Comments on: Stephen Gill’s Trolley Portraits https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/10/03/stephen-gills-trolley-portraits/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Mon, 06 Mar 2017 19:32:56 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Christine Voge https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/10/03/stephen-gills-trolley-portraits/#comment-27659 Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:06:34 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=45040#comment-27659 Great idea, wonderful photos!

]]> By: Mark P https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/10/03/stephen-gills-trolley-portraits/#comment-27524 Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:43:16 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=45040#comment-27524 see also local resident Michael Needham’s Trolley Dollies 2005 project:-

http://www.trolleydollies.org.uk/
http://www.neighbourhoodwatching.co.uk/

]]> By: Gary https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/10/03/stephen-gills-trolley-portraits/#comment-27473 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:57:46 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=45040#comment-27473 Serious Ladies deep in thought without many smiles.
Had they been around in earlier times Ralph Mitelle would have had a verse about them in his song “Streets of London”
Gary

]]> By: belle https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/10/03/stephen-gills-trolley-portraits/#comment-27470 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:09:24 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=45040#comment-27470 This is a subject close to my heart, I am delighted to see it documented.

In my 30’s and onwards, I was car free for 12 years. My daily struggle with the shopping and subsequent backache led me to consider a dolly trolley, as some call them. I commissioned a basket maker to make me one. Although my fashion conscious friends mocked me at first, they soon started to change their minds and see the sense in the trolley. My trusty basket was daily admired by strangers.
Joan, it is not too old ladyish to invest in a trolley. There are now so many interesting colours, patterns, styles, it’s a statement!
My mum used to have one in the 70’s along with lots of other ladies. They would all get on the bus somehow with their trollies, it was a joy of Saturday morning bus travel as the mood on the bus turned festive and the bus conductress would sing, “hey big spenders” as we all settled in, grateful to get a seat.

Your blog is a joy by the way.

]]> By: jeannette https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/10/03/stephen-gills-trolley-portraits/#comment-27467 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:58:18 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=45040#comment-27467 back in d.c., they were called granny carts and everybody who lived within walking distance of the grocery store had one, black, white, young old, gender fluid, rich, poor, granny or no.

]]> By: jo watts https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/10/03/stephen-gills-trolley-portraits/#comment-27443 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:24:55 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=45040#comment-27443 a superb piece of work 😀

]]> By: Joan https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/10/03/stephen-gills-trolley-portraits/#comment-27438 Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:19:17 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=45040#comment-27438 As someone coming to terms with a mobility problem – after being hit by a car seven months ago – and unable now to cart home shopping, I have been wondering about the trolley option. But it felt a bit too ‘old lady’ for someone still in their forties. But looking at these photos I can see I would be joining a fine community.

I always find the empty pram really poignant. When I was growing up, a local mother of six was unable to leave the house without her – long redundant – pram. I have to say that having spent some years pushing a double buggy up and down the hills of Edinburgh I had no such qualms in getting rid of mine. But I did miss having the basket underneath where it was possible to stow 4 pints of milk and a bag of apples. Maybe for many of us motherhood is such a defining part of our lives that having something wheeled in front of us just feels natural.

Love the Adam Dant map by the way.

Best wishes,

Joan

]]>