Comments on: At Tom’s Flat

By: Ella Finch

Ella Finch — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 23:37:43 +0000

This evening, I found out that Tom passed away a couple of weeks ago.

I wanted to find out more about him and arrived here. I had come to know him vaguely in recent years, as he sat everyday outside of a shop I used to work in. He was a friendly soul who often helped us and brought us smiles, laughs, compliments, and gifts. I will remember him as a gallant and loyal gentleman, and an important presence in Brick Lane’s story.

He will have made his mark in many lives. I also remember seeing him interviewed briefly in ‘Don McCullin: Looking for England’ (2019).

My thoughts go out to those who knew him most.

By: jane osullivan

jane osullivan — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 19:18:29 +0000

its good to say it as it is , even though you felt awfully sad about it ,it is toms truth and you are after all a truth seeker.The street seems more toms home though , its where he is at his most positive.

By: Alan Gilbey

Alan Gilbey — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:27:34 +0000

I love this piece. I love the way the earlier, more idealistic piece is peeled away by these darker truths and something less comforting but richer is revealed.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:06:18 +0000

I agree with Tom when he says there is a reason for everything. A member of my extended family is a hoarder and I think it stems from the fact she never knew her dad and was brought up by her mum in her gran’s house. It was the 50s so you can imagine the stigma of having an unwed single mum and her gran was very hard towards them. It’s sad for others around them though, as it depresses this relative’s husband when he wants to have a clear out and she just moves it to another room, the garage or the attic. He feels swamped by the junk.

By: Patty

Patty — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:23:09 +0000

Thank you Tom for opening your doors and explaining you reasons for your lifestyle. It really isnt any more “sick” than the millions of people who compulsively buy and fill teir homes with stuff.
A good story. P

By: Joyce

Joyce — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 12:05:21 +0000

Sad . . . I understand why people hoard in this way . . . it’s a kind of illness . . . but I do feel for his neighbours . . . Surely there is a tremendous fire risk . . . and is that an enormous fly paper . . . ?

By: Lesley

Lesley — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 07:58:33 +0000

I want to go back to 1941, give Tom a hug and tell him it will all be alright. What a sad story.

By: jeannette

jeannette — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 04:46:37 +0000

i know a girl whose mother was junkie. terrible stories. she likes to clean whenever things go wrong. she has 100 pairs of new underpants unopened in their original packaging.
xxx