Comments on: George Gladwell’s Photos Of Columbia Rd

By: Lin

Lin — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 14:55:45 +0000

So nice to see columbia road flower market in black and white as well as colour.
I have painting of the flower market a gift from my grandaughter who knew I would love it as grew up round the corner,always a sunday visit to booths for the papers and flowers for my mum.would you have any idea the door number of booths.

By: Gary Noakes

Gary Noakes — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 03:52:53 +0000

My family had three stalls across from the pub, they were my Mum and Dad (Vera and Bert Noakes) My uncle Albert Playle with is son Colin and is wife Linda and my uncle Ernie and is wife Mary. There are three photo here showing Albert lorry, Collier Road nursery writer on it, then one with Alberts son Colin and is Wife Linda and one with Ernie and Mary Playle. Great memories, thank you.

By: Andy Harnett

Andy Harnett — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 00:08:14 +0000

Love these old photos. I have the original of my grandad Albert Harnett and his sister my aunt Lil somewhere. Also great to see my uncle Jack in the unnamed photo under Colin Roberts and of course uncle Fred. I have fond memories of my Sunday’s working at the market as a boy. Very proud of the long family connection to such an iconic London market

By: Jeff Walker

Jeff Walker — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 12:20:32 +0000

George Gladwell was my stepdad for almost 50 years, when I was young (12 upwards) I used to work his stall along with my brother & sisters and of course Mum, I can remember when myself, my brother and Mum would get there early and he would always rock up at 12:30 ish and stay until the very last, in those days the market would close at 2 and we wouldn’t leave until 4 or 5.
He was the oldest trader in the market and at the age of 91 he has sadly passed away. He died on Sunday evening 19th April 2020 at 6:05, its not so long ago at time on Sunday evening he would have just finish after unloading the van after a busy day in Columbia Road.
We have been very lucky to have had him in our lives and I am very proud to call him Dad.

RIP George William Gladwell
09/12/1928 – 19/04/2020
God Bless.

By: Colin

Colin — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 19:58:59 +0000

Love these photos – as with so many articles on SL. Worked around there just before the big changes to the area / east in general and it was still low key and not much different to as seen here. About 3 years on it was changing rapidly, but Im already going back 20 years or so!

I read elsewhere and this is a perfect example is ordinary photos will become extraordinary given time. It is looking back to a time we were in and find hard to recognise now.

Thank goodness and thanks for George’s photos and fascinating description of his times in Columbia Road

By: Sian Rees

Sian Rees — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 16:46:28 +0000

Sometimes when the market was packed with people and the traders needed to replenish their stalls with plants they used to encourage the crowd to let the metal trolleys through with this call:

‘Mind your bums,
Here he comes.
Mind your toes,
There he goes.’

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 09:15:26 +0000

Great article for a Sunday morning.

By: Di Corry

Di Corry — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 08:51:10 +0000

Thank you for a Sunday morning stroll through a familiar place I loved being taken as a child with my dad.
George’s photos have captured some happy memories for me…….the ‘flower market’ just as I remember it.

By: Caroline Bottomley

Caroline Bottomley — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 08:23:57 +0000

That’s nice to know about. I love Colombia Road flower market. Thanks