interviews Archives - Page 6 of 46

July 24, 2024July 24, 2024

How the Pacific Tavern delivers myriad attractions at Canada Water

Toby Kidman has combined outdoor cooking, covered drinking and dining and live music at the reimagined south-east London venue

Image shows a honey coloured two storey brick building with green windows - the Pacific Tavern pub — The Pacific Tavern is located about 10 minutes’ walk from Canada Water station

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There’s something about The Pacific Tavern.

It might be that the place is essentially an island, cut off from its surroundings by road and a construction site.

It could be the expansive decked and covered area out back that feels somewhere between beach club and botanical garden.

Then there’s the rough-hewn planks of timber suspended on concrete that make its seating singular and even the bright images of pacific destinations that jazz up its toilets.

It’s all these things, of course, and more.

Because what founder Toby Kidman has managed to fill the venue with, is a good dose of pure, old-fashioned soul.

Purpose-built as a pub in the 1980s, the Pac Tav was formerly known as the Quebec Curve before spending 14 years as a Vietnamese restaurant.

Today, however, it has fresh legs as a pub, restaurant, bar, gig venue, sun trap or just a place to grab a coffee.

Toby is, in many ways, its ideal ambassador.

Like his venue, he comes across as laid back – a man with a sunny disposition ready to warmly welcome anyone who wants to visit for whatever reason.

Image shows Toby Kidman, a man with long curly hair, wearing a green shirt - founder of the Pacific Tavern — Toby Kidman of the Pacific Tavern

a new creation

“We’ve created a local tavern – pulled together a classic bar and drinks list with a good couple of craft beers and freshened things up with some delicious cocktails,” he said.

“They’re the kind of drinks that could transport you to feeling like you’re on holiday.

“On the space that used to be the car park, we’ve built a weatherproof 120-cover terrace with walls that can be removed and a couple of shipping containers in the open-air part with an outdoor bar and a stage for musicians, DJs, actors and comedians to perform on.

“It’s fun – you could be on a beach.

“When we built it we thought we might have afternoon and day parties with people dancing on the tables and feeling free – events where everyone is welcome.

“We’re starting to achieve that and people are really starting to enjoy the music we’re programming.

“There are no rules. If you want some food, grab it. If you want a beer, have one.

“There are no constraints, it’s like a community hall.”

Image shows wooden tables under a wooden and plastic weatherproof pergola at the back of the pub — The venue has a large, covered area with tables and a kitchen to its rear

all the way from New Zealand

That focus on meeting customers’ needs when they want is in Toby’s hospitality DNA.

Originally from New Zealand he came to London aged 18, taking his first steps in the industry before returning home to pursue a career in the sector.

A six-month stint working on a 72-foot catamaran in Greece saw him return to Europe, before a temporary trip to London to see a friend on the way home. In the end, he never left. That was 15 years ago.

“I had some friends who were starting an antipodean restaurant in the capital in 2010,” he said.

“At the time, the coffee here was mostly dreadful, restaurants were opening for lunch, closing, then reopening for dinner – it was all white tablecloths and there wasn’t much casual dining.

“Breakfast was either in a hotel or a workers’ caff.

“I’d never understood why all-day dining wasn’t popular.

“That was the idea behind Caravan.

“The concept was that, like the caravans that travelled the Silk Road, it picked up flavours from across the world.

“The first one opened in Exmouth Market and I was head of operations from 2011 until about a year ago – helping it expand and generally muddle along.

“We opened King’s Cross in 2012 and it grew from there.

“It attracted a melting pot of creatives, workers – we had good coffee, good beer and great pizza.

“Today, there are eight branches, including Canary Wharf and Covent Garden.

“I remember when putting avocado on toast on a lunch and dinner menu had people wondering what we were doing.

“But the idea was about not restricting cuisine – it’s still a very exciting brand.”

Toby knew Roger Madelin – joint head of British Land’s project to regenerate Canada Water – from the latter’s time at Argent working at Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross where Caravan became an early and potent success.

Invited down to south-east London to check out what would become the Pacific Tavern, he immediately saw the potential.

Grilled squid at the pub on a plate covered in purple herbs — Grilled squid in a ponzu sauce, £7 at the Pacific Tavern

the Pacific Tavern’s potential

“The building itself has a real soul and heart to it,” said Toby.

“If you half-close your eyes for a second, you can just imagine what used to happen here when it was the Quebec Curve.

“Some of the old regulars are still round here and have been happy to see it revived.

“There are some great stories.”

What is completely new, however, is the freedom of the food offering, which deliberately sets the Pac Tav apart.

“The courtyard is covered so we can have it open all year round and that’s where we have our outdoor barbecue where we do all the cooking,” said Toby.

“We wanted to come up with a menu that didn’t restrict the cuisine, so you have the ability to use ingredients you can get from all over the place.

“So, fun, simple, honest cooking.”

Image shows a puff pastry pie on a wooden block with a red relish and salad — Kiwi pie of the day with tomato relish and fries, £13 at the venue

Pacific Tavern pastry pies

“We have New Zealand’s answer to the Cornish pasty – a shortcrust pastry pie with fillings such as mince and cheese, steak and cheese.

“Bacon and egg is a very traditional Kiwi pie filling – there we have pie warmers in every pub and off licence.

“You can grab one for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

“Everything is cooked over flames – the idea is that we take ingredients from around the Pacific Ocean and present them in a way that tastes great.

“We also have an open kitchen so people can go up, talk to the chefs and even order a chef’s plate with whatever they’ve got on.

“It’s about having the traditions of a pub with that Pacific twist to it. That’s in all our dishes.”

And what dishes they are.

Seafood features heavily with the likes of seabream crudo in coconut milk and lime juice with corn for crunch and grilled octopus skewers.

I could write about the menu all day, but it’s better if you go and try it.

The Pacific Tavern's seabream crudo in coconut milk and lime juice — Seabream crudo in coconut milk and lime juice, £13 at the Pacific Tavern

key details: The Pacific Tavern

The Pacific Tavern is open from 10am Thursday-Sunday with closing times up to midnight depending on the day.

It’s open from noon on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and is closed on Mondays.

The best way to keep up with events is to follow the venue on Instagram @thepacifictavern

Find out more about the pub here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

July 3, 2024July 3, 2024

NHG Homes offers buyers in London a way to buy property for less

Housing association has a wide range of shared ownership homes available in the capital

Image shows brick-clad residential blocks generated by a computer surrounding a two-storey red building at Kidbrooke Square — An artist’s impression of NHG Homes’ Kidbrooke Square development

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Deposits are typically the biggest hurdle for young people seeking to purchase a home in London.

The average house price in the capital (according to the latest figures from the Land Registry) currently stands at just over £500,000.

That means buyers on the open market would need at least £25,000 to purchase with a 5% mortgage and more likely £50,000 for a more affordable 90% loan-to-value deal.

While cheaper properties are, of course, available, the need to raise such sums remains a significant obstacle to getting on the ladder.

priced out – an NHG Homes survey

A recent survey of prospective first-time buyers by Opinium and affordable housing provder NHG Homes (part of housing association Notting Hill Genesis) found 81% of those aged 18-24 did not have access to a deposit of more than £40,000 – the 10% necessary to access many homes in the capital.

The study showed the average deposit buyers they had managed to put together was £22,963.

A computer generated image of open landscaped space at NHG Homes' Kidbrooke Square scheme — Kidbrooke Square will feature plenty of open space

income sources

It also revealed that, in a nation hit by a cost of living crisis, nearly half of 18-to-24-year-olds were looking at taking on second jobs to raise extra cash to put towards a home.

