Comments on: Along the Thames with John Claridge

By: Ragini

Ragini — Sun, 24 Nov 2024 17:47:25 +0000

It’s wonderful to hear your experience, takes me to time I was brought up near harbour in Zanzibar and used love watching ships coming and going and sound og horns.

By: Roy Beiley

Roy Beiley — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 22:12:49 +0000

These photos are so evocative. I worked for the PLA in Royal Victoria Dock from 1962 to 1967 so I remember all the locations. I was a clerical officer but was lucky to have worked at A berth in an office next to the shed foreman and saw first hand the unloading of beef from Argentina from Blue Star vessels Uruguay Star, Brasil Star, Argentina Star and the Paraguay Star which unfortunately caught fire in 1969 and was sent for scrap. Those days were magical. There wass something about the docks which was hard to explain. It was a world behind walls and gates which had both smells and sounds of their own. Looking at your pics has reminded me of those sensations. I hate what has replaced those places. Only revisited the area once and felt so sad. Wish I had the foresight to have taken my own photos. Glad you did.

By: Michael Bacon

Michael Bacon — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 17:47:25 +0000

Wonderful pictures of my playgrounds during the 1940’s, I recognise so many of the scenes — that long high brick wall leading to the Isle of Dogs, walking and half running with my parents and young brother to the River Police canteen where Mum worked at night, with what sounded like tin cans falling around (incendiary bombs), also the iconic buildings in Silvertown where my Dad worked in the Victoria and Albert Dock and later where Mum worked in Tate and Lyle, and remember all of the invasion landing craft with Pnos. on the bows in 1944 lined up ready to go. The Lights or barges by East India Dock Basin where believe it or not we would swim in Orchard Place, it was also a great experience to stand by one of the bridges when they swung around further along that high brick wall by the Isle of Dogs and watch these huge ships go through a space with just 12in. of space either side of it, rubbing along the old tyres hanging from the sides of the quay, in words of the young ”it was awesome”. What courage and fortitude our parents had during those years and what freedom their children had !

Thank you again John, those pictures bring it all back. — Michael Bacon.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:00:24 +0000

I was able to see the house where I was brought up, which backed on to the canal in Stratford.
It brought back a lot of memories.

By: Pamela Glinenkamp

Pamela Glinenkamp — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 19:17:47 +0000

Great photos. One correction. It is St. Katherine Docks not St. Catherine’s Dock, i.e. a K not a C, and s on the Docks not the Katherine. I walk by there every day, so it’s etched in my mind.

By: Lara Compton

Lara Compton — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:26:56 +0000

My god John! This series of images are just ASTOUNDING.
The cranes are particularly sublime and oh so haunting. The prints are out of this world and perfectly compliment your masterly vision.
I have nothing else to say; l am speechless.
Respect.

ps. sod the drink l owe you. I’m buying you the bottle; the crate; the whole bloody vineyard!

By: Marie-Anne

Marie-Anne — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:50:41 +0000

Back in the 1970’s, a very good friend of my parents took me and my sister on a tour around the old wharves of Wapping etc, before the boom of docklands development took hold.

I was a young child, but that day is a vivid image that has been planted in my memory. I was fascinated by them and thought these derelict buildings were absolutely beautiful. They resonated with the history of what had gone before.

I was sad to them redeveloped and the area lost all of its character. I would have wished them to stay empty but just vibrate with the past life they were so much an important part of. However, I know that that is an impossibility being such a prime piece of real estate!

By: John Walker Simpson

John Walker Simpson — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:53:08 +0000

Many thanks for the dock photos as they relived memories for me when I was a regular visitor,1952 till end of 1957, being Engineer on Rangitoto and finally 3rd on the Ruahine.The remark about the Connaught was amusing,wish they had Stippers in my times there.
Went to the old dock area in 1995,didn,t recognise a thing apart from the river.Cheers,John.

By: peter wright

peter wright — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:16:29 +0000

those were adventurous days. never new what new things you would discover. i spent my youth on that mighty river from its source to its estuary. the docks were magic places, they were the window on the rest of the world with all the different cargoes and bustling tugs and ships, the cranes and wires and barrows trucks and the fee for the security to go thru the gate.
so poignant to see those pictures, how the mighty are fallen.
went back to visit last year. now it has risen again with mighty buildings and a throbbing heart a centre of finance totally modern and computerised. not my cup of tea, but still to be admired.
fantastic mood changing photos, well done.

By: david Sim

david Sim — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:07:55 +0000

What wonderful haunting images. Beautifully composed photographs. Stunning.