A round up of news from the borough’s clubs and societies.

%image(15063071, type="article-full", alt="Nigel Coleman giving an excerpt of his one-man play "Sir Winston Churchill" to members of Redbridge Rotary Club. Photo: Sharon Nathanson")

Redbridge Indian Welfare Association (RIWA)

Members held an event to promote home grown singers last week and to celebrate two birthdays.

Around 60 people dressed to impress at St Albans Church, Albert Road, Ilford, and many helped out to ensure the party went smoothly.

Ram Bhandari, general secretary, and member Charn Jitsingh celebrated their 86th birthdays.

Mr Bhandari said: “So many people were there. The hall was so full we could not move. It was wonderful.”

He added: “We had home grown artists and everybody enjoyed them.”

RIWA is a non-religious and non-political charity for the benefit of senior citizens of Indian origin in the borough and surrounding areas.

A day centre and luncheon club is provided along with information and advice on welfare and health.

For information on events or to get involved contact Mr Bahnadari on 020 8590 9934.

Redbridge Rotary Club

Rotarians enjoyed an excerpt from an award-winning one-man play at their regular meeting last week.

Speaking as the famed prime minister, actor Nigel Coleman plays Sir Winston Churchill in the 1930s and tells the heroic PM’s compelling career story.

Churchils was denied a place in a post-war government, in the 1930s, for warning and campaigning about the rearmament of Germany.

The play concludes with his premiership during the war years.

Nigel will be giving a matinee performance at the Kenneth More Theatre, Oakfield Road Ilford on Friday, April 29.

More details can be found at kmtheatre.co.uk.

Rotarians meet every Tuesday at Luigi’s Restaurant, Beehive Lane, Ilford at 7pm. For more information visit redbridgerotaryclub.org

Wanstead Historical Society

Members will look into the history of one of Henry VIII’s first and little known palaces, Beaulieu Palace in Boreham, Essex.

Now the home of New Hall School, an independent day and boarding school the palace dates back to 1062.

The talk will be given by Tony Tuckwell who will unlock the palace’s fascinating story and the historic events that took place there.

The event starts today on Thursday at 8pm in the Churchill Room, at Wanstead Library, Spratt Hall Road, Wanstead.

For more information on the Wanstead Historical Society and events contact the groups publicity secretary John Smith 07949 026212.