Comments on: Daniele Lamarche’s East End

By: Aysha Begum

Aysha Begum — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 02:28:52 +0000

Googled Daniele as she just crossed my mind in recent weeks. Had the privilege of working with her on a video project for the V&A many years ago while I was a media student at Tower Hamlets College. Happy to see her work being recognised.

By: Ros

Ros — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 21:22:26 +0000

These as much as any of the many wonderful photographic records you have featured show the poverty and sorrows, joys and hopes of the areas round Spitalfields and Bethnal Green at that time. They are disturbing, moving and profound. It grieves me to think of what has been thrown out hook line and sinker to make way for so much bland yuppiedom.

By: Sarah Ainslie

Sarah Ainslie — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 17:49:42 +0000

These are very tender, beautiful and strong photographs. Such interesting people I hope we see more of them.

By: David

David — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 14:02:13 +0000

“An experience which afforded the unlikely observation that the lettered fascias on shops and street signs are placed high because they were originally designed to be at eye-level for those sitting in horse-drawn vehicles.” OMG, of course!Why have I never realised this before? The same reason for many of the unique shapes of buildings and signs in LA in the 50s and 60s…they were designed to be noticeable at 30 mph.

By: Phil maxwell

Phil maxwell — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 11:01:19 +0000

Womderful.

By: Jose Cadaveira

Jose Cadaveira — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 21:11:00 +0000

Simply fabulous photos! Thanks for sharing!

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 13:50:16 +0000

Very interesting reading and lovley photos.

Thank you for sharing them with us.

“Great blog’

Mark Bo

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 09:42:46 +0000

Terribly moving, poignant. Thank you.

By: mark edwards

mark edwards — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 09:37:54 +0000

The highlight of last year was being introduced to Spitalfieldslife.

Particularly the varied subjects the gentle author covers.
Thank you and keep up the good work!

Mark

By: Steve Hanscomb

Steve Hanscomb — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 09:18:14 +0000

What a very thought provoking collection of photographs and stories, a very mixed bag of emotions. The last one, the farewell from the Market Cafe, puts me in mind of the last day at City Snacks on Theobald’s Road.
I used the cafe for many years on my way to work, usually just to buy a cappuccino, but sometimes to stop in and enjoy sitting at one of the formica booths and to be served by the faultlessly polite and friendly staff.
The cafe was run by an Italian family, an older gentleman and his wife and his two sons. I loved to have a quick chat while waiting for my coffee, talking about families and the way of the world, or just nonsense. I would always leave with a smile and a sense of being part of London somehow. Places like this, so rare now, feel like a home from home.
Then one day I detected a sort of nervousness in the air at City Snacks and was told that the cafe was to close for a re-furbishment very soon. I asked why? The cafe had been used numerous times as a film location because of it’s immaculate 1960’s interior, not shabby at all, a real gem. I knew there was trouble, they wouldn’t change this place they were so proud of. I said, please keep the booths, they are wonderful. The reply was, it was up to the owners of the building what they were going to do. The answer was enough, I knew they were to close for good then. But I felt it would hurt their pride to push the subject.
The last day was emotional. The cafe was packed with people like me and my cappuccino was free this day. I wished everyone well and tried to tell them how grateful I was for all of the happy visits over the years. I kept the coffee cup for a while.
City Snacks is a dry cleaners now. I wish I had not been so reserved and asked for a forwarding address as I’d have liked to send them a Christmas card again. God bless them all.