Comments on: Rory Stewart Declares His Support To Save The Whitechapel Bell Foundry

By: Jude

Jude — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 14:17:23 +0000

In researching my family history I discovered this. It’s Shetland Isles – a long way from London.

“Externally, the church is a fairly plain, grey-harled box, with a bell tower at the top of the west gable. The bell in residence dates back to 1858. It seems likely that the material it is cast from, in London’s Whitechapel, came in part from an earlier Bressay bell dating back to 1723.”

The parish church.

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 04:12:05 +0000

I was delighted to be there to hear Rory’s impromptu speech outside the foundry and to realise that he totally gets why it is so important to save it.

Let the bells ring out indeed!

By: mlaiuppa

mlaiuppa — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 00:47:27 +0000

Keep the pressure up. Jenrick may feel now that he is safely elected he can blow you off. So keep those letters going to keep the Bell foundry foremost in his mind.

As for Tower Hamlets, it wouldn’t hurt to point out the very questionable procedure that brought you to this point. Seems to me there are quite a few violations of proper procedure. Those responsible should be held accountable. Perhaps even….replaced.

By: Laura Williamson

Laura Williamson — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 16:34:28 +0000

This is encouraging and all party politics aside, good for Rory in recognising the importance of this.

As Ron says above, this is the genuine coming together of a rich and diverse community in a common cause.

Wishing the peace and happiness of the season to all involved in the fight.

By: Jane Godden

Jane Godden — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 16:00:00 +0000

So pleased that Rory Stewart is lending his support to the campaign to save the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. My great great grandfather worked there in the 1850s/1860s so I feel particularly strongly about this, it is part of my family history.

By: Paul Loften

Paul Loften — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 14:28:46 +0000

I was a bit miffed when I went by car to the protest outside the Tower Hamlets Town Hall and followed the map coordinates and found myself being stuck in traffic in the middle of the Blackwall Tunnel with a voice telling me I had reached my destination I never did find the new Town Hall i and had to give up as the traffic was so bad in the rush hour. I should have used public transport. But we live to fight on.and we will save the foundry. with the help of ordinary folk like me and public figures like Rory Stewart .

By: Nicola

Nicola — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:36:49 +0000

I got my letter off in support. Great that Rory has joined the cause: this must surely help.

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 13:36:30 +0000

Well done, all!

On the day you hear the Foundry has been saved (and you will indeed hear that!) I hope one of your powerful signs will be donated to the Museum of London.

There it will be a permanent reminder of how a community worked together and accomplished great things.

2020–a happy new year is certainly in front of the Foundry supporters.

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 11:37:24 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, that is good news – that Rory Steward provides his strong support for the preservation of the Bell Foundry in the East End. What a career he has had! I enjoyed his books, THE PLACES IN BETWEEN, about his solo walk across Afghanistan in 2001 and later PRINCE OF THE MARSHES that presented a “sobering picture of the difficulties involved in creating a coherent Iraqi state based on the rule of law.”

Kudos to all in continuing the good fight.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 11:32:12 +0000

Well done GA and the amazing community for gaining Rory’s endorsement.

l spoke with Sufia at the first meeting at the Mosque and was very impressed with her solid support – a lovely person too.

l felt all was not lost at that horrible planning meeting and a small miracle WOULD prevail.

Blessings to beloved Schrodinger who has taken the greatest feline care of the GA during recovery from breaking his arm while helping a good cause.

Fond wishes to all GA readers around the world at Christmas time. Lovely to read all your comments.