Events

List of Events and Activities 2014 to 2023

List of Events and Activities

2026
April 2026: Connect2Reconnect Experience
2025
6 Mar 2025: Ordinary General Meeting - WF Town Hall
Feb-Apr 2025: WMG Residency Pt2 programme 1
25 Jan 2025: Members' Meal - Highams Park

2024
20 Dec 2024: Royal visit - WF Town Hall
1-31 Dec: TA December Break
18-29 Nov: BHM Exhibition - Leytonstone Library
15 Nov 2024: Theatre Trip - Park Theatre
7 Nov 2024: Winter Wellness - Walthamstow Library
3 Nov 2024: Dominica 46th Anniversary of Independence
1 Nov 2024: Antigua & Barbuda 43rd Anniversary of Independence
1 Nov 2024: A&B and Da Flag 'waving' - Fellowship Sq and WMG
28 Oct-8 Nov: BHM Exhibition - Walthamstow Library
24 Oct 2024: Ordinary General Meeting - WF Town Hall/Hybrid
15-20 Oct 2024: BHM Exhibition - WMG
12 Oct 2024: BHM Art workshop - WMG
11 Oct 2024: Connect2Reconnect Trip - Launch
3 Oct 2024: Weekly Chair Based Reggae exercises - Walthamstow Library
1 Oct 2024: Black History Month and beyond - Launch
14 Sept 2024: Health & Heritage Fundraising Walk
14, 21 August: Craft Workshops - WMG
7 August: Exhibition Tour & Craft Workshop - WMG
25 July 2024: Annual General Meeting - WF Town Hall
20 July 2024: Creative Writing Workshop & BC - WMG
22 June 2024: Windrush Flag Raising/Festival event - Fellowship Square
15 June 2024: Creative Writing Workshop & BC - WMG
1-16 June 2024: E17 Art Trail
18 May 2024: Art workshop; Creative Writing Workshop & BC - WMG
May-July 2024: WMG Residency programme 2
27 April 2024: WFTA 25th Anniversary event - WMG
20 April 2024: Creative Writing Workshop & Book Club 'with a difference - WMG
6 April 2024: Tea & CHAT - WMG
16 Mar 2024: Creative Writing Workshop & Book Club 'with a difference - WMG
11 Mar 2024: Commonwealth Day - Flag Raising
9 Mar 2024: Film Screening - 'Telling Our ........ Story' - WMG
2 Mar 2024: Tea & CHAT - WMG
29 Feb 2024: Ordinary General Meeting - WF Town Hall
24 Feb 2024: Show. Tell. Create. Art workshop - WMG
17 Feb 2024: Creative Writing Workshop & Book Club 'with a difference' -WMG
12 Feb 2024: Radical Landscape Exhibition Tour - WMG
3 Feb 2024: Tea & CHAT - WMG
Feb-Apr 2024: WMG Residency programme 1

2024 Events and Activities Gallery

Dear Friends, I'm delighted to report that we did it again!

In perfect weather we had a great walk from Coronation Gardens in Leyton to Walthamstow Wetlands via Leyton Jubilee Park and the Leyton & Walthamstow Marshes which the regular walkers thought was our best so far.

The route was planned with the help of David Boote of Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society who provided historical information along the route so many thanks to him.
This year, 50% of the walk’s funds will go towards Dementia UK and so far we are short of meeting our £1000 target so please consider making a payment as soon as possible and by 14th October.

Please send Donations/Sponsor money to: 'WFABD Twinning Association'; sort code 60-22-23, account : 99162660.
Quote your name as reference and send email to [email protected]

Your support is greatly appreciated. We hope you can join us on the next walk!

Regards
Mervin

The TA's art work is currently being showcased at William Morris Community Centre
6-8 Greenleaf Road E17 6QQ. From the 1st to the 16th June.
#64 on the E17 Art Trail Map

WMG Residency programme 2
Collage Art Workshop William Morris Gallery Learning Room 12pm - 2pm
CWW William Morris Gallery Acanthus room 2pm-4pm

Collage Art Workshop for the E17 Art Trail taking place on 1 -16 June 2024.

