Comments on: Remembering A S Jasper

By: Tracie nunn

Tracie nunn — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 22:26:23 +0000

Stan’s sister Marie was my great grandma. Started researching my family tree and very much looking forward to learning more about their family I have ordered the book. It will be a wonderful glimpse into my families history.

By: Steve Vargerson

Steve Vargerson — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 16:25:43 +0000

this book was a shocker, actually made me have nightmares its the same situation as my family, locations and different people. My Great Grandfather was blown up in 1917 in the Woolwich Arsenal, he was brought out on a board with no legs, one arm, one eye and half a face. he died on the pavement in my nans arms, she was only 14. My Great mother was on the drink, she took snuff and was a real cow, my nan brought up the kids on her own as a 14 year old in Goldsmiths Row Hackney, she was born in Hoxton in 1904. They moved to Walthamstow in 1929, my late mother was born there in 1934 and I was born in Russia Lane Bethnal Green, we lived in a little flat just off the High Street like the Jaspers. I used to get left outside the Cock pub in my pram to listen to the two war veterans who played the accordian who were blinded, and watched the man with no legs on his wooden scateboard swearing his heart out…this was 1957.
They are all dead now…this brought it back to life.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 17:54:14 +0000

Brian, my husband is an East Ham boy living in Scotland now. He cannot visit family in the East End without having pie and mash, it’s like going on a pilgrimage for him I think 🙂

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 03:17:34 +0000

My goodness, do they really still have Pie & Mash shops? I remember every Saturday morning back in 1949-50 riding my bike from Beacontree to East Ham High Street to pay off my mothers radiogram and being given money to have 2 pies and mash at the Pie & Mash shop. What a treat; never been able to forget that food with a dollop of mashed potatoes covered with parsley sauce. When I think back on it now I sometimes wonder what the meat was, we were still heavily rationed back then 🙂

By: Barbara

Barbara — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 21:13:52 +0000

Like Melvyn, bought my copy at Centerprise in Dalston in the 1970’s…great book. Later, I lived in Hoxton myself for 16 years and still go back to visit my old neighbour who is now 86 and Hoxton born bred.

By: Ron Pummell.

Ron Pummell. — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 14:07:03 +0000

I first read this book about 15 years ago and would recommend it all, young and old, who have connections with London.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 12:50:55 +0000

I do like A Hoxton Childhood; it’s always such a pleasure to read memoirs which relate to places you know intimately. How nice to know Terry Jasper at F Cooke is a direct descendant. I hope the book launch and reprint goes well.

By: Roger Tiller

Roger Tiller — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 08:24:33 +0000

A mirror image of my live, brought back many memmories .

By: Melvyn Brooks

Melvyn Brooks — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 07:56:08 +0000

“A Hoxton Childhood” is a classic. I have read and re-read it. I bought the book in 1970 at Centerprise which was then in Kingsland Road. Due to overuse the pages are falling out and I welcome the new printing. The book was reprinted in hardback version in 1971 by the Readers Union. I bought my copy for 1.50 in 1994 from a shop in Hay-on-Wye.
I hope the new edition will be sell out. We can all learn from it. An adaption was performed at Chat’s Palace, Homerton and at the Bethnal Green Museum in June 1999.

Melvyn Brooks Karkur Israel

By: Joy

Joy — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 02:31:29 +0000

Love this book! told me so much about my own Dad’s life at the same time in Hoxton and Islington I never knew- he even lived in the house next door. Would love to speak to Terry.