Wanstead’s ‘village’ signs, erected this week, are now in place at either end of Wanstead High Street. For the curious, here is a guide to the symbols on the signs:

1. The coat of arms was previously that of Wanstead and Woodford Borough Council, which was incorporated into Redbridge in 1965, and dates from 1937.

2. The Latin inscription means “By wisdom and courage”

3. The birds (martlets) and lions on the shield refer to Westminster Abbey and Waltham Abbey, which oversaw Wanstead and Woodford.

4. The trees are a reference to Epping Forest

5. The herons are from the logo of the former Wanstead Urban District Council

6. St Mary The Virgin, Wanstead

7. Christchurch, Wanstead – rather confusingly pictured here as red rather than the actual grey.

8. Wanstead drinking fountain, outside Wanstead Underground station.

9. The horse chestnut leaves refer to Redbridge Borough Council.

(Sources: Civic Heraldry, Ordnance Survey)

Passengers were stuck for two hours in a Central Line train outside Liverpool St on Wednesday. The Evening Standard reported that the driver couldn’t even contact control to inform them the train was stuck.

A power cut in Wanstead on Monday left High St shops, doctors’, dentists and a nursery without power for seven hours. Shopkeepers want compensation, but EDF says they don’t qualify, Wanstead Guardian says.

The story that Susan Boyle’s cat is now living in Wanstead became an internet meme, spawning links and reports on Twitter and beyond.

The Labour party has published its shortlist for candidates for the Leyton and Wanstead constituency. On it, according to the Labour Home website, are

John Cryer, former MP for Hornchurch who lost his seat in 2005 and is now political officer for union Unite
Tristram Hunt, historian and broadcaster
Sophie Linden, a Hackney councillor and former special advisor to David Blunkett
Terry Paul, chairman of the West Ham Labour party.
Roxanne Riaz
Ahmed Shazad, Chair of BAME Labour

Four architects firms have plans for converting the United Reformed Church halls on Grosvenor Road, after they were bought by the owners of Woodbine Place’s Treehouse Nursery. They plan to use it as an after-school club.

The first person to apply for an ID card from the government was Peter Fawcett, 21, of Wanstead. He said: “If you’ve got nothing to hide you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

Plans have been published for the empty row of shops opposite Snaresbrook Tube (see them here on Redbridge council site). They are to be knocked down and turned into flats.

What the new flats would look like

Great to see the Wanstead Guardian has noticed Wanteadium’s Pot Idol competition. It’s a few weeks ago now since those first photos were published – it was just after the worst of the snow (this BBC story explains graphically why snow and frost cause potholes) – and to give credit where it’s due, the council has now patched them up. There are still some nasty examples around Wanstead that you wouldn’t want to come across on two wheels, though. If you want to nominate any cases, either leave a comment here, on our Facebook page, or put it on Flickr with a tag “wanstead”.

Only for the hardy: Nelson Rd hole now filled

And if you are feeling really constructive, you can use the MySociety FixMyStreet service to report to the council any potholes needing repair.

“It’s things that are meaningful to her,” he said. “She’s got a portrait of Michael Jackson and a pair of fluffy handcuffs on there.”

Chris Howells, owner of Wanstead’s new tattoo parlour on Chigwell Road, on the “sleeve” – or full arm tattoo – that he was due to give to Jodie Marsh as one of his first customers on Saturday.

…in 1985 is…

Oh dear. The old story repeats itself – you know, pornographic playing cards making their way into a children’s sofa bought in Walthamstow by a Wanstead family (as reported by the Sun). How many times have we been through this? MORAL: Nothing good comes from Walthamstow.

Nice post on the Wanstead Society blog about how our High Street shops are trying to fill the Woolies’ shaped hole.

Mas Beg and his doughty assistant Trevour [at the Pet Shop] are at this moment rejigging the shelves to accommodate more such useful items. Trevour tells us that they are open to suggestions and will always try to order whatever is requested. This is yet another example of how special it is to have our own small shops. They are Wanstead’s equivalent of the U.S. cavalry galloping to our assistance.