The survey also found 43% would be willing to hold off on having children to help them get on the ladder earlier in contrast to less than a quarter of those aged 25 or older.

The same did not apply with pets however, with a third of older buyers willing to go without an animal companion to save money as opposed to just under a fifth of adults aged 24 or younger.

family assistance

Opinium and NHG Homes’ study also showed that using cash from family was still a major source of funding for house purchases.

Around a quarter of those aged 35-44 said they were relying on money from parents to help them get a foot on the ladder, while 23% of people in relationships were looking to do the same to finance their first home.

Other relations were also listed as an important source of funds, with nearly a fifth of respondents aged 18-34 saying they were expecting to use contributions from family members who weren’t their parents.

Image shows a grey fitted kitchen in a property at Kidbrooke Square — Deposits on shared ownership homes can start from as little as four figures

an alternative from NHG Homes

Nearly half of respondents said they would consider shared ownership, if it meant they could purchase a property in the capital.

The scheme offers buyers the option to purchase a portion of a home while paying rent on the remainder.

It often works out cheaper than renting – especially given recent increases across London – and deposits start at 5% of typically a quarter of an apartment.

That means buyers with as little as £5,000 saved can potentially buy into a home worth more than £370,000 and live there as though they owned the whole thing.

NHG Homes sales and marketing director, Diana Alam, said: “Getting on the property ladder in London is a real challenge for first-time buyers, and it’s not surprising to us that many are having to look beyond their main source of income to save the amount needed for a deposit.

“Whether it be getting a second job or asking family members for a helping hand, this research has shown that buying through the open market in the capital requires more than simply setting money aside every month – particularly for younger buyers.

“The proportion of first-time buyers who would consider using shared ownership to purchase in London shows just how important it is to offer more affordable routes to home ownership.

“We’re proud at NHG Homes to offer properties across the capital that require deposits as low as four figures, meaning first time-buyers don’t have to choose between staying in London and getting on the property ladder.”

Image shows a bedroom at NHG Homes' Kidbrooke Square scheme in Greenwich — NHG Homes offers a wide range of shared ownership properties including this one at Kidbrooke Square

key details

NHG Homes offers a wide range of shared ownership options across London.

For example, one, two and three-bedroom homes are available to buy at Kidbrooke Square via shared ownership, with prices starting at £93,125 for a 25% share and a minimum 5% deposit of £4,594. This is based on a full market value of £372,500.

Average monthly costs for a one-bedroom are estimated at £1,386, including mortgage payments, service charge and rent on the un-owned portion of the property.

Find out more about Kidbrooke Square here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

July 2, 2024July 2, 2024

BelEve aims to help girls and young women achieve their dreams

Co-founders Marsha and Chyloe Powell talk inspiration from their mother, love and possibility

Image shows two women with black hair, the one on the left in a black jacket and white top and the one on the right in a white button up shirt. They are, Chyloe, left, and Marsha Powell of charity BelEve — Chyloe, left, and Marsha Powell of charity BelEve

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Marsha Powell grew up in Brockley with the flashing light on top One Canada Square visible from her bedroom window.

Despite starting her career with only GCSEs on her CV, she made it to the estate, working in HR for the Financial Services Authority (now the Financial Conduct Authority) for more than 13 years.

“I’d done work experience in human resources and it was my dream to work in that sector,” she said.

“When I joined the FSA aged 19, I decided that was what I wanted to do and, through hard work, I was afforded that opportunity.

“I made sure I had good mentors and cheerleaders and I went back to college, did my degree and a masters, and that put me in a good place educationally on the career path.

“I also had two children at that time.

“I became an HR business partner, living my dream, and supporting people like Andrew Bailey – who’s now the governor of the Bank Of England.

“I was working at 25 North Colonnade in Canary Wharf and it was at the time when the FSA was being separated from the Bank.

“I had to decide whether I wanted to stay or go as my role was moving to the City.”

It was also a period of great tragedy in Marsha’s personal life.

BelEve, inspired by a tragedy

“My mother, Delores Diana Hay, had been diagnosed with gall bladder cancer and, about 10 weeks later, she passed,” said Marsha.

“My sisters, Chyloe, Rochelle and me had been talking about developing a mentoring programme for girls before my mum died, and her death gave me the opportunity to be bold.

“I had a bit of money to try something and two children – a daughter aged 10 and a son aged five.

“For me, it was either do this now or never.

“That’s how BelEve was born, on my dining room table – I just used all my transferable skills and started it with the help of my sisters.

“We keep our mum’s name alive through our organisation, and through our pain has come purpose.”

Working with girls and young women aged eight to 22, the charity has supported more than 20,000 people, offering support, education, guidance and positive solutions.

It aims to offer opportunities to those it works with, intending to boost their confidence, self-esteem and skill sets as well as giving them access to inspirational role models to help unlock their full potential.

Image shows an image of One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, a stainless steel-clad office block below a blue sky. — Marsha grew up with the light from One Canada Square blinking in her window

core values

“We founded the charity because we wanted to use all the core values our mum taught us such as sisterhood and love,” said Chyloe, BelEve’s chief finance officer.

“We teach the girls that if they can lead themselves first, then they can have confidence and have all the attributes which they need to lead others around them.

“I worked in fashion for 12 years.

“Then, like Marsha, when we found out mum was ill, it changed my perspective on things.

“When she passed away, I realised that what I was doing was not meaningful – anyone can buy clothes.

“I felt I needed a bit of a break to process what had happened.

“We were all really young and it was challenging to navigate life without someone who had been our anchor.

“It got to a point where I wasn’t really enjoying work any more, so Marsha suggested I should just leave and join her.

“We grew up in south-east London and we work mostly in Lewisham, Southwark and Greenwich.

“We know that deprivation is high in these areas, so we wanted to offer something that wasn’t a cost to the parents – that young people could get free of charge.

“Our programmes are free to young people and we get funding through sponsorship or donations.

“BelEve is about feeding back into the local ecosystem of our community.

“We wanted to make sure that young people were not stuck because of their beginnings, to give them options and opportunities.

“About 80% of the girls we work with are black or from ethnic minorities and we want them to see role models that look like them – you can’t be what you can’t see.

“In Brockley where we grew up there’s an affluent part and an area with an estate.

“We want to assure the girls and young women we work with that starting on the estate side doesn’t mean you can’t cross over to the area with the coffee shops.

“Often those we work with are the first in their families to go to university and get high paid jobs – which has an impact on everyone. We want that effect to be systemic in those families.”

from HR to CEO at BelEve

For Marsha, who runs the charity as CEO, BelEve is about generating those opportunities as well as helping those it works with see themselves in roles at large firms and organisations.

She said: “I worked in HR for a long time and diversity and inclusion has long been a thing.

“But for some organisations it was a quota – a top-down, rather than bottom-up approach to that commitment.

“I do think the George Floyd situation and the emergence of Black Lives Matter was a big shift in that space.

“I think a lot of white execs were suddenly thinking they had a lot of responsibility – that they couldn’t say they were supporting diversity when they weren’t actually doing much about it.

“Has it changed the way that organisations recruit? I think younger people are very committed to it.

“For example, I’ve been to so many panels where people openly say they are autistic or have ADHD.

“People would never have talked about that in a workplace before, but now it’s accepted and we’re working in a diverse space where we can employ anyone and can get the best from them.

“Ultimately it’s always about the bottom line and difference always brings profit.

“At BelEve, everything we do is centred around love because, when you have a sense of belonging, then anything is possible.

