Sam Wakeling – Streets for people

Peace in our streets?

20th September 202520th September 2025samwThoughts

On 21^st of September each year people around the world celebrate International Day of Peace. It has been an annual chance to refocus on the priceless value of living at peace, and how we can all work on creating it, even in our own streets.

While the UN has marked this global day for over 50 years, it’s hard to think that it is any less vital to us each year. Any glance at the news will remind us of various wars, conflicts and genocide happening today, along with a build-up of vast military spending.

Conflict can come in different ways and where we are fortunate enough to not have to endure war where we live, it could also be worth thinking about what breaks or makes the peace in the places that we are.

Who’s next?

30th June 202518th July 2025samwUncategorised

and we walked to school today
and took the short cut up the grass
and felt the shade of trees on our bare knees
like peace seeping into my bones
and we talked about how it’s cooler than
where the sun beats on the tarmac
and I didn’t mention the cars
or the shadow they cast in my heart

Sheffield children of colour have the most polluted air at school

1st June 202518th July 2025samwThoughts

Looking at public data on primary schools in Sheffield it appears clear that there is a strong correlation between schools with more children of colour and those with most polluted air.

Faith in sacrifice (or a reformation)

26th February 202526th February 2025samwThoughts

Written for the DfT Transport Strategy call for ideas February 2025.

The street’s a temple all aglow
With lights the priest did calculate
For efficiency and flow
Seconds priced at the going rate

No time to spare to stand and see
The mother, still, beside the rumbling on
She’s come back here, another year
With flowers, and time, and date, and name
To remember
What she could not forget

The greenest city

1st November 202422nd July 2025samwThoughts

For my city Sheffield.

It’s autumn now in the city
Where a chill wind breathes
On solid trunks
And spreading limbs
Of proud, green growth
Their dreams will keep on rising
Showers of green falling around
Washing us clean

The school run (That’s funny)

13th July 202314th July 2023samwThoughts

Another morning done.
Phew.
Now breathe.

They survived the gauntlet for another day.
Your nerves, less so.
Head pounding, eyes sore, throat raw.
Hands on edge – are they shaking?
Standard morning.

Renewing creation – in our hands

5th October 201928th October 2019samwThoughts

I preached for the first time at our church in Sheffield. Thinking about how our faith in a God of love, life and recreation might mean we need to start to break some rules.

Let’s rebel for life – my first letter to a newspaper

8th May 20199th May 2019samwThoughts

The Star has done us a service in publishing Neville Martin’s letter. By sharing his view it encourages us to consider what we accept, and to try to respond. I’ve never written to a newspaper before, but I thank Neville for encouraging me.

20 of the hottest years globally have been recorded in the last 22 years. This is due to the highest concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere for over 400,000 years. During previous ice ages it only got up to 280 parts per million; this week it is 414. Scientists around the world agree that it is not a coincidence. Humans have done this, but it is largely the actions of the few wealthier ones, and it’s debatable how happy it has made even them.

Our Extinction Rebellion week

2nd May 20192nd May 2019samwThoughts

We spent an amazing week taking part in the Extinction Rebellion in London from 15 April 2019.

It was the most beautiful, inspiring, humbling, encouraging week.

I did a video diary clip each of the 7 days we were there, to share some of what we were doing and experiencing. Here they are: Read More

Measuring the traffic on South Road (an experiment)

30th July 201830th April 2019samwThoughts

South Road is the main street in Walkley, Sheffield. It has a history of being a vibrant local shopping street. Though there are no longer 13 grocers shops (!), there are many excellent independent shops and local services.

There is now also a lot of motor traffic. It has constant passing traffic during the day. In the evening peak it becomes a long queue of vehicles, and later on drivers speed through.