What links green Father Christmas hats, One Canada Square and the distribution of unwanted food to people in need?
The answer is the Santa Stair Climb in Canary Wharf on Sunday, November 19, 2023, and anyone can take part.
As part of its ongoing partnership with Canary Wharf Group, food rescue charity The Felix Project is challenging people to a sponsored walk up a total of 1,031 steps at One Canada Square to reach the tower’s 48th floor.
With early-bird registration just launched, there are 1,000 places up for grabs at £25 per person, with each individual given a fundraising target of £300.
Participants receive a personalised green shirt and Santa’s hat to wear during the challenge, with ascents expected to take just over half an hour on average.
“I’ve been training for it, but I’m not sure I’ll be doing it that fast,” said Tanya Mitchell, director of income generation and marketing at The Felix Project.
“But I will complete it, even if it takes me an hour.
“We’ll have staggered start times between 10am and 2.30pm with 100 people in each wave so the stairwell doesn’t get too busy.
“Participants are asked to arrive an hour beforehand and we’ll be running activities in the lobby with a warm-up and an MC overseeing things.
“We’ve also been gifted the use of the 48th floor for the day, which has the most outstanding views over the London skyline from near the top of the third tallest building in the UK.
“They really are exceptional and this is a rare chance to see them.
“We’re hoping to raise as much money as possible, but we’ve set ourselves a target of £300,000 for this first event.
“That would equate to us being able to make and distribute 870,000 meals to Londoners.”
Participants will take on 48 floors of stairs at One Canada Square
For those who don’t know, The Felix Project is the largest charity of its kind in the capital, collecting food that would otherwise be wasted and redistributing it via a network of organisations to those in need.
“Right now it’s estimated that there are 1.2million people in London living with food insecurity or in food poverty – about 20%,” said Tanya.
“Through our own research with YouGov, we looked at people on low incomes earning an average salary of £20,000 and it’s shocking that one in 10 of them has only £2.95 a day to spend on food.
“We work with more than 500 food suppliers, rescuing produce from farm gates, grocers and the hospitality industry to supply really good, nutritious, fresh meals.
“We operate through four depots in London, taking that food in hour-by-hour, day-by-day, six days a week, 12 hours a day to help serve the needs of more than 1,000 charities and organisations in the capital.
“What that £300,000 would mean is that we’ll be able to pick up thousands of tons of food, take it into a depot, sort it and then immediately get it out to hundreds of organisations where it will be given to people in need of a good meal.
“Here in Tower Hamlets – one of the most deprived boroughs in the country – we work with 90 organisations through out Poplar depot.”
The Santa Stair Climb is the flagship event in The Felix Project’s long-term partnership with Canary Wharf Group, which was announced earlier this year.
There are up to 1,000 place up for grabs with successful climbers rewarded with views across London from Canary Wharf’s tallest tower
“We started off by launching The Green Scheme, which means we’ve been able to go out to the retailers and hospitality businesses on the estate to collect food that would otherwise be wasted, from them,” said Tanya.
“An army of volunteers takes it from those businesses to community organisations to distribute five days a week.
“It’s a pivotal relationship for us because while we want to fight hunger in London, we also want to fight food waste and there is complete sympatico between us and Canary Wharf in its commitment to sustainability and its aim to reach net zero by 2030. We’re part of that solution.
“The Santa Stair Climb is a first for Felix and CWG – it’s exciting and exhilarating to be planning an event for 1,000 people and we want it to be a hero event for London.
“Originally, in the 1800s, Santa’s costume was green so we’re re-appropriating that for the event.
“I can’t wait to see 1,000 people all in green climbing those stairs and we really want to thank CWG and everyone involved for giving us this exclusive opportunity.
“The 48th floor isn’t normally open to the public, so this is a very special event.
“The 1,000 slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and I’d also like to say a big thank you to everyone who is considering entering – it’s going to be a fabulous event, a really magical day.”
Those keen to take part can go to santastairclimb.com for more information or scan the QR code at the bottom of this page.
The Felix Project’s director of income generation and marketing, Tanya Mitchell
For those unable to participate, there are many other ways to get involved with The Felix Project, which last year delivered some 29million meals to those in need and is expecting to distribute 30million this year.
People working in Canary Wharf or those living locally can still volunteer for the Green Scheme.
Roles include drivers, co-drivers and walkers to collect food from businesses on the estate and deliver them to community organisations.
Volunteers are also needed at The Felix Project’s Poplar kitchen and warehouse to prepare ingredients, portion and package meals for onward delivery.
Tanya said: “Last year we had 8,500 people step up to the plate to help us in our efforts to defeat food waste and hunger in London.
“We are an organisation that’s powered by volunteers and we are so grateful to them because demand for our services is rising.
“We anticipate that we will rescue 13,000 tonnes of food this year, but the UK wastes 3million tonnes – only 7%-8% is currently rescued, so we can always do more.
“Just before the pandemic, The Felix Project was distributing around six million meals a year. Now it’s five times as many.
“The other change is that now key workers are accessing the community organisations we supply like food banks and community pantries. It’s a big problem.
“Ultimately it is our mission not to exist and we are part of conversations with organisations that are working with the government to address the issues of food insecurity and poverty.”
- 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
We’ve had the blockbuster nights of Festival14 with the likes of Craig Charles and Soul II Soul rocking Canada Square Park.
There have been the tense dramatic screenings of the Lionesses’ triumphs and noble defeat in the World Cup Final.
There’s about to be the spectacle of Dancing City.
But just when you thought things might be settling down, another festival packed with activities arrives on the horizon.
There’s an air of serene calm about this one, however – an antidote, perhaps, to some of the summer’s frenetic buzz.
Wharf Wellness is set to take over the Canary Wharf estate from September 27-30, 2023, with a four-day programme of taster sessions and experiences as well as discounts and offers.
While the full roster of events is still being finalised, Canary Wharf Group has shared some early details so everyone can begin to get organised.
Broadly speaking, Wharf Wellness can be divided relatively neatly in two.
The first is a programme of experiences run by local firms and organisations based on the estate, designed to showcase what they offer with taster workouts and workshops.
The second is a series of discounts and offers from lifestyle and hospitality businesses on the Wharf that will run throughout the festival’s four-day duration.
Canary Wharf Group retail marketing manager, Claire Slater, said: “It’s a celebration of health and wellbeing across the estate.
“Wharf Wellness brings together the best in fitness, healthy eating and healthcare to reflect the diversity of what’s on offer in Canary Wharf, giving workers, visitors and local residents the opportunity to experience it.
“We decided to create it because of the breadth of what’s here, which we really want to shout about.
Canary Wharf Group retail marketing manager Claire Slater
“Ultimately, we want to give people a bit of ‘me time’ while they’re on the Wharf and also to promote our green spaces and waterways – to let people know how much there is here to get involved with and how they can do that.”