“We deliver workshops in primary and secondary schools. We also deliver mentoring and what is important to us is that girls get an opportunity to experience true role models.

“If you want to work in the city, then you need to meet the women who work there.

“I have got a good network and a lot of that has come from my time working in Canary Wharf.

“It’s about creating opportunities and experiences for girls to see how they can create career prospects, which can ultimately improve their life chances.

“That is all very big, but it is doable with the right support, the right network, the right opportunities and experiences. I use myself as a blueprint.”

transformative possibilities

“We are selling hope, possibility and transformation,” added Marsha.

“We’re always looking for women who are prepared to give time and share their experiences.

“Luckily for us we have a good array of people who want to give back to the next generation.

“The most beautiful thing is when you see a young girl who is displaying low confidence coming to a workshop and blossoming like a flower or a butterfly.

“That change is so rewarding.

“I’m not even thinking about the business side, I’m thinking about the lives that we’ve touched – the girls whose prospects have altered dramatically through our intervention.

“We had an event in March and one of the girls stood up and spoke on stage.

“She said that she’d joined BelEve at 14, was very shy and not even thinking about university.

“Now, at 19, she’s going to Cambridge, and that’s because she had a mentor through our organisation.

“She’d had so much opportunity because people around her made her believe she could do it.”

seeing the results

Chyloe added: “One of our success stories is partnering with the Civil Service who contacted us because they’d seen women from black and ethnic minorities weren’t getting through their assessment centres.

“We built a programme and have seen six girls find roles that way and that’s when I think we’ve done a good job.”

As a charity, BelEve is always looking for fresh support and partnerships to expand and grow its activities.

“The support we get from our donors and partners is very much appreciated,” added Chyloe.

“We have a campaign at the moment where we want to support at least 50 girls aged eight-15 on a summer programme and offer it for free.

“It’s called the Summer Of Love and we ran it last year. It was a huge success, with workshops, activities and trips for three weeks.

“A lot of those on last year’s programme are now a part of our community so it’s something we want to do again.

“We’re asking people to donate £25 and £250 gets each girl three weeks of non-stop summer activities.”

key details: BelEve

You can find out more about BelEve’s programmes and workshops here including ways to donate or get involved as a company.

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

July 1, 2024July 2, 2024

AGL Airsoft in Aldgate offers targets and thrills aplenty for groups

Founder and director Peter Fernandes talks hospitality, weapons and building a business

A man holding an Airsoft air rifle aims his weapon at green and red LED targets at AGL Airsoft in Aldgate — Competitors at AGL Airsoft shoot digitally-enabled LED targets

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It all started at a shoe repair shop in Camden.

In 2016, Peter Fernandes was helping out in the family business while his dad recovered from a knee operation.

There, he spotted a niche.

While the area was busy, there was a notable lack of places to buy toys for kids.

So he started selling remote controlled cars and helicopters from the front of the shop. It went OK.

“They were doing alright, but I went to one of my suppliers and he had cheap, spring-powered BB guns in bright colours,” said Peter.

“They sold like hot cakes. Slowly, I started getting into Airsoft, which is more advanced.

“Those guns look more realistic and fire plastic pellets.

“They’re powered by electricity or gas and can be fixed if they break.

“They’re next level. You can get replicas of lots of different kinds of weapon and I wanted a place to test them – but we only had a tiny corridor behind the shop.”

Images shows AGL Airsoft founder and director Peter Fernandes, a man wearing a black T-Shirt with a diamond earring — AGL Airsoft founder and director Peter Fernandes

first steps towards AGL Airsoft

Eventually Peter rented a basement space, creating two firing lanes with targets so that customers as well as himself and staff could try out the weapons.

“It was really fun and we started putting up leader boards,” he said.

“Then people who were just passing would come in and try it out. From there it was about finding new targets and creating packages.

“We got really good feedback, put some videos on social media and it went viral. We were doing something new for Airsoft and it was really popular.

“We were fully booked at weekends – I wanted people to have great experiences, but we only had space for two lanes, so we knew we needed somewhere bigger and better.”

A man in a black shirt aims a Glock-style weapon at lit targets in the Aldgate facility — Airsoft weapons are modelled after real guns but shoot non-lethal plastic pellets

Airsoft as competitive socialising

Airsoft weapons are typically used for recreation in a similar format to paintball, albeit significantly less messy.

The 6mm projectiles they fire are non-lethal, with an honour code system used to determine who has been shot during a game.

What Peter and the team at AGL Airsoft have done is to take those weapons and combine them with digitally enabled target systems to test the accuracy and speed of the shooter.

It’s essentially a competitive socialising experience.

That mission has massively expanded at its second site, just off Commercial Road in east London.

AGL’s facility boasts target lanes, a fully-equipped shop for Airsoft enthusiasts (selling guns, clothing and accessories), a sniper alley for long-range competitions, digital simulators and, perhaps most crucially, a “close quarters battle” arena.

The latter offers a fast-paced experience aimed at delivering a high-intensity game as players move around the arena to shoot lit targets.

A man in a brown coat aims a large brown sniper rifle with a huge scope at targets — A range of experiences are available including a sniper lane

skills and aim

“It’s all about reaction times and accuracy,” said Peter.

“We’re the first facility in London and probably the UK to have the LED targets – the plan is to open more branches and perhaps offer franchises in the future, then to grow internationally.

“With our latest location, we wanted somewhere towards the City, that was also close to Canary Wharf and Shoreditch, so we could accommodate large bookings and work with corporate clients.

“AGL is something new and it’s great for team-building. It’s a lot of fun and there’s a lot of competitiveness, but anyone can do it.

“We get bookings from all types of people, every age and every gender.

“I think deep down we’re all big kids and we all have that competitive spirit.

“Growing up I always liked gaming and testing my skills and reflexes.

“Here we have leader boards and people who play can see exactly how well they’ve done against the party they are with and everyone else.

“Airsoft isn’t about violence, it’s actually a really great way to make and deepen friendships.

“For groups that come here, we offer food, drink and the games, which gives everyone a lot to talk about – especially the day after in the office.”

A woman points an Airsoft gun at the camera — A wide range of Airsoft weapons are available to try at AGL Airsoft

AGL Airsoft: Suitable for all

“It doesn’t matter if you’ve never shot any kind of gun before.

“Our staff are really good and they’ll teach you how to hold the weapons, how to stand and give tips on ways to improve.

“They all play the games a lot and each one has their favourite – they all test different skills.

“For example, the first game played on the lanes is usually about accuracy.

“Players are asked to shoot 20 targets in as much time as they like.

“But they only get 25 shots. Time only comes into play if the score is perfect.

“Next comes a time trial where you’ll have 30 seconds to see how many targets you can hit.

“If you miss, they just stay lit until you shoot them successfully.

“Then there’s a game with two different colours, where you have to only shoot the red targets that flash up.

“With all of these games, if players are doing well, we can increase the difficulty so there’s always a challenge.

“I knew the Aldgate venue would be fun, but I didn’t realise how much until we opened. What we want now is to be fully booked with everyone enjoying themselves.”

Image shows the AGL Airsoft Aldgate bar — AGL Airsoft’s facilities include a fully stocked bar. The venue also serves food

key details: AGL Airsoft

AGL Airsoft’s Aldgate branch is located just off Commercial Road on Gower’s Walk close to where Shadwell and Whitechapel meet the City.

The closest station is Aldgate East, but the facility is within east walking distance of Tower Gateway DLR and Whitechapel station, which is three minutes on the Elizabeth Line from Canary Wharf. The facility is open daily from noon until 11pm.

Prices for five games start at £40 per person and £30 for 30 minutes on the venue’s digital simulator.

