Ted's "big hand to the Olympic volunteers"

Hat tip to Bow Resident (and fellow Gog), Ted Jeory, and his post on the "brilliant Olympic volunteers" who are the unsung heros of the games. It shows there is good in everyone (even in a Sunday Express reporter :)

"This is the first of two posts this morning that are slightly off the Tower Hamlets beat. I’m on Olympics duty for the Sunday Express over the next fortnight (like Mayor Lutfur Rahman, I was at the opening ceremony on Friday and we both agree–again!–it was a wonderful atmosphere).
Here’s the first piece, on the brilliant Olympic volunteers, many of whom, such as my lovely neighbour, Ray Gipson (he’s a steward at the Aquatics Centre), come from Tower Hamlets...(click for link to post".

Bow Missile Site Home of Match Makers Strike

There has been a huge amount of publicity recently about the plan to possibly mount a "surface to air" missile system to protect the Olympic stadium  from suicide bombers on the top of a residential complex.  I drove past the proposed  site this morning and TV cameras were still outside.

I even saw the story featured on "Russia Today" television.

What hasn't been mentioned widely is that the site is actually the old Bryant and May factory in Bow where the famous "matchworkers strike" of 1888 took place.

Hat tip to Mick Hartly for this photo of a helicopter next to the Lexington Tower where the missiles are thought likely to mounted (if the plan goes ahead).

Housing Association Workers up for fight to protect pensions

On Friday I had a lunchtime workplace AGM with UNISON members in Bow, East London. 

The current ballot for strike action was the number one topic.  Members agreed to work for a successful "YES" vote  and if a strike is called on November 30th to support the action and the planned London wide March and Rally.