Comments on: Cecile Moss Of Old Montague St

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 10:02:03 +0000

Thank goodness this story had a happy ending. I never considered I had a privileged upbringing, but my childhood seems idyllic compared to the early years of this brave lady. My late husband and I had a holiday to Jamaica in 1987. We loved the country. Irie!

By: John Parham

John Parham — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 16:41:40 +0000

It was so good to see this. I was glad to meet Cecile, though sadly it was at a funeral in East London back at the end of March last year. We had quite a long chat about mutual friends in the old East End. Such a beautiful lady. Sending her all good wishes from Whitechapel!

By: Cherub

Cherub — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 15:59:22 +0000

What a touching story, but I was very sad at the part about being bullied at school. I don’t like to think it was about race or colour, but know it could have been. Sadly my late mother in law was an Eastender with a bad attitude and she was very racist about people she saw as outsiders – even me as I’m Scottish!

By: Debra. E. Sewell

Debra. E. Sewell — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 13:49:48 +0000

I loved her story. They were proud of whom they were, where they came from and WORKED towards a future. Mom had a vision of future for herself and kids and DID NOT LOOK FOR SOME BROKE DOWN MAN to get her new life. A proud teacher and responsible mum.

I liked she found her place, a good career and now helping others get their futures too. I loved when she said she spoke Cockney, even though the Jamaican language is very musical and happy.

Thank you for her story and photos

By: achim

achim — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 11:22:23 +0000

Cecile’s wonderful story is a very touching one. Thank you for letting me share it with you!

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 11:20:35 +0000

Uplifting story from Cecile.
Loving the juxtaposition between block of flats and slums. Now the flats are the slums.
Great painting and sketches from Geoffrey Fletcher to acompany a fine story.

By: aubrey

aubrey — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 10:05:27 +0000

I well remember Old Montague St in the early 50’s. My mother’s parents lived there. I can’t remember the number of the house but they lived in appalling conditions in a few rooms within the house: a rat infested **’@ hole. I think that had about 6 children: my aunts and uncles; now all dead. My grandmother spoke only Yiddish whilst my grandfather coped with broken English and worked as a carpenter in brick lane. I was told he ran away from Tsarist Russia.

By: Keith Hagan

Keith Hagan — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 09:07:06 +0000

What a great story, full of warmth, humour and insight. Cecile paints a very vivid picture of life in the area at that time. I look forward to the Gentle Author’s blog every day, and today’s is amongst the most engaging for a while. Thank you for this lovely story!

By: Peter Hiller

Peter Hiller — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 08:41:21 +0000

Very interesting social history story thank you so much. C.ecile’s journey from beautiful Jamaica to a grimy East End life should be read to children today. Might, just might place avarice in perspective…?

By: Greg T

Greg T — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 08:28:04 +0000

Beautiful
Thank you