Gun rental, pellets and eye protection are all included in the price where appropriate.

AGL offers a range of options for groups and corporate clients including party packages, VIP experiences and full venue hire.

Those interested can email aglcontactus@agl-airsoft.co.uk for more information

Find out more about the Aldgate location here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

June 30, 2024June 30, 2024

Far East Consortium Dragon Boat Race generates charity funds

Docklands Sailing And Watersports contest raises money for the East End Community Foundation

A team competes in the Far East Consortium Dragon Boat Race, flailing paddles at the waters of Millwall Outer Dock — Teams competed on the waters of Millwall Outer Dock on the Isle Of Dogs

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The developer behind Consort Place on the Isle Of Dogs hosted an event this month at the Docklands Sailing And Watersports Centre to raise much-needed funds for local charities.

Far East Consortium (FEC) – which recently welcomed the first residents to Aspen, the tower at the heart of its scheme – organised a Dragon Boat Festival on the waters of Millwall Outer Dock this month.

Teams from the developer and its partners – including Knight Frank, NHBC, Hawkins Brown, Dorsett Hospitality International, The Media People, Dex Construction, TP Bennett, Kohler, McBains, JRL, HTA and BB7 – did battle on the water with paddles and sweat, for glory, medals and a trophy.

Consultancy firm WSP won the day, with its team – Stroke Of Genius – topping the podium. All proceeds from the event will go to the East End Community Foundation (EECF), which gives grants to charities across the local area.

Two dragon boats race in front of Far East Consortium's Aspen At Consort Place tower in east London — The teams competed in front of FEC’s Aspen At Consort Place Tower (centre)

grants for good causes

“FEC is a patron of our Life Chances Campaign, which means it has committed £60,000 so far and is hopefully going to come on board to support this for the next three years,” said EECF campaign director Sally Bateson.

“It’s all about creating lasting change.

“We’ve been looking to raise more money so we can give bigger grants over longer periods of time to support the grassroots organisations we work with who don’t have the resources or profile to find the funds themselves.”

Image shows a woman with brown hair in a green dress – CEO of the East End Community Foundation, Tracy Walsh — Tracy Walsh, CEO of the East End Community Foundation

where the Far East Consortium money goes

EECF CEO Tracy Walsh added: “We focus on youth unemployment and wellbeing, pension poverty and isolation and digital inequality – we put a lot of money into these areas.

“For example, with unemployment, young people might feel like big organisations aren’t for them but they will go to a less glamorous youth club next door.

“We’re funding a person to tackle the problem in those settings.

“We are also providing money for a lot of holiday programs to aid wellbeing – giving young people food, physical activity and safe places to be.

“With pension poverty, we’ve invested about £80,000 to train front line workers to help older people claim benefits that they are entitled to.

“It’s been nine months and we’ve already seen £400,000 of money go to people who are eligible for it.

“There’s millions of pounds of unclaimed Pension Credits and we thought we should do somthing to help people get it.

“On digital equality, we’re now working in primary schools to help connect low income families.

“They get 12 months free broadband, a laptop and training on how to stay safe online and help their kids with homework.

“We’ve connected more than 600 so far and we want to boost that figure by 200 by the end of the year.

“In Tower Hamlets we were just shocked by how many homes don’t have any digital connection – it’s around 50,000.

“We’ve got the highest level of child poverty in the UK here and the highest level of pension poverty. If organisations all do their own thing, the impact can be diluted.

“What we’re saying with Life Chances is that if we all work together, it’s easier to make a difference and also easier for the charities, who only have to apply to one funder rather than dealing with lots of different ones.”

Image shows a man in a black baseball cap and T-Shirt with orange Far East Consortium logos – it's Bruno Almeida Santos, FEC's development director — FEC development director Bruno Almeida Santos at the even

Far East Consortium: a question of values

Far East Consortium development director Bruno Almeida Santos said the company’s involvement with the EECF and donating to its Life Chances Campaign was really about the business’ core values.

He said: “We’ve been trying to arrange this event for three years, so we’re very pleased that it’s happened and that we could attract these organisations to see the work of the foundation.

“Hopefully we can make this a tradition, especially as it’s a dragon boat race and we’re a Hong Kong developer.

“It’s very important for us as a company to support the EECF. I think some organisations do things as a tick-box exercise but we want to do way more than that.

“This isn’t about our obligations to an S106 agreement, but actually contributing to the foundation, including the joy of losing to the children who were racing as part of one of the teams.

“You know, when you see the smiles on their faces, that you’re making a difference because it’s a day they will never forget.

“Hosting it at the Docklands Sailing And Watersports Centre was a case of the stars aligning.

Racers relax with barbecue and drinks at Far East Consortium's Dragon Boat Race on the Isle Of Dogs — Teams enjoy a well-earned break at Far East Consortium’s Dragon Boat Race at the Docklands Sailing And Watersports Centre

“It’s one of the best settings to view Aspen – our flagship development in London – from and to bring everyone together here.

“It’s been under construction for five years and it’s been a challenging scheme with the pandemic, but we’ve managed to crunch the numbers and overcome the issues.

“I think a lot of that has actually been on the human side, with people working together to resolve the problems.

“It’s been about communication and working together and this is about celebrating that as well as supporting those around us.

“Actually being on the ground with the EECF means you get a completely different experience – you get to see the outcome of that support and we’re really, really happy about that.

“We’ll have to do the race again with even more people.”

In addition to hosting a raffle, all proceeds raised on the day, including ticket sales have gone towards the foundation’s work.

“The day also provided plenty of scope for networking and team building for participants.

“It felt really great,” said Lovisa Claesson, graduate consultant at WSP and a member of winning team “Stroke Of Genius”.

“To be honest we all worked within different areas of the business, so didn’t really know each other before the contest. But we got the women in the front and the men following.”

10 people pose in celebration of winning the Far East Consortium Dragon Boat Race — Winning team Stroke Of Genius

key details: Far East Consortium’s Aspen At Consort Place

Homes at Aspen At Consort Place by Far East Consortium – just off Marsh Wall – are available now. Prices start at £550,000.

The EECF is also based on the Isle Of Dogs and offers a wide range of ways for companies to get involved with good causes locally – including supporting its Life Chances campaign.

Find out more about the development here

Find our more about the work of EECF here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

June 29, 2024June 29, 2024

University Of Sunderland grants Jonathan Ganesh honorary degree

Docklands Victims Association co-founder and president recognised for his supportive works

Images shows a man, Jonathan Ganesh, flanked by a woman and another man all in academic gowns, smiling at the camera — Jonathan Ganesh, centre, is presented with an honorary fellowship by University Of Sunderland chancellor, Leanne Cahill and vice-chancellor David Bell

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It was Friday, February 9, 1996.

In Germany, a group of physicists had just managed to create a single atom of the superheavy element Copernicum for the very first time.

They’d fired zinc particles at a piece of lead in a particle accelerator to synthesise the substance, which lasted just 0.24 milliseconds before its radioactive decay.

With an international team, the breakthrough was a triumph of collaboration and cooperation – an expression of the extraordinary things humans can achieve when working together for the good of the species.

Image shows members of the crowd clapping at the university's graduation ceremony — The ceremony took place at Southwark Cathedral

a tragedy in Docklands

But that same day is remembered in east London, throughout the UK and beyond for a very different reason.

At just after 7pm, the IRA detonated a massive bomb on the Isle Of Dogs at South Quay, killing two people, injuring more than 100 and causing £150million of damage.

For Jonathan Ganesh, a law student and promising boxer, who was working as a security guard in the area at the time, it changed everything.

