1958: The Ilford Social Services Association bought a new bus for residents with disabilities.

“It will be a great help to many people in the community,” said association president Cllr F R Masters.

The bus served people who needed help to attend religious services or other special functions.

The association also considered lending it to other clubs that served people with disabilities.

Over the four years it took to save £1,458 for the bus, the association organised dances to help raise the money.

There was also a ceremony to celebrate the bus’s delivery to Ilford once it was purchased.

1978: A 17-year-old girl fought off a potential assault in Hainault by attacking a man who grabbed her while she was walking home from her job.

When the man put his hand on her mouth and tried to pull her, she scratched his hands, screamed and managed to break free.

Another man heard the girl from his house and ran outside to see the attacker fleeing in a “rocker’s” outfit of a leather jacket and dark trousers.

The girl was taken to hospital for shock and cuts on her hands and wrist.

“She’s a strong girl, or we don’t know what would have happened,” her stepfather said. “She’s a brave girl.”

1998: A new pub in High Road, Chadwell Heath, was named after Eva Hart, a woman who survived the sinking of the Titanic.

“We are pleased that Eva’s family have given us permission to name the pub after her,” JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said.

Eva, of Japan Road, and her mother both survived the Titanic, although her father did not.

Eva died in 1996 aged 91, so Wetherspoon received permission to name the pub after her from a cousin. The cousin also donated memorabilia from Eva’s life.

“We believe the name will be welcomed and that customers will find the memorabilia on Eva as well as that on the characters and history of the area interesting,” Martin said.