The full programme of events is still being finalised with more announcements expected in the coming weeks, but some of the estate’s biggest names are already involved including Third Space, Barry’s and Sweat By BXR.
“We hope there will be an element of surprise for some people participating,” said Claire.
“For example, Third Space will be hosting a Yoga session at Crossrail Place Roof Garden with a mocktail afterwards at Pergola On The Wharf.
“Some people have yet to discover that space, so having the classes up there will really add to the delight we hope people taking part will feel.
“Personally, I think it’s just a really lovely place to be.”
The majority of activities on offer will be free to attend with bookings set to open mid September.
A series of discounts, offers and events will also be available exclusively via the app featuring the likes of Randox Health, Space NK, Farmer J, Atis, Pure, Le Chalet Cryo, Aesop and BlooBloom, details of which will be announced in due course.
Love Open Water will host a session suitable for beginners in Middle Dock
“With most sessions free, Wharf Wellness means you don’t need to have a gym membership to experience an amazing class from the brands taking part,” said Claire.
“There will also be open water swimming in Middle Dock with Love Open Water – a really inclusive session designed for beginners to explore in a safe space.
“We’re also very excited about Padium, the new padel tennis club, which is opening its doors at Bank Street at the end of the month.
“They will be offering a session to introduce people to the sport and the facility, which comes with a salad from Urban Greens too.”
Other attractions include plant-based summer roll making in a lunchtime session with a chef at recent Wood Wharf arrival Mallow and a makeup masterclass from Bobbi Brown.
“That’s part of our focus on self-care,” said Claire.
“It’s on the Friday evening, which is perfect for anyone who is set to go out afterwards.
“Then, alongside sessions from Barry’s and Union Square installation Mandala Lab on Saturday, we’re also working to provide something for families with a company called Wee Movers.
“They will be putting on a session of Yoga for kids and their parents at Crossrail Place Roof Garden.”
With more still in the pipeline, Wharf Life will continue to update readers as new announcements are made, including the date when bookings will go live.
Barry’s at Crossrail Place will be offering sessions in its Red Room studio
CHOOSE YOUR PATH – Wharf Wellness 2023
While the final programme is set to be released in September, we can reveal some dates and times to whet the wellness appetite and get pencils scribbling in diaries…
>> WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Yoga + Mocktails
5.45pm, Crossrail Roof Garden
Europe’s largest luxury health club, Third Space, will host a Yoga session amid the lush vegetation of the roof garden followed by a refreshing mocktail at nearby Pergola On The Wharf.
Sound Journey
6pm, Mandala Lab, Union Square
Head over to Wood Wharf and discover the Rubin Museum’s interactive installation for a sonic adventure inspired by the principles of Buddhism. Mandala Lab will also be hosting sessions on Sept 29 and 30, both at 6pm.
>> THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
Dip + Sip
7.45am, Love Open Water, Middle Dock
Beginners are welcome at this morning open water swimming session at the heart of Canary Wharf. Afterwards, participants are invited for a smoothie or juice at Caravan.
The Red Room
Time TBC, Barry’s, Crossrail Place
Try out a class in Barry’s iconic red room fitness studio, mixing cardio with resistance training to torch calories fast. Barry’s will also be hosting a session on Sept 30, time TBC.
Summer Roll Making
12.30pm, Mallow, Wood Wharf
Visit the plant-based restaurant for a 50-minute session with participants learning to make summer rolls for their lunch. A great way to discover what Mallow has to offer.
Sweat By BXR will be hosting a boxing class for Wharf Wellness
>> FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Boxing Class
8am, Sweat By BXR, Crossrail Place Roof Garden
Start the day with a serious, boxing-inspired workout amongst the greenery from this bespoke studio, then refuel with breakfast from Fresh Fitness Food.
Intro To Padel
2pm, Padium, Bank Street
Learn to play padel tennis at newly opened club Padium with this hour and a half-long session covering rules, scoring, techniques and strategies. Participants will also get a salad from nearby Urban Greens.
Makeup Masterclass
5.30pm, Bobbi Brown, Location TBC
Zeroing in on self care, this session is aimed at those looking for tips and techniques to perfect their look.
>> SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Kids + Parents Yoga
2.30pm, Wee Movers, Crossrail Place Roof Garden
This hour-long session is aimed at family wellness, with kids and their parents invited for a child-friendly exploration of movement and wellbeing.
- 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
The soles of Tatiana Mosio Bongonga’s feet will be the focus of the audience as the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (GDIF) returns to central, east and south-east London.
Crowds will gather in Woolwich’s General Gordon Square at 7pm to watch the tight-rope walker inch along wire drawn taut by 12 people from the local community.
Her one-night-only performance of Open Lines, high above the heads of her audience, marks the opening of the festival, while also acting as a signpost to its overarching theme.
“It’s an act of everybody coming together to make an impossible act of hope possible,” said Bradley Hemmings, founder and artistic director of GDIF.
“The performance will be accompanied by live music and it just feels like a lovely way of opening the festival by introducing our theme this year.
“Obviously all our eyes will be up on the high wire, but it’s lovely to think of those 12 people playing their part.
“We’ll also be making a film with those individuals, inviting them to think about what acts of hope they’ve observed in their day-to-day lives and how they can contribute to hope in the local community.”
This year will see the 28th iteration of GDIF spreading art, creativity, dance, theatre and spectacle all across this quarter of London with the overwhelming majority of performances free to attend.
The various events roughly break down into 11 – all set to take place between August 25 and September 10, 2023.
Cygnus will take place in Royal Docks
This year these will take place in locations as diverse as St Paul’s Cathedral, Stratford, Royal Docks, Canary Wharf, Woolwich and, of course, Greenwich, where Bradley and his team are based.
“The festival has always set out to try to reflect the unfolding story of Greenwich and east London,” he said.
“When we started it in 1996 and I looked across the river to Canary Wharf and there was only one tower, that was it.
“Things have changed massively since then. But it’s not just the physical environment, it’s also the stories of this place.
“One of the most painful is the murder of Stephen Lawrence 30 years ago and we’ve commissioned a production to mark that.
“It doesn’t go over the story itself, but is an optimistic piece that speaks of that moment and what the legacy of Stephen Lawrence means to young black people in this part of London.
“It’s called The Architect and audiences will travel on board a red double decker bus – the kind Stephen wasn’t able to board that night in 1993.
“I think this will be the emotional centrepiece of this year’s festival – a symbol that GDIF couldn’t take place anywhere else and of how it works to make this a better and more hopeful place to live and work.”
Tickets for The Architect – one of the few paid-for events at the festival, running September 6-10 – have sold out online, although more may become available with interested readers encouraged to follow @GDIFestival on social media for details.
“In their feedback, people often talk about their experience of being with other people, having conversations and enjoying spectacles they have never seen before in public spaces,” said Bradley.
“This year, there will be plenty of opportunity to do all those things – a good example being Cygnus at Royal Docks.
“From August 31-September 3, after darkness falls, a series of robotic swans that change colour and emit sounds and music will light up Royal Victoria Dock.
