As per Matt’s final wishes, we gathered as a family to scatter his ashes on Sunday 26th May 2024 in Wanstead Park.
We used to visit the Park as kids, often picnicking with Mum and other family friends. As an adult, Matt rediscovered the Park during Covid-19 lockdown for exercise and socially distanced walks.
In the end I picked out two spots that I thought would be appropriate:
The first is a small grove near the Shoulder of Mutton Pond. It contains a tree which looks vaguely like a spindly Ent reaching out. The best way to find the spot is using the What3Words App. The w3w address is ///catch.plank.radio
The second spot is by the bank of the Perch Pond. The w3w address is ///lift.visa.resort
To mark the occasion, I asked my daughter Ava to paint up a stone for each of us to place to make a mini Cairn. She really struggled with Covid Lockdown and one of the few things that brought her joy during that time was finding and leaving out small painted stones (see the Love on the Rocks Facebook page or #loveontherocksuk tag on Instagram). Ava picked a simple cartoon owl design which seemed very fitting given Matt’s work as a Librarian and his love of Twin Peaks.
We found a little hidden spot between the trees by the riverbank of the Perch Pond to place them.
If you want to visit the above spots then probably the most straightforward way would be to arrive via the Northumberland Avenue / Wanstead Park Avenue entrance to the Park (///socket.easy.finishing). The Blakehall Road entrance to the Park which is closest to our Flat is significantly muddier in wet weather so make sure you have wellies if you risk that route.
How Is Matt? 