East End Study Group's latest presentation

Joan Hunter, left, and Jeanette Rothwell, right, were speakers during the latest presentation by the East End Study Group, which

featured many fascinating reminiscences, including recollections of VE Day (centre). The new laptop and projector gave the

presentation added impact.

For more information on the East End Study Group please ring

Pat Williams on 01702 710232 or email patwilliams@pmw.me.uk

And here's a presentation we did earlier... 

From left: Group leader Pat Williams, Peggy Spicer and speaker Stuart Raine pictured during a presentation which

included talks on the Matchgirls' Strike and Jewish weddings.

The East End study group is now into its fourth year and still going strong.   Our members were either born in the East End or are just interested in its history. 

We are a democratic group although I represent us unofficially.   We select a topic for our meeting and then discuss it in depth.   It's good to hear people's differing views on the same subject. 

We've examined Crime & Punishment, Education, Philanthropists, Women of the East End, Hospitals, Markets, Weddings, Cholera, Cockney Rhyming Slang, Match Girls Strike, Dock Strike - the list is endless.   We've studied Whitechapel, Stepney, Mile End, Bethnal Green, Bow, Wapping, Limehouse, Hoxton, Hackney, Leytonstone, Leyton, Stratford, East Ham, Plaistow and, of course, Spitalfields.    

We've admired family photos. looked at memorabilia and shared personal stories.

Earlier this year Jeanette gave a presentation on Theatres Past and Present; followed by Stuart's offering on the kind of celebrations held in the East End.  We looked at a short presentation on the lives of the Pearly Kings & Queens who originated from the costermongers.   Then Stuart gave us a fascinating insight into Street Lives which included a Tubby Isaacs stall selling jellied eels, flowergirls, organ grinders with their monkeys and many other vendors including the coal man who used to deliver coal on his horse and cart.  

In July Stuart produced yet another excellent presentation on the children of the East End which was interspersed with many memories recalled by members.   Our September meeting ended up with us all feeling very hungry as we discussed the food enjoyed by East Enders.    Stuart gave us a very good insight into Jewish food over the years and the reasons why meat and dairy are served separately.     

The subject for our October meeting was the Blitz and how the East End suffered during those awful years.   It started with a light-hearted presentation of songs from Oh What A Lovely War and then we got down to the serious stuff.   Jeanette and Stuart showed lots of photos of war damage and people sleeping in the underground tube stations.   Obviously this brought back lots of sad memories interspersed with one or two funny stories.      Today we had fifteen members participating and we agreed that we should all write down our war memories especially for our grandchildren.  After a very successful November meeting when we looked at family photos of fashions and Stuart gave a presentation of fashion through the centuries, we didn't things could get any better, but they did.  

At our December meeting held in Pauline's house, we were very honoured with the presence of Otto Deutsch, an 81 year old Jewish gentleman who was born in Vienna ten years before the outbreak of World War 2.   He told us the tragic story of how his mother managed to get him on the Kindertransport just before the war started which took him to England with his young cousin.   He never saw his family again although he did discover that both his parents were later shot.   He was eventually brought up in a Christian household but by the age of 16 he had to fend for himself.   It was a very sad tale but Otto interspersed it with many amusing incidents which made us all laugh.   He enjoyed being with us and will return perhaps later next year.   Our 6th January meeting will return to 70 Hadleigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea at 10.30 a.m. when we shall be discussing cholera and other diseases. 

You are most welcome to join us.    

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