But despite suffering life-altering injuries and the challenges of recovery, the east London resident has been determined to forge something positive from his horrific experience.

As co-founder and honorary president of the Docklands Victims Association (DVA) he’s been a tireless champion for those affected by that atrocity.

He’s also been heavily involved in offering support to and standing in solidarity with all those affected by acts of terror around the world.

Constantly looking to help those around him, more recently he accepted a Pandemic Response Medal for his work as an NHS responder, delivering food and medication to local residents.

On Wednesday, June 12, the University Of Sunderland In London, which is based at South Quay, awarded Jonathan an honorary fellowship at its graduation ceremony in Southwark Cathedral – recognising his work alongside the achievements of hundreds of students collecting their degrees.

A University Of Sunderland In London student in a mortar board and gown celebrates receiving her degree — The University Of Sunderland In London also awarded hundreds of students degrees at the event

praise from the University Of Sunderland

Vice chancellor of the University Of Sunderland, Sir David Bell, said: “We are delighted to honour Jonathan in this way and this is truly an inspirational moment for us as an organisation.

“We know, for people who become victims, it’s hard to rebuild their lives.

“But Jonathan is the most wonderful example of someone who has not only done that, but has actually helped to support literally thousands of people to rebuild their lives through the work he has done, not only in this country but around the world.

“I hope our graduates will follow his example and do things that will make the world a better place.”

South Quay has gone on to great prosperity with office blocks and some of the tallest residential towers in London rising on the strip of land directly opposite Canary Wharf.

Apt then, that one of the organisations now based there is making this award.

University Of Sunderland In London students celebrate by throwing their mortar boards in the air at Southwark Cathedral — Students celebrate receiving their degrees at the event

a fitting tribute

“I’m quite overwhelmed, actually,” said Jonathan after the ceremony.

“This award from the University Of Sunderland In London is a fitting tribute to all of the victims – especially Inam Bashir and John Jeffries, who lost their lives.

“This is recognition for me but also for the DVA and the work we do in Tower Hamlets and globally.

“This has been a day I’ll never forget. I’m happy to receive any awards, but this is something special.

“We plan to do a lot more work and help as many people as we can here and around the world.

“We successfully managed to secure a pension for the IRA’s victims from the Government as it was unfair to leave these people with no financial support when those from other countries such as America were receiving money.

“It’s very touching for the university to recognise us locally and that what we do has global reach extending out from here.”

Image shows Alan Hardie and Jonathan Ganesh celebrating his honorary fellowship — Jonathan Ganesh with University Of Sunderland In London director Alan Hardie, left

the University Of Sunderland In London’s full citation

Before an assembly of students, their relatives, staff and guests, University Of Sunderland in London director Alan Hardie gave the following address:

Chancellor, vice-chancellor, and distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am privileged to present Jonathan Ganesh for the conferment of an Honorary Fellowship.

Our honorary guest today was born in Westminster in the late 1960s to an Irish mother, who worked as a chef, and a human rights lawyer father from Sri Lanka.

Jonathan spent his early childhood in County Limerick, leaving him with a deep connection to Ireland.

At the age of seven, he moved back to the UK, settling in the Docklands area.

Following his father’s ethos that “no education is ever wasted”, in the mid-1990s, Jonathan was studying law at college while working as a security guard in South Quay.

On February 9, 1996, though, Jonathan’s life changed forever as a result of the horrific IRA bombing of the South Quay Plaza building – which he described as “like being hit by a meteorite”.

Despite facing life-altering injuries and a daunting mental and physical recovery, Jonathan was determined “to turn something bad into something very good”.

Coming together with fellow survivors and their relatives, the need for ongoing support for bombing victims was clear and, in spring 1996, the Docklands Victims Association was formed.

For nearly 30 years, as the association’s honorary president and co-founder, Jonathan has led efforts in supporting and providing resources for victims and those affected by terrorism, in London and worldwide.

The association has also lobbied government leaders to keep the rights of victims of terrorism on the agenda, as they can too often be forgotten once the media limelight fades.

As a long-term Docklands resident, Jonathan remembers the South Quay area in the 1990s when it was mainly deserted docks.

Since then, he has witnessed its transformation into a commercial hub.

With the University Of Sunderland In London’s opening, in 2012, being praised by Jonathan for “enhancing the area’s social fabric and helping it thrive further”.

With a strong desire to support his local community during the pandemic, Jonathan became a volunteer NHS responder in 2020, collecting patients from hospital and delivering food and medication to local residents, which included fellow victims of terrorism.

In recognition of these efforts, Jonathan received a Pandemic Response Medal in September 2023 – to which he can now add an Honorary Fellowship from the University Of Sunderland In London.

Chancellor, vice-chancellor, and distinguished guests, I present Jonathan Ganesh for an Honorary Fellowship.

Find out more about the university here and the Docklands Victims Association here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

June 29, 2024June 29, 2024

Ben Goldsmith set for CrimeLandTown preview at The Pen Theatre

Affectionate spoof of mob movies is set for month-long run at JustTheTonic for the Edinburgh Fringe

Image shows a smiling man with blue eyes and red hair in a black and white check jacket and white T-shirt in front of Billingsgate Fish Market's red brick buildings — Comedian Ben Goldsmith, also founder and director of Goldsmith Communications

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Like many involved in the murky world of organised crime, Ben Goldsmith leads a double life.

By day, he’s founder and director of Goldsmith Communications – a public relations consultancy specialising in serving tech and venture capital clients.

But, by night, he can be found indulging his other passion – trying to make people laugh.

“Comedy is never a fork in the road decision – as a kid you know you’re a bit of an idiot and that plays out at school,” said Ben. “You just have it in you.

“I was used to teachers telling me off – that we should be getting on with maths rather than telling jokes.

“But my A-Level theatre studies teacher, Coral Walton at Monk’s Walk School in Welwyn Garden City, just thought it was great – that I was good at these things and she encouraged me.

“I don’t come from a family of performing people and it was Coral who, as a director at the local theatre, told me I should audition for a play she was putting on.

“This was never on my radar and I thought: ‘No way’ – it just wasn’t cool at 16.

“But she insisted and even drove me to the audition.

“I got the part and then, up until the age of 21, I did a bunch of acting stuff alongside university, where I worked on student papers and got into the world of journalism and PR.”

Comedian Ben Goldsmith mock-punches himself in front of an air vent to promote his show CrimeLandTown — Ben plays all the characters in his show CrimeLandTown

a move into comms

Ben’s career in communications then took over, seeing him move through various roles including running the PR operation for Canary Wharf’s tech community, Level39.

But he remained interested in the performing arts and especially comedy.

“Every August I’d go to the Edinburgh Fringe and I loved it,” he said. “It was like my perfect theme park, seeing comedians I liked and discovering new performers.”

After five years concentrating on his career, an encounter with Graham Dickson’s improv show at the festival sparked something in Ben and he returned to London, enrolled on a comedy class and started performing again.

“For years I did improvisation alongside my work,” he said.

“When I was 27 I set up Goldsmith Communications and the comedy was incredibly helpful because, when you’re setting up a business, every day is completely new and you have to adapt to it.

“The other brilliant thing about improv is that there are no lines to learn, so it fits in if you’re busy. It’s a huge part of my life – I met my wife through comedy.”

Ben narrows his eyes and peers at teh camera with his mouth half open — Ben Goldsmith says his show is an affectionate spoof of mob movies

Ben Goldsmith on his love for mob movies

The success of his PR business means Ben has a bit more freedom now to once again pursue comedy and he’s indulging another of his passions – Mafia movies – in a move away from improv.

