A new book to celebrate inspiring people from Waltham Forest.

We are Extraordinary will be a brand new illustrated hardback book that will be distributed to every school and library in Waltham Forest to tell the stories of some of the inspiring people who have lived and worked in Waltham Forest, encouraging children in the Borough today to aim high in their ambitions and to fulfill their potential. 

Co-created with local artist Farah Ishaq  and with school children in Leytonstone, the book will tell the stories of local heroes such as Michael Nyman and Talvin Singh creating new genres of music, Lutalo Muhammad winning Olympic medals in taekwondo, Fanny Craddock inspiring the nation to cook, Laurie Cunningham, David Beckham and Harry Kane playing football in our clubs and parks, Frederick Bremer pushing boundaries with internal combustion engines,  Alfred Wells and William Britain Jr manufacturing market leading toys, Clement Attlee, William Morris and Jenny Hammond seeking to improve people’s lives, Harry Beck reinventing the map for London Underground, Grayson Perry pushing artistic boundaries, Tom Hood amusing the nation with his verse and illustration, Victoria Cross holder George Mitchell, Alfred Hitchcock scaring generations of film fans and Matthew Bourne bringing ballet to new audiences. 

Waltham Forest has had huge amounts of talent in its homes, schools and workplaces, and continues to do so and this book will aim to inspire a brand new generation to be extraordinary. 

More information to come. Watch this space.

Part of the Make it Happen Fellowship Funding programme.