“Then, over at Greenwich Peninsula, there will be this wonderful performance – Rozéo – from a French company, which will take place on 10-metre high sway poles next to the Thames from September 2-3 at 2.30pm and 5.30pm.
“Our aim is always to programme lots of visually arresting things so people can share what they’ve seen with their friends and families.
“My hope is that the festival is one of the ways people will remember their summers – a landmark each year in the calendar.”
One of the key dates within GDIF is undoubtedly Greenwich Fair – a whole day of events held among the buildings of the Unesco World Heritage site from 1pm-7pm on August 26.
“We couldn’t do a GDIF without Greenwich Fair and we’ll be introducing a whole range of performers and family entertainment to audiences this year,” said Bradley.
“The whole thing will take place across the Old Royal Naval College, beside the Cutty Sark and this year in Greenwich Park too.
“We’re really excited about that and we’re working with them in a more ambitious way for the first time – focusing on arts created by abled, disabled and neuro-diverse artists, so there’ll be a festival within the festival – loads to enjoy.”
Rozeo will take place on Greenwich Peninsula
Events will include The Air Between Us, an aerial performance featuring disabled artist Rodney Bell at 1pm and 5.30pm and Teabreak, a journey through the history of tea making with fresh brews from a hand-painted Tuk Tuk at 2.35pm and 4.45pm.
Animaltroniek from 2.30pm stars roaming robotic creatures. In total there will be 15 shows or performances to enjoy on the day.
“Another highlight of the wider festival for me will be Woman, Life, Freedom! at Stratford Park at 8pm on August 26,” said Bradley.
“We’re working with the brilliant, award-winning Ameena Hamid Productions on developing this work with a team of Iranian artists who wish to remain anonymous.
“It celebrates the voices and music of women following the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran almost a year ago.
“In that country, those voices can’t be heard, so the idea is to share with our audience this rich culture, which is very much what people are fighting for there.
“Again, it’s another act of hope – standing in solidarity with those women and what they are aiming to achieve.”
Dancing City at Canary Wharf is also set to return this year as part of GDIF, following its cancellation after the death of the Queen in 2022.
A full preview of the many events taking place on the estate over September 9-10 will follow in the August 23 issue of Wharf Life.
Resurgam will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral
TOP PICK– Resurgam
Taking place daily from August 31-September 2 at 6.15pm, one of the most iconic buildings in London will see American company Bandaloop take over its facade for a series of half-hour, free aerial performances.
“They specialise in amazing abseil performances on sensitive buildings and at world heritage sites,” said Bradley.
“We’re using the south transept of the cathedral, so audiences will be looking at it from the Millennium Bridge side.
“There will be road closures there to accommodate large-scale audiences.
“The piece takes inspiration from the inscription on that side of St Paul’s – Resurgam – which means ‘I will rise’ and refers to the cathedral, which was born out the ashes of the Great Fire of London.
“It stood throughout the Blitz in the Second World War, so it’s a symbol of hope and resilience so it will resonate with everyone in these difficult times and speak to optimism.”
- 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
“They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but not half so bad as a lot of ignorance,” wrote Terry Pratchett at the opening of his 1987 novel Equal Rites.
There he was referring to a bumbling wizard keen to secure his magical legacy before his inevitable death, but the sentiment nevertheless remains broadly true.
We are passengers in our bodies.
Whatever it is that passes for our consciousness, if handed full control, would last perhaps a few seconds before being overwhelmed by the astonishing complexities of breathing, pumping blood, interpreting nerve signals and digesting food before rapidly dying.
To jump on the current cultural zeitgeist, Dr Robert Oppenheimer astutely pointed out in one of his Reith Lectures for the BBC that even the best of us, toiling for a lifetime, only manage to do one or two things really well.
If faced with operating the systems of the body, the poor sentient parts of our brains would be next to helpless.
That’s not to say, of course, that we can’t notice things that might help out or improve the way we work.
You don’t need to know how a combustion engine works to understand that putting oil in it lubricates the mechanism and tops it seizing.
Human life has steadily been getting longer precisely as the species has got better at preserving it through medicine, diet, health and safety measures and, generally speaking, killing one another less.
One of those ongoing, incremental revolutions is the rise of monitoring – the collection of data about ourselves, our health and the ways we might use that information to improve things.
While our phones measure our steps, the number of floors we’ve climbed and our sleep, it’s become increasingly commonplace to see people in the gym wearing heart rate monitors and patches continually measuring blood glucose levels.
The idea is that the mostly unseen secrets of our bodies could hold the key to radical benefits for our short and long-term wellbeing.
With branches across London, including one recently opened in Canary Wharf, the company is the consumer-facing arm of Randox proper, a Northern Ireland-based global health testing business with revenues in the hundreds of millions.
Six vials of blood are drawn during the Discovery appointment
The appointment arrived on a fresh July morning.
I hadn’t read the instructions properly – glancing through them in Third Space’s changing room, following an unusually strenuous morning Yoga session, I realised too late that I was supposed to have avoided exercise prior to the tests.
Having feverishly consumed about three litres of water in a desperate bid to rehydrate, I nevertheless marched into the Cabot Square clinic to be met with reassurance that we could still go ahead.
Clinical lead Patricia Veres then took me into a consultation room where I was quizzed on the general state of my health, my medical background and lifestyle choices.
The experience then split into three parts.
First I was measured and underwent a body composition scan to assess muscle and fat quantities and ratios.
Next I was dispatched to do the awkward dance of the urine sample – somewhat welcome given my enthusiastic efforts to hydrate.
Patricia told me it should be mid stream, but did that mean I should stop or simply resign myself to a certain amount of splashing?
Suffice to say, pot filled and on to the next adventure.
The final act was the blood test itself.
Having been rejected as a plasma donor during the pandemic thanks to my deeply buried veins, I was dreading this part – but Patricia was the model of slick professionalism, delivering a minimal sharp scratch in seconds and rapidly filling six vials.
With my various liquids and measurements dispatched, ready to give me 150 pieces of information about my body, Patricia took time to answer every one of my questions.
The feel of the whole business was medical but shot through with a welcoming warmth intended to relax and allay customers’ fears.
It worked, I left feeling reassured in the knowledge that in a few days I’d have some fresh insights land in my inbox.
What happens next is just that.
A little less than five working days later, I received a link to the various reports.
These come presented in three documents. The first a summary of any headline issues picked up during the tests, covering various systems in the body.
The second is a copy of the body composition scan which you get to see and discuss in the initial appointment and the third is the detailed results themselves.
Randox also sends out a paper copy of the latter, although quite why in 2023, is anybody’s guess.
Perhaps some people like to frame them.
For want of a more technical explanation, my summary was fairly simple – 82% of the test results were normal or optimal, 4% were a little off and 14% were of some concern.
Some of the report’s conclusions were of little surprise. I’m clinically a bit overweight and could certainly do with shifting a few pounds. I knew that anyway.