“I’m making a show and taking it up to Edinburgh, which is massive,” he said.

“I took a piece called Steve’s Last Day to the Prague Fringe, which was all about a copper’s final shift with all the action taking place in the village hall.

“I did it six times and it went down really well, but I decided to put it aside because I knew what I really wanted to do.

“I’ve always loved mob movies.

“The characters are so much larger than life – they’re such a bunch of goofballs – so you can play with those stereotypes.

“I’ve been working on CrimeLandTown for the last year or so, building it up and presenting it as a work in progress.

“If you enjoy Mafia movies, you’ll enjoy the show.

“The idea is the audience is involved in what’s happening – you’ll always be a part of what’s going on.

“You might be part of a heist that one of my characters is leading, or guests in a club.

“You’ll meet mob bosses, the FBI and a bar singer who gets in too deep, then wants to clear his name.”

Comedian Ben Goldmsmith raises a finger in a mock salute while making a funny face — CrimeLandTown will have several previews in London before transferring to Edinburgh

playing all the parts in CrimeLandTown

For Ben, the show is a labour of love, poking fun at a genre rich in tropes and silliness, but from a place of respect.

Playing all the parts himself, it’s structured as a series of sketches that all combine to tell a story of wise guys and dodgy accents.

“I describe it as an affectionate spoof,” he said.

“People are familiar with these movies, which are often a bit like a high wire act because while they are about serious topics, many of them are also super funny.

“If you’re parodying anything, it’s important to work out what people already know – if you’re a nerd about those things, you’ve got to be aware how geeky you are.

“I’ve watched the movies and the TV shows, so I know what will be familiar to people who like the films, but hopefully a lot of the stuff will be funny to those who are not so familiar.

“In the show, the main character – a bar singer who always wanted to be a wise guy – sees the impending heist as a chance to live his dream of becoming a mobster.

“We’ve all had dreams and made compromises, so this guy takes a singing job in a mob-adjacent industry – then gets his chance to become part of it and it all ends one way or another.

“Of course, people who like the genre don’t want to see me take the piss out of them.

“CrimeTownLand just aims to celebrate the funny things about them. “

Ben Goldsmith wears a pair of sunglasses and makes a silly face in Canary Wharf while promoting his new show CrimeLandTown — Ben says, like those in organised crime, he’s always wanted to push against the everyday

Ben Goldsmith on transgressing

“When you watch a mob movie, everyone in it is rejecting the conventional,” said Ben.

“They’re living outside the legal norms and everyone is transgressing. There’s a thrill in that.

“Personally, I’ve always wanted to push against the everyday too.

“Comedy is funny when people are trying to skewer the world and look at everything from a sideways perspective.

“Being at Level39, I was around a lot of business founders and it dawned on me that many of them just wanted to kick the crap out of the nine-to-five and do their own thing.

“Similarly, people doing comedy want to see what’s out there and then to try and bend or break it, just like the characters in mob movies.

“Starting my own business totally changed my life.

“It’s now given me the time and the bandwidth to create shows and do these festivals.

“There’s a lot to do, but it works if you plan things.

“I know a bunch of comedians who are working and went into it without a safety net, but I needed to have the security of having the career side sorted.

“Right now I just love that I’m able to do it.

“When I first went up to the Fringe I didn’t know anyone who was performing.

“I wasn’t doing improv and my local theatre days were behind me.

“However, the people I met up there ultimately put me in the position to make this show now. Compared to others, it’s tiny – a 60-person room for 24 days in August.

“But hopefully it will be a step on the way to the next thing, whatever that is.

“Either way, it’s been a dream to take a show to Edinburgh – it’s worth a go and it might just pay off.

“After the Fringe, I’d love to take it to more places round the neighbourhood.

“I’m keen to keep going because it’s just a really fun thing to do.”

So, you’ve got the dates. Just remember, don’t forget about it.

our thing

Ben Goldsmith’s CrimeLandTown will be performed at The Pen Theatre in South Bermondsey on July 11, 2024, at 7pm. Tickets cost £8.30.

Ben Goldsmith will also be performing his show at Watford Pump House on July 20, 2024, and Aces And Eights in Tufnell Park on July 25, 2024, before taking it to the Edinburgh Fringe at JustTheTonic from August 1-25, 2024.

Find out more about the show here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

June 18, 2024June 18, 2024

The Upper Lofts are unveiled at Canary Wharf’s 8 Harbord Square

Open-plan, top-floor apartments go on sale at New York-inspired Wood Wharf residential building

Image shows the view from a terrace at 8 Harbord Square, overlooking The O2 and Greenwich Peninsula — The Upper Lofts sit on the top floor of 8 Harbord Square

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The residential properties contained on the lower levels of 8 Harbord Square are a brave, bold statement.

Presented almost completely open-plan (you do get walled off bathrooms), they recall Docklands’ warehouses with more than a nod, stylistically, to the red-brick structures of New York’s Meatpacking District.

But while the flavour is of industrial buildings cleverly converted for residential use, the 11-storey tower is newly built, meaning it comes with none of the hassle or dodgy bodges that can plague refurbishment projects.

Instead, the exposed concrete ceilings, black metal framed windows and cast iron radiators are all carefully thought-through design statements contained within a thoroughly modern structure.

Image shows a space dressed with a green sofa, marble table and various green and blue soft furnishings — The apartments offer a completely open-plan design with industrial details

Capping the whole thing off, developer Canary Wharf Group has now launched a pair of apartments on the building’s top floor.

The Upper Lofts, both priced at £1,950,000, feature internal living space of 1,400sq ft and feature wrap-around terraces of more than 1,000 sq ft.

Properties feature fully-fitted kitchens with stainless steel units and counter tops as well as Siemens appliances.

Bathrooms come with free standing baths, double basins and black-framed, walk-in showers.

Image shows a stainless steel kitchen in one of The Upper Lofts at 8 Harbord Sqaure with a marble table and breakfast bar in the foreground — The 8 Harbord Square homes come with fully fitted stainless steel kitchens

a singular offering at 8 Harbord Square

Canary Wharf Group director of residential sales, Melanie Conway, said: “The expression ‘one-of-a-kind’ is sometimes overused, but in this instance, The Upper Lofts represent ‘two-of-a-kind’ apartments not seen before in London.

“Their positioning within 8 Harbord Square and the wider Canary Wharf estate gives them views of iconic surrounding landmarks, which previously you would only have seen from some of our tallest residential buildings.

“With vast wrap-around terraces and totally open plan living spaces, they have been designed to take advantage of these views and the natural light that floods the spaces, giving residents the most incredible sunrises and sunsets.

“8 Harbord Square marks the final building in our residential portfolio on the estate, meaning it’s the last opportunity to own a piece of the Wharf’s rich history and to be a part of the incredible transformation that has taken place here.”

Image shows chairs and coffee tables in The Upper Lofts show apartment — Residents are free to configure and dress their apartment however they like

an emerging neighbourhood

Part of Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf development, 8 Harbord Square is the final building in Canary Wharf Group’s scheme to feature homes for private sale.

Further residential projects will fall under its wholly-owned subsidiary Vertus, which boasts an extensive portfolio of homes to live in via all-inclusive rental deals.

Wood Wharf itself is rapidly becoming established as an area to visit with restaurants such as Dishoom, Hawksmoor, MMy Wood Wharf, Emilia’s Crafted Pasta and Roe attracting a steady stream of visitors.