On Saturday 27th April, we celebrated our 25th Anniversary. The event was hosted by our very own #BHM23 SHEro Elaine Baptiste, with guests, our Patron, The Mayor of Waltham Forest, Councillor Roy Berg, Youth Mayor Jacob Middleton, and the High Commissioners of High Commission of Dominica, London, HE Janet Charles (acting) and Antigua and Barbuda High Commission UK, HE Karen-Mae Hill.

We were entertained by the Harry Hughes Junior Steelband, and we saw a video message from Franklyn Georges, the Founder of the Twinning Association. Performances by the DONA Quadrille Dancers, delightful poetry by Jane Ulysses Grell and Nyasha Clarke, beautiful singing by Danielle, and tasty Caribbean fusion cuisine by Passion8 Caterers.

Thank you to the William Morris Gallery for hosting the event and to everyone who came and made it so special! Without you, we can't do the work we do!
Here's to another 25 years!

WMG Residency 2024 Film Screening and Discussion

WMG Residency 2024 Show Tell Create Flags Art Workshop

WMG Residency 2024 CWW & Book Club

Councillor Roy Berg Mayor Patron of WFTA and his wife Kathleen Berg attended our first session at William Morris Gallery Tea and CHaT event on the
3rd Feb 2024

WMG Residency 2024 programme 1

2023 Events and Activities Gallery

29 Nov 2023
BHM SHEroes project closing Event -
WF Town Hall.

3 Nov 2023: Dominica Flagraising
Event - WF Town Hall Event with Refreshments

2nd November 2023
WFTA Celebrates Local SHEroes - BHM 2023 and beyond
Our in person/Zoom hybrid event will take place tomorrow 2nd November from 6pm to 8pm in person (via Zoom 6.30-7.30) and I am very pleased that all our SHEroes will be attending this event.

VENUE: Good Shepherd Studios, 15a Davies Lane, Leytonstone, London E11 3DR

DOORS open at 5.45pm
PROGRAMME starts at 6.00pm
REFRESHMENTS 7.30pm

1 Nov 2023: Antigua & Barbuda Flagraising Event - WF Town Hall
Event with Refreshments

Black History Month SHEroes
For Black History Month 2023, the Waltham Forest Twinning Association is creating a project to celebrate trailblazing Black women from Waltham Forest, Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica who have made incredible contributions to our community.

Health & Heritage Fundraising Walk Saturday the 9th September 2023
Click the link in the picture:
for pictures of the event on the Project - Sponsored Walk page.

14 July 2023
Anthology Book Launch - Waltham Forest Town Hall.
Click the link in the picture:
for pictures of the event on the Arts Project - Creative Writing page.

22 June 2023
Windrush 75 Flag Raising event -

24 June 2023
Windrush Festival Fellowship Square.
Click the link in the picture:
for pictures of the event on the Project - Windrush page.

25 Mar 2023
Book Launch - William Morris Gallery.
Click the link in the picture:
for pictures of the event on the Arts Project - Creative Writing page.

23rd March 2023 Community Event with Afternoon Tea Dance - Leyton Great Hall

2021/2022 Events and Activities Gallery

WFTA/Artillery CIC textile workshop 27th Nov 2022
A Winter Feast Sat 3rd Dec 2022. The Walthamstow Griffin on the wall. The flag TA contributed to.

Ordinary General Meeting 24th Nov 2022
At the OGM held in person at the Town Hall and on line in Zoom, the Mayor was presented with a TA cheque for 50% of sponsored walk monies towards the Mayors' charities totalling £273.50
More info can be found on the Sponsored Walks link in the picture.

Dominica Flag raising 3rd Nov 2022
Flag Raising at LBWF - Dominica Independence 44th Anniversary

Antigua and Barbuda Flag raising 1st Nov 2022
Flag Raising at LBWF - Antigua & Barbuda Independence 41st Anniversary

BHM 2022 -
Touring exhibition of banners depicting the Windrush and the Black community’s
role in the health service.
The total of 9 banners will be displayed at the following places:
Leytonstone Library 10-17 Oct;
Chingford Library 18-24 Oct;
Leabridge Library 25-29 Oct;
Epicentre 30-31 Oct*tbc;
WF Town Hall 1-6 Nov.
Indepth information is also on the TA BHM page
Please see the link for touring dates and venues:
https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/events/windrush-and-black-health-display-walthamstow

The Creative Writing Event -
a culmination of our Telling Our Story creative writing sessions
At the William Morris Gallery 1st October 2022 7pm

Health & Heritage Awareness Fundraising walk .