But the value here is really in getting glimpses of what lies beneath.
There were bursts of relief – my prostate shows no signs of concern right now, ditto my liver and kidneys.
My diet is apparently working to provide adequate levels of almost all essential nutrients (vitamin D supplements are my secret, especially given the so-called summer we’ve had to date).
But then there’s my phosphorus levels, something possibly a bit questionable with my thyroid function, a bit too much bad cholesterol and an over-abundance of fat-carrying triglycerides in my blood.
With the exception of the weight, I’m currently asymptomatic so none of these issues would likely have seen me beating down my GP’s door.
A summary of Jon’s Discovery test results
Now I know, however, I well might.
It’s important to note that a Discovery report is not a diagnosis. The point is to deliver data that may allow people to take action to head off any issues that might be creeping up.
My thyroid function, for example, is completely normal at present.
But the presence of certain antibodies suggests that might not be the case in future so it’s worth keeping an eye on.
It’s also worth noting that a test on a single day is simply a snapshot of the body in a particular state at certain time.
It’s likely the harsh sweaty shapes I’d spent part of the morning bending my unwilling body into will have had some impact on the results – my triglyceride levels, for example.
But others are quite clear.
It’s reassuring to know that my diet is broadly delivering what it should albeit with a side of too much saturated fat. That’s an easy fix.
Tougher is finding enough phosphorus to eat.
After getting the report I later leave Waitrose with a basket overflowing with pumpkin seeds, kefir, mackerel and sardines.
My salted butter days may be behind me, but there’s no shortage of delicious alternatives that should help keep my skeleton in bones.
I will also be seeking a phosphorus supplement, at least in the short term, because while my levels are catastrophically low, its a mineral you have to be careful not to top up too much.
In the end though, the proof will be in the pudding.
- 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
“I cannot emphasise enough the importance of self-checking your breasts,” said Suzan Altay.
“I was lucky that I found the lump because, five months before, it hadn’t shown up on the mammogram or MRI.”
Suzan, who lives on the Isle Of Dogs and works as an elite personal trainer and Yoga and Pilates instructor at Third Space in Canary Wharf, was no stranger to having scans as part of a high risk group.
“I’d been going for check-ups twice a year since my early 20s because of fibrocystic breasts – cysts in the tissue,” she said.
“They call them lumpy breasts, so I’d go for the regular appointments and trust that process.
“It was just before I was due to go for a scan that I realised something was wrong.
“I was doing my stretching exercises one Sunday morning, when I suddenly discovered something that wasn’t there before.
“It was about the size of a pea and it wasn’t moving.
“Because I was on the priority list, I got an appointment immediately – I was referred for a biopsy, which confirmed that the lump was cancerous.
“Then they had to decide what kind of treatment I was going to have.
“The first biopsy suggested I should have a lumpectomy, where they just remove the tumour and the tissue around it.
“But a further MRI showed another mass, meaning I would need a mastectomy.
“I was given the option to have one or both breasts removed and for safety I decided to have both.
“It was supposed to be just the surgery because it was local, but during the surgery they check the lymph nodes, and found out that the cancer had spread to them too.
“Five months earlier, the scans hadn’t picked anything up and then all this.
“It was horrible, I was terrified.
“You put your trust in doctors, machines and so on – I’d not missed a single appointment in 20 years – and then all of a sudden you start questioning what was missed?
“Did I eat too many grapes? Did I not drink enough water?
“You want to make sense of it to protect yourself, but you have to accept that, with these kind of things, nobody really knows the cause.”
Because the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes, doctors recommended an aggressive approach to the disease.
“I think the hardest part of the whole treatment was the chemotherapy and losing my hair was part of that,” she said.
“It took them a month to decide what kind of drugs would be necessary.
“During the surgery I’d had breast reconstruction and I was lucky to preserve my nipples – so I’d had a month getting used to my new body when I started losing my hair from the cocktail of medication I was given.
“I had 16 sessions and then radiotherapy, which took about 11 months in total.
“It happened just after the pandemic, so while lots of people were going back to work, I didn’t for about a year.
“When you’re on chemo, the drugs make you feel sick but you also take medication to stop you throwing up – that was just a horrible feeling and you’re tired all the time.
“I was really fortunate with the radiotherapy I didn’t have a rash or anything, and I kept asking the nurses if it was really working, because I had no effects at all.
“I was even able to go back to teaching so I would go for treatment in the morning and then take classes afterwards.
“Then, on February 1 last year I was given the all clear – I had a bottle in the fridge all ready to celebrate and then I got Covid.
“It’s been more than a year now, everything seems fine and I’m good.
“I’m on daily medication and every three months I have to go for injections but my check-ups are now scaled back.
“I do get tired and sometimes a low mood, but physically and mentally I’m building up my strength again.
“The reason I wanted to tell my story was to raise awareness so women keep checking themselves and keep pushing if they find something they think isn’t right.
“Around one in three women in the UK will get cancer and finding it early is really important.
“I was lucky – when I found my lump the cancer had already spread and I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t found it then.
“I knew of a lady at one of the gyms I worked at who’d had cancer and was fine.
“Then she suddenly disappeared and I later discovered she had passed away – she was younger than me.
“Each day I think of her because my story could so easily have been like hers.
“Even though the treatment can take a lot out of you mentally, as well as physically, breast cancer has a high survival rate because it is relatively easy to treat.
“In my life I’ve jumped from planes and dived with sharks – I was fearless, but now I realise I can be afraid because life can be taken away just like that.”
Suzan is a personal trainer and Yoga and Pilates instructor at Third Space in Canary Wharf
Cancer can come for anyone.
Those who have attended one of Suzan’s classes at Third Space (myself included) will have been struck by her apparently boundless levels of energy and infectious passion for both Yoga and Pilates.
Having come to the UK in her early 20s from Cyprus, she initially studied sound engineering, before going on to work in the field.
Having long practised Yoga, she chose to train as a teacher after breaking up with a boyfriend and deciding to do something for herself – making the switch to the fitness industry and later going on to qualify as a Pilates instructor and a personal trainer.
“It’s an important time in your life when you find yourself,” she said.
“I loved sound engineering when I was doing it, but when I’m on the mat I feel I have more confidence – I know what I’m doing and it gives me pleasure.
“Once I started learning more about Yoga it gave me something – I didn’t realise what that was until I started teaching, but it was what I’d been missing in my previous career.
“It can be demanding, but I never feel tired in the classroom.
“The benefits of practising both Yoga and Pilates are really good and have helped me recover.
“The body is such an amazing machine, but it’s so important to be aware of it – everyone should keep checking themselves because things can go wrong.”
- 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
Opened the October before the first lockdown, the business came into its own as shaggy Wharfers sought solutions to their creative attempts at home haircare.