Third Space recently opened a new site locally, adding Hot Yoga, Reformer Pilates and a new 20m swimming pool to its Canary Wharf offering, while creative companies such as Qube, Vow Studio and Broadwick also now call the neighbourhood home.

The Cube, a competitive socialising experience is set to open nearby, while Harbord Square itself now boasts a vet, GP surgery, convenience store and a sports hall and gym complex for residents to investigate.

Image shows a terrace at 8 Harbord Square with views of the Canary Wharf skyline in the background — The Upper Lofts feature wrap-around terraces with views over London

key details – 8 Harbord Square

The Upper Lofts at 8 Harbord Square are both priced at £1,950,000.

Other properties in the 82-apartment building start at £770,000 for an 801sq ft home or £990,000 for 1,037sq ft.

Find out more about The Upper Lofts here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

June 17, 2024June 17, 2024

Cody Dock set to create heritage centre for Newham on the Lea

Grant of £1.6million will see historic boat refurbished and used as the roof of a glass-walled structure

Computer generated image shows a glass walled structure with a blue and red boat as its roof - Cody Dock's planned heritage centre — An artist’s impression of the new heritage centre at Cody Dock

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The Cody Dock project has many facets to it.

Central to its plans are the twin aims of returning what was an abandoned industrial wasteland to community use alongside efforts to boost and study the local ecology.

But there’s also Gasworks Dock Partnership’s mission to preserve and celebrate Newham’s rich heritage – a project that recently received a massive shot in the arm.

In 18 months’ time, walkers along the River Lea cutting through Cody Dock will find a singular structure in front of them.

Beside the rolling bridge and The Growing Space – now used to rear much of the project’s plant life – a new heritage centre will be created.

Lighting Up The Lea has won a £1.6million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which will see a glass walled pavilion built on the site covered by a rather unusual roof – a former Welsh lifeboat.

The vessel is not, however, just a convenient lozenge of timbers and iron to protect visitors from the elements.

It boasts a remarkable, historic link to Newham, making it perhaps the most appropriate of structures to help protect the history of the area.

Image shows two men with red hair in front of the mahogany panels of the Frederick Kitchen at Cody Dock — Simon Myers, left, with son Tom who is leading the restoration of the boat at Cody Dock

arrival at Cody Dock

“Just before the Olympics in 2012, we were approached by a bunch of West Ham football fans who knew that the club was going to move to the London Stadium in Stratford,” said Simon Myers, Gasworks Dock Partnership and mastermind of the Cody Dock project.

“They knew the club originated at the Thames Ironworks, which once owned land at the mouth of the River Lea when its managing director, Arnold Hills, helped found a football club to help improve the health of its workers.

“The fans had bought a boat that had been built by the company, thinking that the London Legacy Development Corporation would agree to use it as part of a museum next to the new stadium dedicated to the history of West Ham and the Ironworks.

“However, they weren’t successful in securing funding or a site – even though it was a good idea – and they approached us initially just to store the boat.

“Years passed and nothing really happened except a second boat turned up that in an even worse state than the first.

“Eventually they offered them to us for scrap.”

Image shows the Frederick Kitchen, a stripped down wooden boat sat on supports, as work continues — The Frederick Kitchen, part of the way through her restoration

scrap, or something else?

However, Simon and the team were not about to simply discard the craft. Instead, a plan was slowly hatched to show off at least one of the craft in all its glory and preserve it for future generations.

“My thought was that, if we’re going to do something with these boats, it’s because we want to tell their story,” said Simon.

“It’s not about getting them in the water – we’ve got plenty of boats here for that. So why not restore one, turn it upside down and use it as a roof of a structure with glass walls?

“That way people will get to see the exterior of the boat from outside and the interior when inside.

“You’ll have this beautiful cathedral ceiling and see all of the internal structure.”

The Frederick Kitchen, named in honour of a former lifeboat master, is not just an elegant architectural solution.

Having won funding to carry out a feasibility study – a precursor to the £1.6million award – the Gasworks Dock Partnership engaged in an extensive programme of research into her history.

It turns out, she may have been the very last vessel to leave the Ironworks, which closed in 1912.

A computer generated image of people in a glass-walled building with the boat as its roof — An artist’s impression of the interior of the heritage centre

an important history

“There’s a glass plate image owned by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich that shows her sitting in a dry dock all by herself in 1913,” said Simon.

“We think she may have been the last to leave – we do know she was one of a string of five boats that weren’t finished when the works closed, although she was completed and became a Watson class lifeboat stationed at Beaumaris from 1914 to 1945.

“The closure marked the end of major shipbuilding on the Thames.

“Her hull is made from Honduran mahogany with a steam-bent interior frame of oak with a keel of solid iron that runs along her entire length and weighs as much as the rest of her put together.

“She’s really the pinnacle of timber shipbuilding – designed at the crossover between pulling and sailing vessels and motorised craft, so she has some adaptations including an encased propeller to avoid it being fouled by nets and rigging, which wouldn’t want if you were engaged in a rescue.

“A few years after she was launched, new technologies came in with the use of plywood and then fibreglass and plastic.

“She was the last of her kind.”

A crane holds the former lifeboat as she is moved to a special shed for refurbishment works — The boat is brought into a special shed, ready for refurbishment

a grant for Cody Dock

The full grant will be used over three years, with 18 months to prepare the ground for the new structure and restore Frederick Kitchen to her former glory – the latter project being headed up by Simon’s son, Tom.

The money will also cover a rolling programme of events centred around Newham heritage with the space eventually used to host quarterly exhibitions.

“For a long time now, in addition to the ecology, which is really special, we’ve felt that one of the selling points of this area is the heritage of the Lea,” said Simon.

“One of the things that’s always struck us is that, apart from the House Mill, Newham doesn’t have any museums – certainly not ones that reflect the wider heritage of the area.

“There’s such a rich seam of history here, whether it’s the Lea as a boundary between the Danes and the Saxons or how the land on the east bank was part of Essex rather than London and all the implications of that.

“Then there’s the arrival of industry, which saw the local population increase from 4,000 to around 250,000 in about 50 years.”

Two people work on the woodwork of the Frederick Kitchen — Tom supervises as renovation work continues

a rich seam of exhibitions

“Frankly we would need an Amazon-size warehouse to cover all the heritage we have and we reckon we could go for 30 years without repeating a topic with quarterly exhibitions in our multi-functional, multi-purpose structure,” added Simon.

“The likes of West Ham and Tate & Lyle have fantastic archives that are not on show to the public so it would be amazing to feature pieces from those collections.

“We have so many plans. It will take 18 months to restore the boat and we’ll be re-landscaping the site of the building at the same time.

“We’ll be doing outdoor exhibitions for Lighting Up The Lea during that period as well as working with the community and participants on our education programmes to gather more stories and local history.

“When our heritage programme launches, our plan is that one quarter will be dedicated to ecology, one to social heritage, one to industrial heritage and the last to miscellaneous aspects of history.”

Image shows a general view of Cody Dock on the River Lea under a rainbow with a toothed rolling bridge made of iron and a large wooden sculpture of a figure — Cody Dock boasts myriad facilities including a rolling bridge

key details – Cody Dock

The Cody Dock project has a wealth of opportunities for volunteers to get involved, with activities including the restoration of the Frederick Kitchen, cleaning up the River Lea and studying the area’s ecology.

Find out more about the project here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

June 15, 2024

Leah Sams shoots and launches fashion collection in Canary Wharf

The artist, illustrator and founder of Power Of Women recently unveiled her clothing designs

Image shows a selection of brightly coloured dresses and shirts on a rail from Leah Sams' Paradise Collection — Leah Sams has launched The Paradise Collection in Canary Wharf

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Leah Sams’ Paradise Collection from Power Of Women perhaps typifies the changing face of Canary Wharf.

