Comments on: Sheila Bell of Great Eastern Buildings

By: terence kenny

terence kenny — Thu, 03 May 2018 12:28:30 +0000

could any one help me i was born in great eastern buildings in 1939 ,would any no of joe edward ice cream man hope to hear from any who can help . thankyou

By: Margaret Lambert

Margaret Lambert — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 19:13:53 +0000

Hi I am so interested in your article on the Great Eastern Buildings, my mother lived there from 1946-1951, sadly she is no longer alive, but she told me many things about the flats. My sister was born in the flats, and then the family moved to Shorditch where I was born. In 1957 we all moved away from London. My father is buried in Walthamstow. Thank you for your interesting read.
Margaret

By: steve

steve — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 03:13:05 +0000

Hi Sheila,
Thanks for sharing the memories. I too remember the old wash houses in the buildings (the middle section of left hand block only), running around Wheeler arch and the endless variety of people living in the buildings. I never had a piano – but did have a clip around the ear from time to time!

I so well remember the pubs though – Two Brewers and Grey Eagle – where my grandmother cleaned at the Two Brewers and my dad took a good hiding at the Grey eagle!

Glad to know that you squeezed up like the rest of us – at one point we had 4 bunk beds in the one bedroom.

So much has gone, so much has changed and even if the buildings were slums, would we not all go back if we possibly could? Thanks for the memories 🙂

By: Sheila butt

Sheila butt — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 17:44:50 +0000

Hi John yes you are right Stephen Keppel is my cousin and Betty vigas her sister grant was my mums best friend glad you found it a good read thank you Sheila.

By: John Hooker

John Hooker — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 14:47:31 +0000

Very interesting article, I remember these buildings.
The families of Keppel and Vigas living in the same buildings are also interesting.
I lived on Dinmont Estate and went to Sebright school.
Both Stephen Keppel and Betty Vigas attended the same school and both families lived in the same block of flats off Pritchards road overlooking the Rec.
They would be in their early sixties now.
Coincidence ? Or part of same families mentioned in the article ?

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 11:01:40 +0000

Sheila very much identifiable from the older photograph to today’s. Same spirit and light in the eyes, with chin tilted up to meet the world still there. Sheila and her family very much embedded in the history and fabric of the London East End. A great read.

By: Caroline Bottomley

Caroline Bottomley — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 07:45:52 +0000

What a brilliant story, thanks for sharing it

By: Vanda Human

Vanda Human — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 05:43:52 +0000

Interesting article, but I get so angry when I see how people have destroyed old building with their graffitti. Do they have no respect for anything.