Comments on: Colin O’Brien, Photographer

By: Paulina boffa

Paulina boffa — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 19:21:30 +0000

Iam paulina Boffa my parents names are Antonio Boffa Margaret Boffa, they both lived in clerkenwell rd, they both went to St Peter’s Italian school, related to Paul Boffa, Vincent Boffa, Jeanne Boffa, Joseph Boffa.

By: symond lawes

symond lawes — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 08:43:01 +0000

brilliant, a time gone by

By: Alan Garner

Alan Garner — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 18:52:21 +0000

My maternal Grandmother lived at 9 Gloucester Way, where used to visit quite regularly with my Mother in the early 1950’s. She lived on the second floor (top), and I remember we had to knock three times on the street door, whereupon she opened the sash window and threw the key down in a matchbox. The house was split into three flats, not self contained – just sets of rooms off of the ground floor, and first and second floor landings. When you got to the top landing an antiquated lavatory stood before you. There were two rooms either side of the landing.
I remember everything was extremely dark – no electricity as everything was lit by gaslights.
The door on the left opened into a small room which served as the lounge, kitchen and bedroom.
On the right stood an old sideboard adorned with family photographs, a radio and my Gran’s snuff box. She usually sat next to the sideboard by the window. An old fireplace stood on the facing wall and a brass double bed stood on the left. I don’t remember my Grandfather. He worked at Hay’s Wharf and died years earlier.
The door on the right of the landing led into a larger room which contained, if my memory serves me well, an old double bed, a single bed and an enamelled tin wash-bowl on top of a small wooden table. Unbelievably, when they were young, this room was shared by by my mother, her sister and four brothers! Before living in Gloucester Way the family lived in Vineyard Walk.
My mother came from Clerkenwell and married my father, who was from Battersea. in 1938.
I was brought up in Battersea, but my mother’s side of the family still live in the Islington Area.
Every year, from about 1949 to 1957, I was always taken with my sister to watch the Italian Procession. In the early 1950’s the crowds that watched the Procession along the Farringdon Road were astonishing.
It’s amazing how things stick in your memory – jumping off a No. 19 bus with my mother, walking through the market in Exmouth Street, turning right into Skinner Street, the Globe Cinema in front of you and the Skinner’s Arms pub on the left – which reminds me, my Gran used to go in the Skinner’s Arms and drink Reid’s Stout.

By: Sheila Powis

Sheila Powis — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:51:41 +0000

Thank you for a most memorable trip down memory lane. Promoted by a visit on 16th July to Clerkenwell to experience again the ‘Italian Procession’.

I lived in Corporation Row from 1944 to 1957 and your photos are so evocative of the times…..wonderful……..I had been looking for records of The Rio/Globe …..and there it was in your photo……….to perfection!!!!

I wish I had known about your opening on 26th July….is it possible to still visit?

Also do you have any other photos of Clerkenwell?

Thank you again.

Sheila

By: Annette

Annette — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 05:20:36 +0000

Every photo brings an emotion or memory, even smell. A beautiful talent, the little boy dressed as a cow boy brought a tear to my eye. A successful exhibition before it starts, enjoy ever minute both of you. Annette

By: Joe Devanny

Joe Devanny — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:08:17 +0000

Some of the most emotional pictures I’ve seen in a while – they true capture the moment
Joe

By: the gentle author

the gentle author — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:44:48 +0000

In reply to Mick. Come along to Colin's opening on Thursday Mick, and ask him for yourself!

By: Mick

Mick — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 11:52:25 +0000

I’d be interested to know what cameras Colin used for his early indoor photos.

By: Allan

Allan — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 06:22:27 +0000

My grandmother lived at no 72 Victoria Dwellings but I have never seen a photo of them before. Thank you, Colin.

By: andrea

andrea — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 21:13:51 +0000

What wonderful, interesting photos! Thank you Colin and Gentle Author.