Comments on: Ron McCormick’s Spitalfields & Whitechapel

By: kevin wragg

kevin wragg — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 12:22:02 +0000

grew up in whitechapel in the sixties we lived in durward st my dad used to drink in the roebuck pub my sister lived in brady buildings along the road my dad worked at prescotts fruit and veg wholesalers in spitalfields market sometimes we would go club row on sundays and look around the stalls also go to ziffs chicken slaughterhouse on hessell st to get a chicken for dinner on heath and safety in those days blood and guts all over the floor and the workers would be smokeing as they were killing the birds

By: Ron McCormick

Ron McCormick — Sun, 01 May 2022 19:50:19 +0000

Fifty years anniversary for these pictures.
Thank you to the Gentle Author for resurrecting them. I am still photographing, although now based in South Wales I still have a strong affection for the old East End and still make the occasional visit.
As Andy Strowman commented, I was involved with Chris Searle in the publication of Stepney Words a book of childrens poetry from the John Cass School at Stepney Green, in 1971 and only a few of years ago published a new volume – Stepney Words III with poems by children from four east end schools in the larger Whitechapel area. This book contains a set of new photographs from a recent visit in 2017 and can also be found on http://www.communimedia.bigcartel.com along with WHITECHAPEL BOY the most recent book that contains 76 pictures from the 1970s.
You can see a page run-thru at: https://vimeo.com/265492789

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 01 May 2022 07:01:34 +0000

Thank you Ron for lending permission to Chris andvI forthe cover of my book of poems “Story of a Stepney boy”, with one of your photos.

The book has just had another reprint and if anybody would like to buy a copy please contact me and I wikl post it out. It is not expensive.
andy.strowman1@gmail.com

My book of poetry runs in tandem with the above photographs.
I lived in Whitechapel from 1953 till 1973.
Went to Robert Montefiore Primary school and Davenant.

Thanks to Chris Searle and Ron McCormick for recogbising my poems and encouraging me.
Bleee them and the Gentle Author for doing the same.
All emotional to me as I write,

Andy Strowman

By: Peter Holford

Peter Holford — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 19:36:05 +0000

So Harry Worth had a sideline in selling flowers.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 18:56:35 +0000

Vibrant portraits of life.
The one of the boy jumping on the rooftop reminds me strongly of the Cartier-Bresson picture of the man launching himself off a ladder to try and avoid a flooded area, without any hope of doing so. These are beautiful and wonderful studies. Ron McCormick truly has it.

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 14:53:26 +0000

The last photograph, of the young boy in boots, brings to mind some of your Nippers of long ago.

And I know you can’t reply but when I see these and similar photos I am always wondering why there was no refuse/garbage collection done by the local government on a regular basis? Neighbours just expected to kick cartons as they walked about each day? Markets weren’t responsible for the refuse they created?
If a reader can offer information I would appreciate it. We are fortunate now to have weekly disposal visits to keep communities clean. Lucky us!

By: Marnie Sweet

Marnie Sweet — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 13:03:17 +0000

My goodness! The bottling girl on the right could be The Countess’ sister!

By: Annie S

Annie S — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 09:18:36 +0000

Brilliant set of photographs!

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 08:42:01 +0000

The seventies… That’s only 50 years ago and yet, lookingat these pictures, it seems ages have gone by. Perhaps because they are black & whte. I had the feeling they belonged to another world. But they’re fantastic, absolutely fantastic. Thank you, as always.

By: achim

achim — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 08:40:47 +0000

Oh yes, the 70s…. what do you think happened to all those people? I would like to know…

Love & Peace
ACHIM