It’s since gone on to build up a loyal, ever-growing clientele of local residents and workers as well as some more unusual fans such as the Arsenal Women’s Football Team and the female mixed martial artists of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Having built up the salon to a staff of 20 alongside his wife Violeta (who oversees beauty services) Jon said a somewhat unexpected future now beckoned with his daughter’s increasing involvement.
“Jon Hala was never especially meant to be a family business,” he said. “It really happened by accident.
“During the pandemic, we had some members of staff return to their homes overseas.
“At the same time my daughter, Jada, decided to take a gap year after finishing school.
“There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders at that time because, while I had worked in and run successful salons, when it’s your own business it’s different – there were managerial aspects I’d not handled before so getting to grips with that was a big learning curve.
“Jada started working with us as a receptionist but before long, I started to give her more responsibility.
“Now we sit and do all kinds of things together – the VAT and the rotas – she’s involved in every aspect of the business.
“Then, one day, she told me she wanted to be a hairdresser, which was music to my ears.
“My father taught me my craft and now I’m in the process of teaching her.”
Jon Hala is located in Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place
Jon grew up in his father’s salon in east London’s Leyton, sweeping floors and making teas and coffees for customers from a young age.
“It was a very tight-knit immigrant community of Turkish people,” he said.
“My dad had always been a hairdresser, learning his skills from his uncle and he had a very good reputation, opening six days a week and sometimes on Sundays too, especially for weddings.
“You have to be a sociable person – it’s long hours, but it’s a people job. I really enjoyed the attention I got from both my dad’s staff and the clients – I was this cute kid, running round making the drinks.
“It also seemed like the ideal job because if I liked a girl at school I could offer to cut their hair.
“There were a few mess ups at the start but that’s how you learn.”
Jon went on to train at Vidal Sassoon then spent around 16 years at Nicky Clarke in Mayfair before launching his eponymous salon in Canary Wharf.
“You have to dream a bit,” said the Isle Of Dogs resident. “You never know what will come of it.
“Opening this business in Canary Wharf was a dream and we’d love to expand, perhaps to another site on the estate.
“Naturally my dream for Jada would be for her to manage part of the business. You can always rely on family members, so that would be a really good position to be in.
“Right now my focus is on passing on my skills.
“She already has a head start because she’s grown up around the industry.
“With a family business it’s a different atmosphere to a chain – you can offer a more personal service and really look after your clients.
“But we also make sure we look after the people we work with – nobody gets forgotten here.
Jon opened the salon in October 2019
“The team has grown and it would be amazing to expand to take some of that extra volume.
“Ultimately my dream for Jada would be for her to take over – to drive the business forward even further in the digital era.”
That’s further down the line as Jada is currently focused on her training.
“Growing up, going into the industry was never really on the table,” she said.
“People would ask me if I would follow in dad’s footsteps and become a hairdresser, but I was against the idea – I wanted to break the tradition.
“But then I finished school just after Covid, which was all a bit of a mess. I was confused about what I wanted to do and what my options were and so I took a gap year.
“But rather than sit at home all day, I wanted to get a job.
“I was looking at vacancies and then my dad mentioned he was down a receptionist and suggested I could come and work for him.
“I don’t know why I hadn’t really considered it, because I had worked on Saturdays in the salon while I was at school.
“But I’d not thought about working there full-time.
“I was really only meant to do it for a year, but I quickly started taking on more than the reception duties.
“Having been around salons since I was about four, I knew what was entailed in growing and operating the business.
“So I started working as a junior in the salon and developed a real interest in how the various products worked and the science behind them.
“More and more, I wanted to be helping out with the physical work of the salon rather than just running reception.
“I found it came quite naturally, doing more things like blow dries for clients.
“So I’ve since started my training in earnest – I already knew the basics, but my dad is now passing on his skills to me and I’ve just finished my first colour course with Wella.
“As it’s a family business, I’m really here to support my dad. It’s up to me to keep things running smoothly when he’s not there.
“I’m naturally protective of the salon – it’s not just any company but one he’s worked so hard to establish.
“If another site were to open, I’d love to take the reins – it would be my dream.
“For me it’s really the end result for the client that’s important.
“When you make them feel good, you get the satisfaction of doing your job well and that’s amazing.”
- 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
“It was in my second year of doing convoys with the charity – we were taking the children to Southend and my passenger was a child of about nine with her carer,” said Antony Moore.
“She was still in a pushchair, being fed from a bottle and she looked like she was in pain.
“When we got to Southend, she went on one of the very slow snail-rides. As I watched her come round the corner, she was smiling and that was when I was hooked.
“From then on I just got more and more involved with anything I could do to help.”
Antony, who lives on the Isle Of Dogs, is the honorary chairman of the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity For Children – an organisation that has been dedicated to helping, supporting and delighting disadvantaged and special needs kids since 1928.
Known for its convoy trips and outings, the organisation has also raised money for various appeals, funding medical equipment, technology, playgrounds, mobility aids and even hospice renovations over the course of its 95-year history.
While its first ever trip was a coach excursion to London Zoo for children living in Norwood Orphanage – organised by former resident and hackney carriage driver Mick Cohen – 1931 saw its first convoy with 40 licensed taxis taking kids to Southend-On-Sea where they could spend 6d in pocket money (about £1.94 today).
Last month the charity undertook its latest convoy excursion with more than 60 taxis taking children and their teachers and carers from local schools to Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire.
Taxis collect the children at Asda on the Isle Of Dogs
“The taxis get decorated with balloons and streamers and so on,” said Antony.
“We have to have ambulances and the AA in tow in case anyone breaks down or needs medical assistance and then off we go – beeping horns with all the kids waving out of the windows.
“The journey is part of the fun because they don’t know exactly where they are going – it’s like a mystery tour and they have a really great day.”
Antony became a taxi driver after retiring from a job with Parcel Force.
“I’ve been driving for about 13 years now and I got involved with the charity in the first year,” he said.
Kids on the charity’s most recent trip
“I was looking for a second career and I could never be a plumber or something like that because I’m not that dexterous – but I like driving and talking to people, so it worked out.
“I started studying for The Knowledge when I was in my late 30s and it took me about four years – it was the natural choice after that.
“The man who owned the school that I’d studied with was part of the charity and so I thought I would join in.
“I became the chairman in January, taking over from Michael Son, who had been doing it for about 20 years.
“Some of the drivers who are involved with us have been volunteering for more than 50 years – it’s a lifetime.
The last convoy trip was to Paradise Wildlife Park in Herfordshire
“Two have been awarded MBEs for their work and one’s a BEM, so there’s been some recognition but, of course, that’s not the reason we do it.
“It’s all about the children. On one trip I was driving one kid through Woburn Safari Park and he got really excited – at first I thought something was wrong and we couldn’t have stopped.
“But his carer explained it was just because he’d seen a tiger for the first time and he didn’t know they were real – he’d only seen them in books before that.
“It’s moments like that which make everything worth it.”
