Comments on: Vivian Betts At The Primrose

By: Barbara Pereira nee Monk

Barbara Pereira nee Monk — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 18:22:09 +0000

I new you Vivian growing up my mum and dad were Edie & Jim Monk. We spent a great many evenings in The Primrose I remember being there for Michael’s 21st birthday I was 15 and the first time I got drunk was sick all over my sister Lynda’s lap. I also remember our holidays together in Italy. Such a long time ago.xx

By: mick hardie

mick hardie — Sat, 28 Apr 2018 15:37:44 +0000

Used to go to The primrose on a Saturday night with my wife to be Doreen Delaney and her friend Gwen Judge and Gwens mum cissie. The all lived in Peabodys in Commercial Street.
Gwens boyfriend Colin used to play the Drums in a band there on Saturday night.(early 60s)
I used to be in the same class as Michael at Robert Montefiore.
Enjoyed reading your story and looking at the old photos.
Spitalfields very trendy these days.

By: Peter King

Peter King — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 17:09:40 +0000

Such warm memories of a great childhood and teenage years.
A whole different world to how it is today.

By: Tina Ansell

Tina Ansell — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 12:15:04 +0000

I knew Vivian when we first went to nursery at Canon Barnet and that’s me sitting next to her in the photo. We grew up together and were always in and out each other’s houses. Even though Viv lived in a pub it didn’t seem weird to me and I remember I would stay there on a Saturday night and we would sneak downstairs when there were live bands on and watch through the door even though we were supposed to be upstairs lol. When we were 11 we went to different senior schools but still hung around together. Unfortunately I moved to Bethnal Green when I was 12 and we lost touch.
We have now got in touch with one another through Facebook and have been in touch about a year. We are seeing each other next Saturday 24th for the first time in over 50 years. Cannot wait. Looking forward to it so much and to seeing lots of others that I’ve not seen in all that time. Great memories

By: Nile

Nile — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 14:57:26 +0000

The windows of my office overlook the soulless glass-and-concrete canyon that is Primrose Street today.

Nothing remains in my sight, of the landmarks in those photographs, save the girders of a bridge across the railway.

Someone, somewhere, considers themselves richer by this: I cannot begin to describe the poverty that exists within them.

By: gkbowood

gkbowood — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 16:28:14 +0000

Wonderful story, the clothes everyone wore really took me back !

By: R N Hurdle

R N Hurdle — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:14:31 +0000

Great nostalgic story. Would love to hear your accent.

By: Jim McDermott

Jim McDermott — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 10:24:18 +0000

Ms Betts could certainly get away with those 60s skirts! A lovely story, unfortunately blighted by that last photo. Modern Bishopsgate – motto: humans not welcome.

By: Jonathan Madden

Jonathan Madden — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 10:08:25 +0000

A wonderful story from another world, the characters and social fabric of the area forced away forever.

By: richard Ince

richard Ince — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 09:32:43 +0000

Hi Vivian

James Ince & Sons Umbrellas were over the road from the pub and our old building is in the black and white shot with you in your big hat.
Remembering Prescotts in Spital Square and The Alma Restaurant. I was too young to have been in the pub but remember the building well. We moved out in ’85 so missed the demolition of all the buildings in the pictures. They filmed Mona Lisa (Bob Hoskins, rip) in Primrose St and the Queen used to go down there on her way to platform 9 for the Royal Train going to Sandringham!!
All the best.
Richard