Comments on: Linda Carney, Machinist

By: Anders Bellis

Anders Bellis — Thu, 09 May 2019 21:08:15 +0000

Dear Gentle Author,

you mention that Linda Carney looks as glamorous behind her machine as Lynn Redgrave, Julie Christie, Rita Tushingham, and Barbara Windsor did in films made in London in the sixties. That she truly does.

But let me also add that this life story on Spitalfields Life reads like the summary of a screenplay for a wonderful film, not least because of the touching ending.

You continue, Gentle Author, to search out people who can tell us delighted Spitalfields Life readers interesting, nostalgic, heart-warming, sometimes sad, and always fascinating stories about their lives – and you do their stories great justice in your writing.

Thank you.

By: stephanie Janet pemberton

stephanie Janet pemberton — Sun, 05 May 2019 13:23:22 +0000

In here, lies much of the Gentle Author’s magic – the ease with which he leaps between generations to offer a rare moment of shared shards of humanity

By: Bob Taylor

Bob Taylor — Sun, 05 May 2019 13:15:00 +0000

What a brilliant story,enjoyed immensely.

By: Jamie S

Jamie S — Sun, 05 May 2019 12:24:41 +0000

Another wonderful personal story, and piece of social history. Thank you for sharing as always

By: Glenda Hicks

Glenda Hicks — Sun, 05 May 2019 11:05:15 +0000

Loved the photo of Linda standing by the Mini, registration “204 FLY”.
We used to have an Austin in th late 1960s, can’t remember the model but not a mini.
The registration number was “11 FLY”…….that brought back some memories!

By: Maureen Cocklin (née) Buckle

Maureen Cocklin (née) Buckle — Sun, 05 May 2019 10:38:02 +0000

Takes me right back to that time. I to love ska and reggae, I still do.
My husband’s aunt was a machinist and a very good one. It’s a shame the industry was lost. Commercial Road and Whitechapel Road towards Aldgate were full of these businesses.

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Sun, 05 May 2019 10:04:37 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, thanks for the story of Linda Carney and her recollections of working in Spitalfields “back in the day.” Such a variety of occupations and pursuits – the poulterers, the furriers, the “button makers and purveyors of ribbons and trimmings” etc.

I wonder how the furriers would fare today? Most women in our area would be harassed off the streets if they dared to wear a fur coat. And buttons? I had occasion to need new buttons for an outfit a few years ago and found only a miniscule selection.

Kudos to Linda for still looking glamorous…

By: Richard Armiger

Richard Armiger — Sun, 05 May 2019 10:01:55 +0000

It’s always nice to read Spit’Life’s latest on the Soup Kitchen in Brune street – esp’ of the ‘bales of cotton carried in and out of the warehouse next-door’ – 16 Brune being more usually often overlooked. Good things happened in there.

In there, Sebastian de Ferranti, and Jan Kaplicky would both bound up the stairs keen to see work-in-progress (on separated days it must be said).

I loved -and hated- that studio and neighborhood, but Brune is better than bedroom….

If Gentle Author’s raison d’etre is to make ‘small’ people’s history both larger and wider known, take note…

Sebastian’s Henbury Rotunda model later begat the V&A’s Chiswick Villa model, which begat the Westminster Abbey models of 2014 & 2019 (the latter, sadly, not made in £-out-of-reach London).

Later, years before they became knightedly famous, came David Chipperfield, Rik Mather, John McAslan and bla, bla, and Sir bla…

All this reminds me of witnessing my youngster architects repeating that good joke; ‘better to be fostered by Rogers, than rogered by Foster’ – but that’s another story.

Regards to all, esp Linda,

Rick Armiger

http://www.networkmodelmakers.com

By: Karen Rennie

Karen Rennie — Sun, 05 May 2019 09:14:47 +0000

lovely piece. Linda conveys the wonderful sense of community that we seem to have lost a bit in Britain. Of course it was harsh conditions, but everyone seemed to rally together. Perhaps I am seeing it with ‘rose-tinted’ glasses?

By: Bailey Jones

Bailey Jones — Sun, 05 May 2019 07:50:09 +0000

Engaging memories. I loved the references to young Linda’s social life as she danced the night away to ska and reggae beats after working long hours in the sewing trade. Working in those conditions, she deserved the best nights out.