Comments on: The Return of Norah Pam

By: Catherine Reeves

Catherine Reeves — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 14:20:54 +0000

Fascinating article. My grandmother grew up in the Howard Buildings opposite the Albert Buildings. They were the Tarman family. They all moved out during the war due to the bombings.

By: Ranleigh attwood

Ranleigh attwood — Fri, 04 Sep 2020 09:24:35 +0000

My great aunt Emily Bull lived at number 10 Victoria Cottages, Deal Street until her death in 1957.
I remember visiting her, the rooms and house were tiny with a very small courtyard at the back. I seem to remember the dwellings in front of the house had been bombed, my aunt refused to move out.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 12:16:35 +0000

Yes l agree, gorgeous photos of this genteel family as a heartwarming treat following the stories.

To see Victory! snuggled with Violet – how lucky to be found and loved by this family and not left to a fearful fate.

How beautifully dressed the children of Class 4 – and their lush, shiny hair.

How truly stylish Gwen & Ada were outside their dwellings.

Thank you for giving me a true realisation of my own mother’s emotional suffering aged 8 cut off for months from her beloved parents in an isolation hospital with both of those serious ailments,

and also through Norah, the knee trembling atmosphere of the Blitz which caused many to have delayed breakdowns in an era impossible to unburden themselves of their fears or feelings.

In the docklands Museum of London is a poignant battered front door standing alone, its building, the family’s home at the time, shattered into fragments and dust by the bombs.

A luggage label is stuck to the door for the rest of the family to read on return from work
“Stopping at xxxxxx Gardens, for the time being.”

l shall never forget that label just as l shall never forget this beautifully told story of Norah’s life and her very happy reunion with Mavis.

By: dave lee,

dave lee, — Thu, 09 May 2019 21:53:35 +0000

smashing site, gorgeous photos, im due for a visit, spec, now i know i had relatives, lived in spitalfields, and my relative john davis, on j ripper casebook, online, lived in hanbury street, and discovered, annie chapman, one morning, and was called as a witness, for the investigation, keep up the good work, everyone.

By: Dudley Diaper

Dudley Diaper — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 18:50:01 +0000

I have just read these memories. My mother and her brothers and sister grew up in Albert Buildings in the 1920s/30s. They would have known all the children in the All Saints School photo. The family name was Saunders. Thank you so much for the article.

By: william tyrrell

william tyrrell — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:49:48 +0000

The photo outside Albert buildings i remember it well, i lived in Howard buildings which was opposite to Albert buildings

By: Helen

Helen — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:07:07 +0000

This was fascinating as Lewis Carr is my great great great grandfather.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:12:21 +0000

Thank you for another evocative glimpse into the world of my ancestors. Norah is the same age as my mother, who spent the war in Hackney, not far away, with her parents and sister.

My father’s parents were married in 1917, in St Anne’s church, mentioned in your article.

By: julie

julie — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:19:48 +0000

Moving, touching, lyrical and real.Like Laurie Lee.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:36:34 +0000

A very good insight into the decent working class families to be found in the East End,
poor but honest.
Another very good article
Gary