Comments on: Hookey Alf of Whitechapel

By: Arabatzi Charriklia (Charoula)

Arabatzi Charriklia (Charoula) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:45:09 +0000

Excellent and imossional!

By: Caroline Church

Caroline Church — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 00:12:47 +0000

Re Jerry’s question – I am also curious about the identity of the pub. It has some similarities to The Old Blue Anchor at 131 Whitechapel Road (formerly number 66) which also had a large opening onto the pavement with a bar leaner, a drop down shutter and folding windows.

By: jerry

jerry — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 23:22:49 +0000

does anyone know the name of the pub or where exactly it was situated hookey alf is lounging outside of ?

By: susan

susan — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 06:01:18 +0000

Hi dose anyone know what happened to the Tubby Isaac im a relotive to them they were fruit importers my granddads mother was Jewish but not Religious she married a Gentile and because of that the Isacc family disowned her my great grandmother was 90yrs old in 1963 I was 5yrs of age our families have done family Trees but can not find out anymore My Nans name was Berta Yanetski her father was Russian Polish The Isaacs came over to England 16oo in Olivercromwells time the Isaacs came from Amsterdam I would very much like to meet my Aunts Uncles Cousins any of the Isaac family I have a sister called Julia be very much appreciated of any help Thankyou Contact Tel No 01255 813511

By: Georgia Anderson

Georgia Anderson — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 06:29:21 +0000

I am always amazed at the daily facts of Victorian life – and how much has changed in 138 years. We might as well be on different planets. Yet, with all our “progress”, we still have the Four Horsemen with us. Then or Now, which is better?

By: Alexandra

Alexandra — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 05:46:52 +0000

What a sad but touching story. So many of the photographs of old London convey people that seem to have lives full of such hardship, who struggle on a daily basis just to survive. It really puts things in perspective.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:19:06 +0000

Poor Hookey Alf, why has no one commented? I am going to then!

I agree completely that the evaluation of the photograph is less than objective. They really are imposing their own (in several places probably quite ignorant) beliefs. But generally I like the points he makes about Alf, who was obviously a very honourable, determined and unlucky person. I found the description of his struggle all the more touching because I could never for a second relegate it completely to the (pre welfare state) past. Talking to the chronically ill/injured or jobless today reveals the same emotions and struggles in many cases, even though of course the benefits may put a cushion between them and the desperation of the nineteenth century poor. Sometimes it is a thinnish cushion. And yes, it takes personal engagement with the poor to find these things out, and to deal with the misconceptions of those who misunderstand what they have never witnessed or experienced first hand. How irritating to see people form opinions that their personalities would reject within minutes of actually seeing the realities of the lives they are judging! I’m sure I must do it myself all the time.

I salute Alf, and anyone else who managed to struggle on and keep trying in circumstances like his!