Thank You to ALL of our Walkers, Members, Supporters and Friends.

Click the link in the picture:
1. For Sponsors Payment details
2. Pictures of the Sponsored Walks - Project page.

Textile Workshop William Morris Gallery 17th July 22
The Althea McNish exhibition tour, a textile weaving workshop all in good company. We had a lovely afternoon.

The Annual General Meeting 23rd June 2022 at Waltham Forest Town Hall.
Welcome to the new Mayor and TA Patron Cllr Karen Bellamy and members of the management committee for 2022/23.

Windrush Day Commemoration & Celebration 22nd June 2022. A collaboration with Waltham Forest Council: Flag raising event in Fellowship square and WFTA display inside of the Town Hall.

Althea McNish Exhibition - tour, tea & chat a collaboration with William Morris Gallery.

The tour was well attended, educational, and inspiring.

Creative Writing Workshop dates :
First Session 16th April
Second session 14th May
Third sesson 11th June
Fourth session 9th July and the
Fifth session 17th September,
at the William Morris Gallery E17.
Link in the poster to session/pictures on the Creative Writing page

Booking- page: https://www.wftwinningassociation.org/booking-creative-writing-workshop.html

Community Lunch Thursday 7th April 2022
The Twinning Association collaborated with St Peter-in-the-Forest church https://www.stpeterintheforest.org/events to hold an afternoon event which entailed a free community lunch, launch of the cookbook and herb garden and a tour of the church.

We all had a wonderful time at our annual TA meal on Sat 2nd April 2022, at our favourite local Caribbean restaurant Rhythm Kitchen E17

Commonwealth Flag Raising 14th Mar 2022
In keeping with authorities and other organisations across the Commonwealth, Waltham Forest raised the Commonwealth flag during a short ceremony today held in Fellowship Square at the Town Hall. The Mayor was present also in attendance was WFTA Chair and Welfare officer. The Commonwealth Secretary-General's message was read by WF Deputy Lieutenant at the start of the ceremony.

Windrush Reach Information Event 12th Mar 2022
Held at Vestry House museum
More information linked in the picture to Windrush Reach Project- page.

Windrush Reach Information Event 27th Nov 2021
Online Information event in collaboration with Dominica Oversea Nationals Association (DONA).
More information linked in the picture to Windrush Reach - Events page.

On the 19th November Age UK Waltham Forest worked in Partnership with WFTA to make available rooms for 1:1 Surgeries
Pauline Campbell, Senior Lawyer and Legal Adviser to WFTA's Windrush Reach project pictured giving information to a client at the confidential 1:1 surgery.
More information linked in the picture to Windrush Reach Project page.

Dominica Flag raising 3rd Nov 2021
Flag Raising ceremony celebrating 43 years of Dominica's Independence.
The Mayor Cllr Elizabeth Baptiste, Dominica Acting High Commissioner Janet Charles, Miss Nakinda Daniel First Secretary of the Dominica High Commission, The Chair of the Waltham Forest Twinning Association Mervin Caesar-John and its members gathered in Fellowship Square for the celebration. Thanks again to Steve Myhill and his team for playing the National anthem through the Town Hall's PA system.

Antigua & Barbuda Flag raising 1st Nov 2021
The Mayor Cllr Elizabeth Baptiste, Antigua & Barbuda High Commissioner Karen-Mae Hill, the Chair of the Waltham Forest Twinning Association Mervin Caesar-John and its members gathered in Fellowship Square for the Antigua & Barbuda Flag Raising ceremony, a celebration of 40 years of Independence. Thanks to Steve Myhill and his team for playing the National anthem through the Town Hall's PA system.

BHM 2021 A collaboration with St Peter in the Forest
Starts with a Zoom session on Saturday 2nd October, The other sessions on Saturday 9th and 16th October will be in person at St Peter-in-the-Forest, Walthamstow. The programme will end with a herb garden and digital cookbook so you will have many opportunities to be part of developing a tangible project.

The Health & Heritage Fundraising walk was on the 11th September 2021.
Her Worshipful Mayor Cllr Elizabeth Baptiste came to wave everyone off. David Boote, Chair of Leyton & Leytonstone Historical society, led the walkers on a route from Chingford Station to Chingford Plain which included Butlers Retreat and Queen Elizabeth Hunting Lodge.