While the charity runs various excursions and activities, its flagship event sees it host around 600 children and their carers at the Marriott’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
“Just imagine what it’s like for a child, pulling up to one of London’s best five-star hotels on Park Lane – an address they know from their Monopoly board,” said Antony.
“Then you walk into the great room which was originally an ice rink so you can imagine the size of it.
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is held every year on Park Lane
“Inside it’s all done out with decorations and there’s a dance floor and all sorts of entertainment. They walk in and their faces light up.
“That’s the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, which we hold over the festive season and the children get gifts and toys they can take away with them.
“As well as the entertainers – who all do the event for free – there are Pearly Kings and Queens from different boroughs and lots of people dressed up.
“It’s an amazing spectacle for the kids.
“Being a part of this charity has given me the opportunity to do things I’d never have dreamed of, like taking part in two Lord Mayor’s Shows.
“Our patron is Queen Camilla, so I’ve been fortunate to meet her several times, including driving her to deliver hundreds of Paddington Bear toys to Barnardo’s in her first act as consort to the King.
“Our members were also in the grandstand for the coronation and I was invited to represent the charity at the King’s Coronation Garden Party.”
The charity is always on the lookout for drivers to get involved and sponsors to help fund the work that it does.
Children enjoying the party at the Marriott’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
“The trip to Paradise Wildlife Park was paid for by the Worshipful Company Of Tin-Plate Workers, so we owe them a massive thank-you,” he said.
“All the drivers involved give up their time for free and we’d love to get more support to fund more trips like this – we’re also starting to vary the kind of things that we do.
“We had one child who stepped on the pontoon and immediately got scared but the staff there are so encouraging and by the end he was jumping in and out of the water, having got the confidence to do that.
“It was wonderful to see. We’re always looking for new ideas as to what the kids would enjoy and what would help them develop.
“We would love to do more, but everything costs money and we need support to do it.”
Anyone interested in getting involved with the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity For Children can find out more information about the organisation, its activities and its history on its website.
- 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
Sit with George Mills for any length of time and you’ll be left in no doubt that there are two things he’s especially passionate about – cleaning and the environment.
I confess, when I arrived to interview him as the managing director of east London-based AEG Cleaning Services, I was expecting to hear the story of the business, perhaps a bit about him growing up in Limehouse where he still lives and then a rundown of the kinds of things his organisation offers.
Instead I found a man driven to improve the world around him by demonstrating a different way of doing things.
“Traditional cleaning services are among the worst polluters – they typically use so many chemicals, it’s so harmful,” he said.
“I saw a gap in the market for an eco-friendly, carbon neutral cleaning company and thought that would be a good place to be.
“My dad and my aunt had run a cleaning business, so I had some knowledge of the sector.
“When I was a young teenager I’d go with my dad at weekends to clean banks and offices and that was a valuable experience although my approach to the industry is different.”
“For me, it’s about where the next generation is going to be.
“We have to do something about climate change and the way we’re treating the planet and AEG is doing that.”
Launched in 2021, George’s business has expanded across the capital in response to demand – but the company’s core ethos remains the same.
“We’re really going back in time – before all these chemicals were around, people made their own cleaning products,” he said.
“We started off doing that, although we now have a supplier of eco-friendly products because of the quantities we need to use.
“However, for every single job that needs to be done, there is a natural or non-polluting alternative to chemicals.
“And the results are the same. It might take a little longer to achieve, but there is no difference in quality at all.
“We also try to educate our customers on the kinds of products they can use or even make themselves – it’s so easy to do.
AEG offers a range of services including carpet cleaning
“That goes for businesses too. They have a real problem because they need to be cleaned all the time – just imagine a deep clean of a restaurant and kitchen.
“With a traditional firm the amount of chemicals used is crazy.
“We did one the other day – completely carbon neutral – and the result was the same.
“It’s vital we take this approach now, so that future generations can benefit.
“We even have a calculator on our website so people and businesses can see what they are saving in CO2 emissions by using our services.
“When I started the company, I wanted to do something that meant something to me and that would help people on Earth in the future.”
The company offers fixed fees from £180 for end-of-tenancy and Airbnb cleans, while carpet cleaning starts at £5 per sq m.
The latter is a good example of George’s other passion – the cleaning itself.
Having cracked the problem of cleaning limescale without harsh chemicals, his focus now is very much on carpets with a complement of trusted, trained contractors handling much of the company’s core workload.
“My background is in customer service and the way I run AEG is always – for me and the people I work with – to look round and put themselves in the customer’s shoes to ask whether they are happy with the job,” said George.
“If the answer’s no, then we need to fix whatever isn’t right. If that means staying extra time, then that’s what we do.
“We always start by asking people what kind of clean they are looking for and then we check on the job to make sure the level they have picked will achieve what they want.
“We do a basic clean, a seasonal clean and a deep clean as well as bio-hazard levels. Our prices include all the products we use.
“We really like the deep cleans, which is when we get into every nook and cranny and people come in and go: ‘Wow’.
“That gives me a real sense of achievement – people call me ‘Magic George’ quite a lot, for some reason.
“When I started the business I began small, often making my own products because I wanted to learn exactly what worked.
“It’s been the same with the carpet cleaning. I did training to ensure the hot water cleaning we offer delivers the best results.
George advocates using eco-friendly ingredients in cleaning products such as lemons
“Attention to detail is very important – you need to know what the carpet and backing are made from.
“Then we pre-spray and aggregate it with a special tool before using the machine to rinse it. We use hot water because it dries much more quickly and that means you can get the furniture back in faster.
“You can see the change in the carpet right away – it’s very satisfying because it comes up like new and we don’t use any harmful chemicals.
“I had one customer who had a carpet that was 10 years old and thought they would need to get a new one fitted.
“But after one clean they decided to keep it because it had come up so well. Cleaning is hard work.
“I take my hat off to anyone working in the industry because to do it properly, it’s a lot of effort and long hours.
“But both me and the people AEG works with get real pleasure from the job, especially when you see the difference it can make in people’s lives.
“We’ve won some awards and to get that recognition for the company is great – but it’s important people understand why we do things the way we do.
- 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
‘Intensely practical’ is the best way to describe Circle Collective.
Sure, to people strolling through Jubilee Place it’s a striking shop filled with neon, skateboards and the kind of clothing you don’t really see elsewhere in Canary Wharf.
Aside from the inventory, a chic customer picking up a new look will likely not find too much different in the retail experience.
Knowledgeable, youthful staff will be on hand to offer information on the products and then collect payment at the till – pretty much like any other store on the estate.
But Circle Collective isn’t like any other shop on the Wharf.
It’s the public facing tip of a much larger mission that the customer will, wittingly or unwittingly, have played a role in.
Go behind the scenes and you’ll find a vast space dedicated not to stock, but to skills.
That’s because the shop is a social enterprise that exists in symbiosis with a charity of the same name, entirely dedicated to giving young people work experience and finding them employment.
Having recently opened its third dual site at Canary Wharf, founder and CEO Turly Humphreys said it would be impossible to have one without the other.