It’s tech, it’s fashion, it’s illustration, it’s female-led and it’s been created and launched on the east London estate.

Having swapped theatrical costume and set design for art and illustration during the pandemic, Leah found success selling digital works as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

The move into tech came after her husband Jack also changed career, leaving the performing arts world to fight fires and discovering his colleagues’ passion for crypto assets.

“He showed my artwork to them, which is very female-orientated and empowered, and these burly men were saying they would buy it,” said Leah, who moved to the UK from Malaysia to study theatre arts at university.

“That was the rabbit hole that started my career in the digital art world.

“At the time I started selling NFTs it was a very male space – less than 10% were female collectors or artists.

“I launched a very female-focused collection of works and they sold out within three hours and made more money than I did in a whole year selling on Etsy.

“At the time a lot of artists saw it as a way to make a living, often for the first time as digital creators.”

Image shows artist, illustrator and Power Of Women founder Leah Sams, a dark haired woman in glasses with gold earrings wearing one of her orange dresses — Artist, illustrator and Power Of Women founder Leah Sams

Leah Sams – the power of tech…

Leah’s success led to an exhibition at Adidas’ flagship London store as well as collaborations with the likes of Manchester City FC.

Much of the hype has gone out of the NFT market.

But Leah is certain the tech that makes it work – an immutable record of the provenance and authenticity of a work stored on a blockchain to identify the owner of a piece – will continue to become an increasingly important part of our digital world.

“A lot of the people who came into NFTs to make a quick buck have all left,” said Leah, who lives on the Isle Of Dogs.

“But what you’re left with is interesting people building interesting things, and that’s great, because it’s now easier to sift through and find amazing pieces.

“The is definitely not perfect, but the people who are working with this technology truly believe that it is going to be part of our everyday lives.

“When we first had the internet, there a lot of sceptics and all sorts of companies building websites, but from that emerged the likes of Google and Facebook and all these goliaths.

“Provenance and authenticity are very important in the traditional art world, so having a public, digital record of works that cannot be changed is going to be really useful.

“The future is that NFTs will be rebranded – the technology will be there but in the background and it’s really important with regard to things like copyright that artists understand where the world is heading.

“At the moment we’re seeing cryptocurrency, AI, blockchain and NFTs all intermingling.

“It’s a really exciting space to be in because it’s the precursor to things that come next.”

Image shows a picture of a woman in eastern clothing by artist Leah Sams — Leah’s is an artist creating digital work, prints and now clothes

thinking differently

“Right now, just as in the traditional art world, there are a few artists making a mint in the digital space,” said Leah.

“Others are diversifying their income, but NFTs have significantly changed people’s attitude towards digital art – that it should be respected and people should be paid fairly for it.”

The launch of The Paradise Collection and Leah’s move into fashion, however, has more to do with a desire to keep creating than to find fresh markets for the things she makes.

“As we had a bit of money to invest, I thought we could just do the same old thing or we could do something different,” she said.

“This felt like it was a different iteration of what I’ve been working towards.

“All of my artwork has had a concentration on representation, culture and diversity – fashion has also been a huge part of that because of my history in theatre and costume.

“I’ve also always been drawing fashionable women, so this has been a dream since I was a kid, to be doing something with clothes.”

a learning curve

“A friend of mine in the NFT space – Shreya Bhan – who started her career in fashion said that, when I was ready, we could do something together,” added Leah.

“She’s guided me through it and it’s been fascinating to see the correlation and some similarities with the work I was doing in costume with the pattern cutting elements, use of silhouettes and how fabric falls on the body.

“Lots of people have bought my artwork, but there’s something different in buying an wearing a garment to something that lives on a screen or a wall as a print.

“I feel like my customers are wearing my pieces and that’s quite a responsibility to have, which is why it’s been a long process to fine-tune and curate the collection.

“Designing on fabric is very different from working on an iPad – it’s been a huge learning curve.

“I started off with a budget and had to figure out how to create a diverse line that worked financially but was also an extension of a brand that had only existed as artworks before.

“Now it’s coming into the physical world, how do you represent it and how do I link it back to my art?”

Image shows a pink shirt with green foliage print, available from Power Of Women for £75 — Pink Berry Unisex Shirt, £75 from The Paradise Collection

Leah Sams – The Paradise Collection

Comprising unisex shirts, wrap dresses and tiered dresses, The Paradise Collectio n features three vibrant prints on cotton as well as colourful designs on a trio of silk scarves.

But, tying in with Leah’s wider brand, there’s more to the pieces than their physical existence.

“Each piece has a chip that I’ve sewn into it, which can be scanned with a phone,” said Leah.

“I hope I will always make sustainable collections and the point of the chips is that people can own the garment on the blockchain, see where it’s come from, what it’s made of and how to care for it.

“But it’s also have a connection to me – the person who’s made it, so that it means more than something you buy from a big brand.

““It’s been a dream since I was a little girl to design my own clothes.

Image shows a phone scanning a chip in one of Leah Sams' garments — Garments all contain chips that owners can scan for more information, including care instructions

“To be able to launch my own collection of garments, 20 years on, is both surreal and empowering.

“Every aspect of this collection from the colour of each button, to the digital experience that comes with each garment, has been designed with love and care.

“I hope that anyone who wears a Power of Women garment will feel like they are wearing a piece of art.

“I think what’s also important is that I can always update the digital experience any time.

“It feels personal that people can have a connection to me via the Web3 space where The Paradise Collection was born – what I’ve created so far and all the work I’ve done to make that happen.”

Image shows a turquoise dress with a chilli plant print from The Paradise Collection — Turquoise Chilli Tiered Dress, £95 from The Paradise Collection

an east London creation

“I chose to launch the collection at Grind in Canary Wharf’s Market Halls because it’s where I do a lot of my drawing,” said Leah.

“I have a studio at home on the Isle Of Dogs, but this is where I choose to get away from that.

“Since creating Power Of Women in the Web3 space, I’ve met a few London artists, so we have sketching and coffee gatherings and it felt really right to have our launch party there.

“I also wanted to showcase that there are creators here.

“The Canary Wharf community is enriching and the more we can showcase that, the more we will all benefit from it.

“All of the professional shots for the collection were done at The Vow Studio in Wood Wharf. It was the perfect location to do that and taking everyone for lunch locally after was just lovely.

“There’s something about birthing this collection here because there is an entrepreneurial aspect to doing that – Canary Wharf has a corporate reputation but there’s also a residential side to it that’s more community based.

“Launching here and celebrating all the people who have worked just felt really right.

“I get where the estate’s reputation comes from but I think things have shifted. It’s more of a place to hang around now and it’s very exciting.

“I love the buildings and all of the greenery.

“I have been very unapologetic about my art and I don’t want to be apologetic about my fashion.

“I’ve created pieces that are bold and colourful and I hope people will look at them and thing they’re something a bit different.”

Image shows a red and green silk scarf with a crab print, part of Leah Sams' Paradise Collection with a price of £25 — Crab Silk Scarf, £25, from The Paradise Collection

key details – Leah Sams

The Paradise Collection from Power Of Women by Leah Ibrahim Sams is available to buy online with prices starting at £25.

Leah’s other artworks including NFTs can also be viewed and purchased via this link

Find our more about Leah Sams’ Paradise Collection here

Image shows a woman wearing an orange and blue wrap dress falling to below her knees from Power Of Women — Orange And Blue Jungle Wrap Dress, £105 from The Paradise Collection

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com