Comments on: Fred Wright, Head Messenger

By: Ronald Harnack

Ronald Harnack — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 23:23:47 +0000

Fred’s narrative made his life’s story vivid and appealing. You’re a good man, Fred! I would like to meet you some day!

Ronald Harnack
Sunnyvale, California

By: Alan Peacock

Alan Peacock — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 15:26:54 +0000

My father was born in Arbour Square in 1889. The family left in 1900.
My great grandfather had a grocers shop at No.1 Bedford Sq and my grandma’s family were the Thridgoulds of Sydney St.

By: Janice Linley

Janice Linley — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 15:08:47 +0000

I worked at Antony Gibbs & Sons at the same time as Fred although cannot remember in which building it was. I was there when they were in 22 Bishopsgate and Blomfield Steet and also Fredericks Place. I recognised 3 of the post room lads in the photo too but their names escape me. So pleased to see this article, brought back a lot of great memories or working there

By: Julie Crofts

Julie Crofts — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 14:36:08 +0000

Yes, I spent many happy days with Fred having locked myself out, waiting for Roger to come home. Always welcomed me and had an interesting story. Lovely to see the lovely Molly here too.

By: joan

joan — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 13:48:58 +0000

My mum worked for many years in Arbour Square at the Magistrates Court which was attached to the Police Station. It was on my way home from school and so I often used to pop in to wait for her to finish work. Occasionally someone would take me down to the basement of the building, where the archives were kept, and where the ghost of the Matron who looked after the prisoners was rumoured to walk. It was a genuinely spooky place. There was, in those days, a whole of estate opposite which was known as the ‘police flats’ which provided accommodation for the local force. I’m guessing they never got burgled!

Lovely to see such continuity. We have two sets of neighbours in our street in Stratford who have lived in the same house for over 60 years. Of course house prices being what they are people with similar backgrounds/ incomes are unlikely to be able to afford them now.

By: Vicky

Vicky — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 13:29:40 +0000

A lovely story, very touching. ‘People used to work so hard yet they were all poor’.

By: Roger Luckhurst

Roger Luckhurst — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 11:11:42 +0000

We lived three doors down from Fred for 7 years — best neighbour you could hope for, with a supernatural intelligence about *everything* going on in the street. Happy Xmas, Fred!

By: Greg Tingey

Greg Tingey — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 08:57:20 +0000

These days, people who don’t move around are rare, as I should know.
I have lived here since 1948 & my parents lived in the next street, 1924-1941 …..
The continuity provided by people like Fred Wright is often undervalued, I think.

By: valerie-Jael

valerie-Jael — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 07:57:27 +0000

What an interesting man. I spent a lot of time in Arbour Square and thereabouts, as I went to Grammar School there and to St Dunstan’s Church, and this brings back good memories. Valerie

By: Constance Marie Pierce

Constance Marie Pierce — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 06:37:30 +0000

What a lovely and moving story. What a gracious soul.

I love the celestial blue door on his beloved “sanctuary.”