Thanks to all of the walkers that attended our annual sponsored walk, we were blessed with good weather and had a really enjoyable time. Thanks also to those that could not make it on the day but made a donation. 50% of the funds raised will go towards the Mayor's Charities - Age UK Waltham Forest, Alzheimer's Association and Sickle Cell Societies.
More pictures of the walk can be found on the Sponsored Walks Projects page (link in picture).

The online collaborative event on the 31st July went well. The coordinator of Claudia Jones Organisation had us entertained with ice breaker refreshing our knowledge of the Commonwealth countries affected by the Windrush scandal.

The AGM was held on 29th July 2021 in the newly refurbished Council Chambers of Waltham Forest Town Hall. It was an opportunity to mark Mr Griffiths extraordinary contribution to the Twinning Association, on his retirement, from his long standing role as the Twinning Association's Honorary Treasurer

Mr Griffiths has held the role of Honorary Treasurer since the Twinning Association was formed in 1999.

It was also an opportunity welcome new members of the Management Committee.

1-18th July 2021 E17 Art Trail This year we are collaborated with
St Peter-in-the-Forest.
More information linked in picture to Art Projects E17 Arttrail page.

Creative Writing Workshop 10th July 2021
More information linked in picture to Art Projects Creative Writing page.

22nd June Windrush Day/ Windrush Reach project launch - event.
More information linked in picture to WINDRUSH REACH page.

On the 21st June 'Celebrating Our Men' - online TA CHAT was well attended.

On the 30th March the TA Covid-19 video was launched. The YouTube video is linked in picture.

On the 8th March 2021 the International Women's Day (IWD) event 'Celebrating Our Women' - online TA CHAT was well attended.

(original artwork aliciadean-artworks.co.uk)

On 1st November 2019 the Antigua & Barbuda flag was raised at Waltham Forest Town Hall for the 39th Anniversary of Independence. The Town Hall is currently under renovation. The Mayor Cllr Chris Robbins who is the Patron of the Twinning Association passed on his good wishes.

The Mayor Cllr Chris Robbins who is Patron of the Twinning Association wished everyone a Happy 42nd Anniversary of Independence as the
Dominican flag was raised at Waltham Forest Town Hall on 3rd November. The Town Hall is currently under renovation.

During Black History Month the TA held a 'CELEBRATION' Event, an evening of music, poetry, art and edutainment via Zoom on the 14th October 2020.

The Health & Heritage Sponsored walk was on the 12th September 2020. This was a great
opportunity for members, supporters and friends to exercise and socialise while raising funds for the Twinning Association.
The weather was glorious! Thank you to all who attended and made the walk so enjoyable. Thank
you also David Boote of Leyton & Leytonstone Historical Society for collaborating with the TA once again sharing some historical facts. More pictures of the walk can be found on the Sponsored Walks Projects page (link in picture).

The TA collaborated with Jo Sealy of Image E17 Photography on the We Are Here project photographing Windrush citizens of Waltham Forest. Supported by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, Vestry House Museum, WF Council.
The project was launched in March 2020 at the Vestry House Museum however as the museum is currently closed because of Covid-19 pandemic you can experience it on line:
follow the link:
https://weareherewf.org/exhibition-gallery/ Please sign the guest book

It was a pleasure to celebrate #CommonwealthDay at London Borough of Waltham Forest on Monday 9th March with Cllr @Vicky Ashworth te Velde, our Patron the Mayor Cllr Chris Robbins and others. The Flag raising was followed by workshops in the Town Hall reflecting the Commonwealth Day 2020 theme .
On the various workshop panels the Twinning Association was represented by the Chairperson Mervin Caesar-John, Education Officer Lucy Callender who spoke about our forthcoming Games and Culture Project and Annette Henry who spoke about her input as a local businesswoman and Founder of The Be Foundation in Barbuda following the devastation of Hurricane Irma in September 2017.

It was great to receive such positive feedback from those present.
Antigua and Barbuda High Commission UK, High Commission of Dominica, London
The picture shows Cllr Vicky te Velde on the left and Lucy Callender with other panel members.
— at Waltham Forest Town Hall.

The TA members team meeting 11th January at Rhythm Kitchen on Hoe Street E17