (Image: PA)

Cllr Paul Donovan

Global IT outage should trigger the reset button on technological change

Sir Keir Starmer speaking in the House of Commons with Labour ministers on the Government frontbench (Image: PA)

Sir Keir Starmer speaking in the House of Commons with Labour ministers on the Government frontbench (Image: PA)

Cllr Paul Donovan

Confidence in politics at all time low despite landslide victory

Brett Ellis gets angry when buying ice cream in the summer (Image: Pixaby)

Brett Ellis gets angry when buying ice cream in the summer (Image: Pixaby)

Strike of the fair weather cold snack fans

Minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation, James Timpson OBE, poses for a photograph following his appointment to Cabinet (Image: Lauren Hurley/No 10 Downing Street)

Minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation, James Timpson OBE, poses for a photograph following his appointment to Cabinet (Image: Lauren Hurley/No 10 Downing Street)

Cllr Paul Donovan

'James Timpson is a person who talks sense'

Brett Ellis has been helping his daughter get ready for her prom (Image: Brett Ellis/Pixaby)

Brett Ellis has been helping his daughter get ready for her prom (Image: Brett Ellis/Pixaby)

My daughter will go to the ball... in a Ford Fiesta EcoBoost

Many public services, including the NHS, would grind to a halt if it wasn't for migrants (Image: PA)

Many public services, including the NHS, would grind to a halt if it wasn't for migrants (Image: PA)

Cllr Paul Donovan

'Many public services would grind to a halt without migrants'

Jeremy Clarkson won sexiest man of the year in May (Image: PA)

Jeremy Clarkson won sexiest man of the year in May (Image: PA)

Is it about the attractiveness of the man or the size of his wallet?

News rooms used to have a lot more staff Image: PA

News rooms used to have a lot more staff Image: PA

Cllr Paul Donovan

Why are people turning off the news?

Ben Murphy hosts a visit from the Institute of Chartered Foresters (Image: City of London Corporation)

Ben Murphy hosts a visit from the Institute of Chartered Foresters (Image: City of London Corporation)

Celebrating the helping hands of Epping Forest

Brett Ellis wonders what woman would want to go The Garrick Club (Image: PA)

Brett Ellis wonders what woman would want to go The Garrick Club (Image: PA)

Membership of private members clubs

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates with the Undisputed Heavyweight title belt after winning the Heavyweight Championship fight against Tyson Fury on May 18 (Image: PA)

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates with the Undisputed Heavyweight title belt after winning the Heavyweight Championship fight against Tyson Fury on May 18 (Image: PA)

'Fury will never be afforded the love the British public has for a boxing gent'

There area Grow Zones in Wanstead (Image: Wild Wanstead)

There area Grow Zones in Wanstead (Image: Wild Wanstead)

'Take up some of that concrete and let the earth breathe'

Cllr Jo Blackman joined fellow councillor Paul Donovan at last year's Wanstead Beer Festival (Image: Paul Donovan)

Cllr Jo Blackman joined fellow councillor Paul Donovan at last year's Wanstead Beer Festival (Image: Paul Donovan)

Cllr Paul Donovan

The Wanstead Beer Festival is back this autumn

David Moyes waves to West Ham Fans (Image: PA)

David Moyes waves to West Ham Fans (Image: PA)

West Ham United FC

Is the business model of Premiere League football doomed to failure?

Hands up to Music' singing and signing group will be performing on June 21

Hands up to Music' singing and signing group will be performing on June 21

Community contribution

A Moment in Time

Hands up to Music perform for Mencap's Learning Disability Week