Wood Street First

All team members give their time voluntarily and receive no payment or expenses for the activities as WSF Team Members.

Chair: Graham Hodgkiss
I have lived in Walthamstow all of my adult life and have lived in Wood Street ward for over twenty years. I am passionate about rebuilding the local community. I know we can make a lot of changes for the better and I wanted to be part of the group that I know will deliver to the residents of this ward the things they need and deserve. My motto is “Together we can make it happen” and I am confident Wood Street First will.

Deputy Chair: Martin Kearney
I have always lived in Waltham Forest with the first 25 years being in Leyton, and the rest in Wood Street ward. I believe that supporting our local community is very important. Living without contact to people who live near you leads to a lonely existence. Wood Street has a diverse population so the more that can be done to make things better and get people talking to each other, the better. Wood Street First has the opportunity to make a difference albeit with limited resources, which can only help improve our community cohesion.

Treasurer: Adrian Stannard
My wife and I have lived in Waltham Forest since 1972 and have been members of the Waltham Forest Civic Society for over 40 years and campaigned to improve the street scene. I set up the Friends of Lloyd Park in 2002 and was involved in the plans for its refurbishment. I am a strong supporter of the importance of social cohesion. I have recently retired and want to get more involved in my local community and have volunteered to be the treasurer.

Secretary: Linda Brooks
I have lived in Waltham Forest all my life and the Wood Street Ward for the past 13 years. I worked in the City of London and had very little time to get to know my local area. When I retired in 2012 I set up a Neighbourhood Watch for my road. Now I sit on the Safer Neighbourhood Panel and in 2014 I took on the role of Secretary of Wood Street First I feel able to fulfil my role as part of this diverse and exciting Community.

Committee Member: Anne Hexter
I have lived in the same house in the Wood Street Ward since 1987. My husband and I have brought up our five children, educating them all at home. I help with two children’s clubs at our church. I belong to a local community choir and tend an allotment behind the Town Hall. We have always found this a friendly neighbourhood and are keen to encourage a sense of community, whether it is through the local Neighbourhood Watch or the Wood Street First events. I feel by improving cohesion in our community we are building a better community.

Committee Member: Anthony J Lane
I have lived in Waltham Forest for about 20 years, moving into the Wood Street ward around the end of 2011. Since retiring from the Local Authority, I have endeavoured to work in some small way to help build local resilience and sustainability, which are two key drivers for a strong and happy community. Wood Street First is a worthwhile and hard-working grass roots organisation that offers me the opportunity to work toward that goal.

Committee Member: Eileen Jackson
I moved to Waltham Forest in 1979 and into the Wood Street Ward in 1991. My background is mainly in the ‘caring professions’ initially as a registered general nurse and, for the last 25 years until my retirement in 2005, as a mental health practitioner and manager for WF Social Services. I have been involved in community activities for at least 30 years. I helped to set up my local Neighbourhood Watch three years ago and am a member of the Safer Neighbourhood Panel. I am also a member of the Wood Street Events Committee which organised the Family Fun Days on Wood Street Plaza. I have a strong commitment to this area and its ongoing regeneration and want it to be a better and safer place for all residents, young and old.

Would you like to be involved either in becoming a Member of the Management Committee or helping out at one of our events (an Event Volunteer)?
Please contact us either via email, Facebook or Twitter. If you would prefer then just come along to one of our meetings. We would love our committee to be true representation of our community, so whoever you are, as long as you are 16 years old or over you will be made welcome.

Updated 10.08.2020

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If you do need to contact us, the best way is to use the form at the bottom of this page. Or you can email us at    woodstreetfirst[at]hotmail[dot]com

When typing this email address replace [at] with @ and [dot] with . The reason we give the address in this format is to reduce the amount of spam we receive.

If you are on Facebook, you can keep up-to-date with news of Wood Street First by ‘liking’ us Facebook page or    at  @WoodSt1st

Updated 12.08.2020