“It’s two organisations that have to work together,” she said.
“A lot of organisations have asked whether you need both because they are usually only interested in the training.
Circle Collective founder and CEO Turly Humphreys
“But the magic of what we do is that we do an employability course and it’s wrap-around. Participants get real work experience related to all aspects of the shop alongside mentoring and really practical information about things like how to do an interview and write a CV.
“We work with corporate partners and take them into workplaces so they can see a real working environment. We get them ready for that, building confidence and resilience.
“It’s about constantly pumping them with sensible information and, when necessary, telling them some really strong home truths – that the bus wasn’t late, they were.
“This is not volunteering – their shifts in the shop are treated like a job. If they come in and they’re not on time, for example, then they’re taken to one side and the implications are explained to them.
“That might be an increased risk of shoplifting because we’re short-staffed, which is obviously not acceptable.”
Circle’s focus is on preparing young people for the realities of work and then supporting them into paid, permanent employment with its programmes typically lasting between five and eight weeks.
So far, it’s helped more than 1,000 into jobs in myriad fields.
Turly said: “We believe that any young person who wants to work deserves a job.
“We’re generalists – we’ll take any young person aged 16-25 who wants to work and is eligible to do so – recruiting them through job centres, social media and walk-ins.
“They can’t be in education or training but we welcome people straight from school alongside graduates from university.
“They might be refugees or neuro-diverse – we’ll work with anyone.
“Then they become a peer group, work together and support each other.
“My aim for Canary Wharf is to match the people on our programmes to vacancies on the estate.
“That will be a challenge because there are lots of companies here and those jobs are not all gathered at a single point, so we need to collaborate with HR departments and businesses so they can understand the benefit of hiring from a diverse pool of people who want to work.
“It’s about companies realising that there’s a real benefit to diversity and that you can hire people for many jobs such as front-of-house in hospitality without them needing three years of experience.”
Turly started the charity and social enterprise after being inspired by her son’s sporting activities – initially looking at that as a way to help young people.
“He was 16 and a sports scholar at the time – playing cricket, rugby and football all around the country,” she said.
“Once young people were on the pitch, it didn’t matter what anybody’s background was.
“So I started by trying to get more people into sport, but then I went to a job centre and saw how disillusioned the young people were – the lack of ambition they had.
“It was so sad because they never expected to do better than their parents – to own a house, for example.
“I come from a commercial background and I’ve always run my own business. I had a flagship store for corporate printing in the Strand, then I had a studio in Tottenham Court Road.
“I looked at those young people in the job centre and thought: ‘This isn’t rocket science’.
“I got some of them into the shop, some of them into the office and, out of those first nine recruits, I got seven of them into work.
“I’m still in touch with them today.
“One lad’s father was a farmer and there wasn’t enough for another income on the farm, so I got him a job as a welder, which was perfect.
Circle Collective stocks a range of clothing and skateboards
“Then there was a lovely girl who had hearing problems.
“I managed to send her on an away week and she came back much more confident. She’s been running a big bingo hall now for years.
“None of it was especially complicated – it was all about being practical. That’s the ethos we still run Circle Collective with.
“I work on partnering with the corporates and run the shop and we have Matthew Lewendon who has a charity background and is our director of operations who handles the charity – it just works.”
Circle’s Back Your Future programme is very much tailored to individuals and features one-to-one mentoring sessions, work experience in the shop, motivational workshops, a chance to meet employers and access to job vacancies.
“But it’s more than that – once brought into the fold, the charity offers ongoing support to those it finds jobs for as long as they need it to ensure everything is going to plan.
“The aim is that participants feel they belong to a community they can rely on.
“First we sit down with them and find out if they have any barriers to work and to identify any transferable skills they have – which many do,” said Turly.
“So they start off with the charity and then they have an induction on the shop floor, where health and safety and safeguarding is explained to them.
“They get a sheet with a list of things we teach them and on the first day they’re taught cash handling and taking credit cards, at the till.
“Then they’re taught how to approach customers and learn product knowledge – they may have to go and research that.
“When they first come to us and say that they want to work in a shop or in an office – it’s our job to teach them about all the different sectors and how they might find roles within them.
“We use the shop to give them experience in relevant areas.
“If somebody’s creative, for example, we often get them involved in merchandising – we aim to use the skills the young people have got, whether it’s handling websites or using their creativity.
“One girl we had came from prison and she’s now doing merchandising in Primark, which is exactly what she wanted to do.
“Then I’ve got a lad who was a refugee, hardly spoke English and was homeless – he’s now a chartered accountant.
“We have a graduation every year and you can’t bottle the atmosphere.
“The young people come back, get a certificate and they all do a fashion show.
“The corporate supporters come and everybody’s in tears.
“At first nobody wants to talk, but then someone grabs a microphone and they all thank everybody.
“It’s wonderful. It’s about getting people into work, but it’s so much more than that.”
Circle needs both funding to continue its work and a larger pipeline of corporate partners to help it find roles for the young people it supports.
“The people who come to us often have a lack of career advice, work experience or role models and may also be suffering from anxiety and mental health issues,” said Turly.
“There’s also a lack of awareness of the realities of work, which is why it’s so important to take them into workplaces where they can hear from people doing the jobs.”
Turly said Circle would love to hear from businesses locally who can help with similar visits or provide entry level jobs in and around Canary Wharf.
The organisation is also looking for sponsors to help it continue its work.
The other aspect to Circle that is of benefit to Wharfers is the shop itself, with all profits fed back into the charity.
“It’s thanks to Emma Warden and Jane Hollinshead at Canary Wharf Group that we’ve been able to open here.” said Turly.
“The shop is like bringing Shoreditch to Jubilee Place – we stock a mixture of retro brands and vintage clothing including some high-end pieces from labels like Burberry.
“One of our trainees asked if we could do skateboards so we wrote a business plan and I gave him £200, which he turned into £400.
“Now everyone who comes on our programme is taught how to build a skateboard. We’re not a specialist skate shop but we do sell boards and if people need their bearings fixed then they can come in.
“We also have a lot of skate clothes that people can buy and four of our staff are skaters.
“We also stock products that are locally made and would like to find more makers who want to sell through us.
There’s a real sense when you visit Circle Collective that people who wind up in its orbit keep coming back for more.
Alex Emerson-Arfstrom is a good example – finding his way onto one of its programmes and then returning to work part-time at the organisation while studying.
He said: “When I left college I was looking for work.
“I took a gap year, but the catch was I didn’t have much experience on my CV outside of projects – I didn’t have any work experience.
“My friends referred me to a place called Circle Collective and I started off as a trainee on its Back Your Future programme.
“I was there for about two months, getting some basic retail experience in the Dalston store.
“I was born in Haringey – I’ve lived there my whole life.
“Then I received a job offer, but this was the place I wanted to be, so I’ve been here for six months on a kickstart scheme, training people like myself and using the skills I had learned.
