Comments on: Raphael Samuel’s Farewell To Spitalfields

By: Jill Wilson

Jill Wilson — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 12:50:38 +0000

I can feel another banner coming on… UNSPEAKABLE MODERNITY! (nice/horrible phrase Raphael)

Let’s hope that the fate of the Truman Brewery will be the turning of the tide in favour of small scale, community based, human and planet friendly businesses (nice phrase Kelly)

By: Pauline Kiernan

Pauline Kiernan — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 12:10:40 +0000

Thank you so much, Gentle Author. This has prompted fond memories of listening to Raphael when he was at Ruskin (where else?)

A great loss to historical writing – and brilliant prose style. He always reminded me of Hazlitt.
Thank you again.
Best wishes,
Pauline

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 10:34:02 +0000

Dear Gentle Author,

I hope you get a chance to interview Judy Sumray, who provided the first comment today.
She sounds delightful. Ninety-seven, on the computer, and keenly observant, ‘wobbly legs’ and all!

I, too, thank you for the ‘varied everything’ you provide every day.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 09:15:14 +0000

While lamenting the disheartening proposal for Truman’s Brewery, l found Raphael’s history and warning prophecy both fascinating and uplifting due to its detail and eloquence.

Having spent my first waking hour mesmerised by the jackdaw, rook and crow babies toddling about on my lawn, l was slightly dismayed to learn that Mr Horner’s previous job title as CROW SCARER actually existed in the 1800s.

My next hour was spent looking up and cross referencing “PALIMPSEST” as one often does for an extraordinary length of time with any new word discovery.

l then decided that Photo No 4 might be an almost staged iconic example of ‘palimpsestous’ : the symbolic city banker strolling to work between the demolition lorry and a Spitalfield trader’s forklift, while a local resident scurries away with her haul of bargain cauliflowers balanced on a pram.
Everyone in the upheaval of today’s disturbing scenario is represented.
The photo would make a striking painting.

By: Kelly Holman

Kelly Holman — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 08:34:31 +0000

Another fantastic piece. I do not live in Spitalfields and I know I have a naive view of the world or how I would like it to be, but it seems that now, more than ever, we should be promoting diversity and everything that is small-scale, community-orientated, human and planet friendly.

By: Herry

Herry — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 07:14:10 +0000

Fascinating.

By: Judy Sumray

Judy Sumray — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 05:49:27 +0000

Can’t thank you enough……have great interest in and fascination about/with this whole area, now 97, wobbly legs, but blessed Gentle Author……..you did visit Mary Feilding Guild when it was flourishing…..now sold to serial care home property developer for demolition and redevelopment……it was a unique site, of course……staff and residents all (legally) evicted.

Am now in ‘Trees’ Highgate…..purpose built/designed…if you did have the time/interest, possibly worth a visit…..

Thank you again for giving me, everyday allthis varied EVERYTHING!!!