Comments on: Syd Shelton’s Rock Against Racism https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/16/syd-sheltons-rock-against-racism/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:09:01 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: Phil Maxwell https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/16/syd-sheltons-rock-against-racism/#comment-1023487 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:09:01 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138350#comment-1023487 These photographs are an amazing historical record. Many thanks.

]]> By: Leslie Mildiner https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/16/syd-sheltons-rock-against-racism/#comment-1022095 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 18:27:11 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138350#comment-1022095 I have a different memory of the Vic Park Rock A Racism, 78.
I was born and and bred in Stepney and was part of Tower Hamlets Arts Project, who helped staff the event.. We were told to expect some 5 – 8000 people – 98,000 turned up! And yes – there were large amounts of Skinheads – but I was surprise that it WASN’T as an intimidating atmosphere (in the Park, at least) as I’d expected.
In fact – have a memory of my gf at the time, ordiing a long line of scary looking Skins, to settle down if they wanted to buy a cup of tea. It was a remarkable empowering event for my 18 year old self.

]]> By: Pauline Taylor https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/16/syd-sheltons-rock-against-racism/#comment-1022069 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 17:50:42 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138350#comment-1022069 Brilliant photography, a real artist with the camera at work here, but proving the point yet again that black and white photography creates atmosphere in a way the colour never does.

]]> By: Caroline Bottomley https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/16/syd-sheltons-rock-against-racism/#comment-1021854 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 11:44:40 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138350#comment-1021854 Farrs School of Dancing nowadays
http://farrsschoolofdancing.com/
c/o http://anticlondon.com/

very good photos

]]> By: Peter Holford https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/16/syd-sheltons-rock-against-racism/#comment-1021831 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:49:59 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138350#comment-1021831 There is a harshness to these photographs that certainly reflect the times. I was a steward on an Anti-Nazi League rally that marched from Trafalgar Square to Victoria Park, Hackney in 1978. In spite of our numbers and the police presence there was an intimidating atmosphere with the skin-heads and others hurling abuse and, occasionally, more solid objects. The march finished with a huge open-air Rock Against Racism event with the Clash, Tom Robinson and Aswad. More photos here: http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/victoria-park-1978.html

When I walked around the same areas a couple of years ago it was hard to equate it with the 1970s. Some things have got better!

]]> By: Ros https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/16/syd-sheltons-rock-against-racism/#comment-1021787 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 09:21:42 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138350#comment-1021787 excellent set of photos. Really enjoyed studying them.

]]> By: Valerie-Jael https://spitalfieldslife.com/2015/09/16/syd-sheltons-rock-against-racism/#comment-1021770 Wed, 16 Sep 2015 08:51:03 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=138350#comment-1021770 Great photos, very atmospheric. Love the tough guy poses of some of the youngsters. Valerie

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