“I was inspired by the training and became a supervisor myself, to train young people.
“I was working part-time and then I got into university to study cyber security. It’s way more than just working in a shop.
“There are so many opportunities we can give young people.
“They can shadow the staff here and build their skills – there are so many areas to get involved with – administration, IT and customer service.
“I’ve been here for about two years now, and it’s very rewarding when people get jobs – they’ve done their training, get employment and come back and talk to me about how they feel.
“I do keep in contact with a lot of them and seeing their confidence grow over time is amazing.
“I wasn’t the most confident person at the beginning.
“My preconception was that it was going to be very structured, but it was a much wider spectrum of things I was taught.
“On my second day I was helping to create a social media project, and then I was going out to stores, talking to people.
“There’s such a wide range of things to get involved with.
“I’ve gained more skills than I can count from Circle.
“It gave me the opportunity to do some really great IT work – hands-on experience. It’s been great that they have shown that trust in me.
“I’d always been a creative person and the programme allowed me to spend time working with social media and that turned into managing websites, setting up deals with brands and designing things on the IT side.
“While I’d always had an interest in cyber security before I came to Circle Collective, what the organisation has done is allowed me to develop those skills such as managing its website.
“I’m not sure what I will do in the future but it will be within the cyber security sector – it’s such a broad area.”
Circle Collective’s Angela Brown
STAFF SPOT – Angela Brown
“I’m the partnership manager at Circle Collective,” said Angela Brown.
“As an organisation we can educate, encourage, support and create some fantastic fresh talent for an organisation.
“At present we have a particular focus on equality, diversity and disability and how corporates can embed that within their operations.
“At present, we feel businesses are doing it but maybe not as authentically as they could be.
“For example, we’re currently working with Landsec who will be taking on young people as kickstarters.
“I’m working with them to ensure that those young people are understood and supported by their managers as businesses are often used to graduates or people who come from a certain background.
“It’s really important that everyone is talking the same language so the young people have a chance to shine.
“I’ve been with Circle Collective for five years and am currently training as a therapist which I feel plays into my current role.
“There’s a therapeutic element to what we do and I think young people need that kind of support to take the pressure off their coaches.”
- 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
Seafood in Canary Wharf often plays second fiddle.
With the possible exception of sushi and black cod at Roka and Nova Soctian lobster at Big Easy, few venues spring to mind as places to find dishes with fish and crustaceans as the main ingredient.
This might be a bit of a disservice to Boisdale, although despite the smoked salmon and shellfish platters it’s always seemed a restaurant that’s more turf than surf at heart.
Those who enjoy eating the fruits of the sea can rejoice, however, because the estate now has two places that put them front and centre.
And then there’s Oysteria, which popped up next to the Canary Wharf end of South Quay Bridge earlier this year.
Oysteria’s interior features sea foam green upholstery and bubble lights
While Fish Game has found talent in a cook formerly working at a Blackwall venue, Oysteria represents a wholesale move for a family well-known on the Isle Of Dogs.
The Topkayas – father Mustafa and his children Jamie and Felicity – ran Italian spot Capeesh on the ground floor of Pan Peninsula next to South Quay DLR for seven years.
Having identified a vacant unit in Canary Wharf during the pandemic, they’ve now crossed the dock with Oysteria the core focus, having recently sold Capeesh as a going concern.
Jamie, who is spearheading the new venue, said: “We’d seen this place as a completely vacant unit but initially we weren’t going to take it on.
“Then we saw a gap in the market.
“Oysteria was really a good opportunity that came out of Covid.
“We spoke with Canary Wharf Group and they did a survey, which found there was a lack of seafood restaurants in the area and that they would really like to change that.
“We knew from running Capeesh that people locally really like their seafood – we’d been there a while and we thought it was time to jump over the water and onto the estate.
“I’ve always been a fan of oysters and we’ve managed to find an award-winning head chef to make the magic happen in the kitchen.”
Oysteria head chef Tacim Yetis
Before guests taste anything however, it’s worth taking note of a few things.
Astonishingly, Oysteria is the first restaurant in the Wharf’s history to face out over West India South Dock.
This strip of quay boasts a chunky colonnade to the rear of Bank Street, gets the sun pretty much all day and benefits from views down the dock.
Oysteria has tables right beside, sheltered from above, as well as a glass all-weather seating area for when things inevitably get a bit chillier.
Inside, the restaurant boasts minimal decor aimed at subtly recalling the deep.
“We’ve tried to remind diners of the sea,” said Jamie.
“There’s wooden cladding that’s similar to the deck of a boat, lighting like bubbles in the water and a light green colour scheme.
“It’s a bit like the restaurant under the sea.
Prawn risotto at Oysteria
“Outside, of course, guests can enjoy seafood right next to the water and we have heaters for colder weather.
“At Oysteria, people will find a good atmosphere, good food and good service – we’re very focused on looking after our customers.
“We want to put a smile on everyone’s faces.”
Key to that will be the food. The menu is about 70% seafood with burgers and steaks available for those who prefer land-based flavours.
The dishes are mainly Italian with influences from other parts of the Mediterranean – all overseen by head chef Tacim Yetis.
Named best chef in the UK at the 2022 Kebab Awards, he mostly does his talking on the plate, but did let slip that his personal recommendations were for the tuna with pistachio, salad and soy sauce, the monkfish with saffron gel, crusted polenta and spinach or pan-fried scallops with wild mushrooms, celeriac puree and salmon roe.
“On the drinks side, we are focusing on cocktails, including some that come with an oyster,” said Jamie.
“We have a Gin Martini and a Bloody Oysteria, which both come with one – the former features an oyster liqueur.
Fresh oysters – what else – at Oysteria
“The latter is a Bloody Mary-style drink, which goes perfectly with the shellfish thanks to the Tabasco sauce.
“We source much of our seafood from Billingsgate, which is only a stone’s throw from us, with some oysters coming from Jersey and Poole as well.
“It’s been an amazing learning process, discovering how to tell if they are fresh by tapping them,
“We serve them very fresh and there’s nothing better.
“If I was personally ordering a meal, I’d always start with a dozen and then follow it with the tuna.
“With the Italian influence, we offer a lot of pasta and risotto dishes too and those are always tempting.
“Then we have a fantastic pistachio tiramisu for dessert, which is perfect with a Limoncello.
“We’ve been getting busier and busier as we’ve built it up – taking on a unit that was just an empty shell at the beginning and turning it into a restaurant.
“We’re planning to introduce a two-for-one cocktail offer soon as well as a happy hour.”
In the meantime, Wharfers looking for a deal can get lunch for £11.90 for a main pasta or risotto and a soft drink or £14.90 with a house wine or beer on weekdays from noon-3pm.
“We pride ourselves on delivering quick service,” said Jamie.
“At lunchtime we know people want to be able to sit down, eat and leave within 30 minutes and this is already proving popular.”
Oysteria has tables by the water and also in a weatherproof section outside its premises
- 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
