Comments on: Phil Maxwell’s Old Ladies

By: Lesley

Lesley — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 07:30:46 +0000

The lady at the very top of page. Such style. Love her coat and hat.

By: Daniel Daren

Daniel Daren — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 14:20:14 +0000

The lady with the white woollen hat and Leopard skin collar is Mrs Maude Bennett. I think she originated from South London possibly Old Kent Rd. She lived with her family in Princelet St until she was moved out owing to redevelopment. A lovely lady. Salt of the earth…….Great pictures Phil.

By: brian

brian — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:35:53 +0000

I’m from stepney in the east-end . and what great pics to see from years gone by love older people story’s they all could tell wonderful pics thank you kindly .

By: isa

isa — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:05:26 +0000

I too am an old lady well 63 soon.I agree all these woman, have their lives etched on their faces and yes we are all special and unique and women and old gentlemen deserve respect and dare I say love

By: Good Gentlewoman

Good Gentlewoman — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 09:19:32 +0000

Some of these old ladies are straight out of my childhood – and then I realised I’ll soon be joining their ranks!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 20:37:32 +0000

Can you imagine the stories they could tell if they all paused for a rest from their daily business and met up for a chat over a cup of tea!

By: Anne Forster

Anne Forster — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:11:16 +0000

Long live invisible old ladies.

By: Obin

Obin — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:57:04 +0000

Wonderful Phil……I particularly like the photos taken on the corner of Vallance Road and Whitechapel High Street in probably the early mid 1980s……remember the place and time well…..as for aging and beauty……there was once a princess forever doomed to stitch an embroidery of her beautiful face for her suitors. When this was finished she would have to marry one of them (which she didn’t want to do)….and so she intentionally etched more and more lines on her face trying to make herself look older and older in order to put the beasties off her back and nether parts. And as she stitched the lines on the “Never Ending Tapestry of Time” she suddenly realized that the older she got, the more beautiful she would be…..and then she was free..

And such is the case of the faces of all these old women, they are ancient, beautiful and free……all is wonderful……but it would have been nice to get photos of African Caribbean women and Bengali……but I accept the fact that very few old Bengali women were probably seen on the streets in those days but if they were they the chances of them being covered up would have been a bit less than nowadays….and then your lens could have captured them for ever….

Wicked work……..and may it find you in the best of health if not wealth!

By: Clare

Clare — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:22:03 +0000

Great photos Philip, but where is mother?

By: Vickie

Vickie — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:31:55 +0000

Thanks for sharing these photos and for the introduction to Mr. Maxwell’s photography, which was unbeknownst to me prior to receiving this blog post. He certainly captured the “story” in each photo. His work reminds me that so many people in cities all over the world are oblivious to those whom I refer to as invisible women, those whom we generally pass by unnoticed each day. Stunning photography.