Comments on: People On The Street & A Cat

By: Ros

Ros — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 20:52:05 +0000

I think John Claridge is a lucky man, to have known so early what he wanted to do, to have followed it though, and to have made a whole life from the beauty and poetry of his photography. Spitalfields in the late 60s and 70s was full of people who had fallen through life’s cracks and were often isolated and uncared for. But John’s love and tender feelings shine through, and this is part of what makes the pictures so moving.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 13:26:55 +0000

The wonderful John Claridge! There is no better recorder of the old East End.

By: Paul Loften

Paul Loften — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 11:24:32 +0000

A striking reminder of a lost world .Thank you for the wonderful photos , both John and GA .
The lost world of Spitalfields has many layers in time . The question asked about the boy with the hat brings back a memory from my fathers era. He grew up in Raven Row the back street of the Old London Hospital . He once told me when he was about the same age as the boy , it must’ve been the 1920’s a man with a barrow trundled down the cobbled street selling old Pith helmets dating from the Boer War . Of course all the children rushed out with a penny in their hands to grab one and the old barrow was pushed away empty with the seller pleased as punch.
The street became full of the children wearing the old Boer Helmets playing war games .
The following week He was in a ward of The London Hospital full up with the same children suffering from an outbreak of scabbies caught from the helmets. He knew every one of the children there with him so at least they had a good time there . He mentioned the fondness of the nursing staff that looked after the children . I think they had a good time too

By: Mathilde Grange

Mathilde Grange — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 09:15:50 +0000

Each one of these pictures carries a story behind it. Of course, my favorite is at the ’59 Club, 1973, and the cat looking at the camera.

By: Murray

Murray — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 08:07:12 +0000

The most hearfelt and lucid east end photos

By: achim

achim — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 08:05:08 +0000

John Claridge has remained true to his own style over the decades. That, too, is what makes his photos so special.

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: Di Corry

Di Corry — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 07:09:23 +0000

And these scenes were once “commonplace” to me too…..
Thank you John for capturing a world that most of the newcomers, eager to live in the ‘fashionable East End’ now …would not understand or appreciate.