Editing Ilford (section)

==Culture==
[[File:Ilford Kenneth More Theatre.JPG|thumb|255px|Ilford Kenneth More Theatre]]

===Art, theatre and media===
The local newspaper, covering the town and the borough, is the ''[[Ilford Recorder]]''.

The poets [[Kathleen Raine]] (1908–2003) and [[Denise Levertov]] (1923–1997) were both born and spent their early years in Ilford.<ref>Fulton, D, '[https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/bitstream/2438/4347/1/Fulltext.pdf Heaven or Hell: Representations of Ilford in the Writings of Denise Levertov and Kathleen Raine]', 2010, Brunel University Research Paper.</ref> Levertov's Russian father, born a Hassidic Jew but converted to Christianity as a student, settled in Ilford as an Anglican minister.<ref>Ann-Marie Abbasah (2016) '[https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/heritage/blue-plaque-campaign-set-to-honour-ilford-s-most-famous-poet-1-4516395 Blue plaque campaign set to honour Ilford’s most famous poet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801213443/https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/heritage/blue-plaque-campaign-set-to-honour-ilford-s-most-famous-poet-1-4516395 |date=1 August 2020 }}', ''Ilford Recorder'', 30 April</ref> There is a tablet memorialising Levertov's father in Ilford's [[Ilford Hospital Chapel|Hospital Chapel]].<ref>Ursulines.co.uk:[http://www.ursulines.co.uk/announcements/poetry-and-prayer-denise-levertov-1923-1997 Poetry and prayer – Denise Levertov 1923–1997] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801215754/http://www.ursulines.co.uk/announcements/poetry-and-prayer-denise-levertov-1923-1997 |date=1 August 2020 }}</ref> Whilst Levertov wrote lyrically about Ilford, and in particular Valentines Park, in later life,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-map-of-the-western-part-of-the-county-of-essex-in-england/|title=A Map Of The Western Part Of The County Of Essex In England - A Map Of The Western Part Of The County Of Essex In England Poem by Denise Levertov|date=8 April 2010|website=Poem Hunter}}</ref> Raine described it as a "suburban Hades".<ref>Kathleen Raine, ''Farewell Happy Fields: Memories of Childhood'' (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1973)</ref>

The Kenneth More Theatre was officially opened in January 1975. It places emphasis on serving the local community, and stages a mix of professional and amateur productions. Its programme is varied, and runs throughout the year with productions generally changing on a weekly basis. It is well known within the local area for its annual pantomime, which normally runs from mid-December to mid-January.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://visionrcl.org.uk/centre/kenneth-more-theatre/ |title=About us &#124; Kenneth More Theatre |publisher=Kmtheatre.co.uk |date=3 January 1975 |access-date=26 April 2021}}</ref>

St. Alban's Singers is a mixed voice choir for men and women based in St. Alban's Church in Albert Road, Ilford. The choir meets to rehearse at the church each Tuesday evening during term-time and aims to give three concerts per year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stalbansilford.org.uk/?page_id=519|title=St. Alban's Singers – Choir in Ilford|website=stalbansingers.simdif.com|access-date=22 January 2021|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302040459/https://stalbansilford.org.uk/?page_id=519|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Space Gallery Ilford opened in 2019.
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spacestudios.org.uk/space-ilford/ |title=SPACE Ilford – &#91; SPACE &#93; }}</ref>

[[Kathy Kirby]] was born in Ilford.

[[Dame Maggie Smith]] Actress was born in Ilford.

[[Louise Lombard]] Actress lived in Barkingside, Ilford in childhood.  Attended St. Augustine's Primary School.

[[Tamzin Outhwaite]] Actress lived in Redbridge, Ilford in childhood.  Attended St. Augustine's Primary School.

[[William Morris]] 1834-1896. Socialist, Interior Designer, Artist, Poet, Craftsman. Lived at 18 Coventry Road, Ilford briefly in 1848.
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eastlondonhistory.co.uk/coventry-road-ilford-essex/ |title=Coventry Road Ilford. The History of Commonwealth Estate |date=25 July 2014 }}</ref>

[[John Logie Baird]] 1888-1946. A Scottish inventor who pioneered television technology.  Lived at 32 Coventry Road<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eastlondonhistory.co.uk/coventry-road-ilford-essex/ |title=Coventry Road Ilford. The History of Commonwealth Estate |date=25 July 2014 }}</ref>

===Sport===
An unspecified venue in Ilford was used for a [[cricket]] match in August 1737 between [[Essex county cricket teams|Essex]] and [[London Cricket Club|London]]. It is the earliest known organised match definitely played in Essex.<ref name=FL18C14>Buckley, p. 14.</ref>

Ilford Cricket Club plays home games at [[Valentines Park]]. This ground was opened in 1897.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/ground/57065.html |title=Valentine's Park &#124; England &#124; Cricket Grounds |publisher=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> It was used regularly by [[Essex County Cricket Club]], but inadequate maintenance meant that the county stopped playing there after 2001.<ref>{{cite news|last=Steen |first=Rob |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/3012369/Cricket-Focus-Essex-heartbreak-at-Valentines-Park.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/3012369/Cricket-Focus-Essex-heartbreak-at-Valentines-Park.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Cricket Focus : Essex heartbreak at Valentines Park |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=8 September 2001 |access-date=2 March 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Two [[Non-League football]] clubs play at the Cricklefield Stadium, [[Ilford F.C.]] of the Essex Senior League and [[Barkingside F.C.]] of the Eastern Counties League Division One South. [[Waltham Forest F.C.]] (now [[Walthamstow F.C.]]) played at the Cricklefield from 2008 to 2013.

[[South Park, Ilford|South Park]] is one of the largest open spaces in the London Borough of Redbridge and has been awarded [[Green Flag Award|Green Flag]] status.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130415053858/http://greenflag.keepbritaintidy.org/park-summary/?ParkID=1418 Green Flag – South Park]</ref> The [[Redbridge Parks Police]] patrolled the parks until they were disbanded in 2011.

[[Nigel Benn]] World Champion Boxer was born in Ilford.