Comments on: Tony Bock At Watney Market

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:42:13 +0000

I recall riding my rickety old post office bicycle around the East End as a telegram messenger in the 1970s and riding up and around Watney Market, Wapping High Street, the rough end of Stepney, Cable Street, Commercial Street and Commercial Road. Watney Street market, Spitalfields Market and Petticoat Lane Market were in full flow and very busy. All changed now

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:46:21 +0000

Tony Bock, thanks for your note here. I was looking to see what you’ve been up to.

My thanks to you for capturing the Toronto I first met when I immigrated to Canada in 1974. You and Boris Spremo are the two photographers I remember from those years.

Fifty years I’ve been in Canada. I hope some of the GA’s readers will recognize their long-ago East End the same way. First impressions last!

By: Christine Swan

Christine Swan — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 08:08:46 +0000

Thanks Tony, I’m pleased to hear things worked out well and you got what you needed from the course. I work in Education and it is disappointing that we have policies and pass marks without consideration for what happens next – but don’t get me started on that! I’ll take a look at your other work, thank you.

Peter, Bury market definitely sounds like my kind of place. Definitely worth a visit and cheaper to get to than Provence! Thank you too.

By: Peter Holford

Peter Holford — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 19:26:15 +0000

Markets like the Provencal ones Christine? Try Bury Market in Greater Manchester – the British equivalent with fresh food – meat, fish, veg, cheeses and of course black puddings. Then there are the clothes, cheap toiletries, etc. I remember the London markets and have been to several French markets and many of ours are dying. But there are some left in the North and Bury is the best – it usually wins the award of best British market.

I guess this has turned out to be an advert for the Bury Tourist Board!

By: Tony Bock

Tony Bock — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 12:42:17 +0000

Christine Swan, thanks for taking the time to write these interesting comments. In 1972 I failed my second year at a prestigious photography school in Toronto. Although I had gained much in my two years there, I was rather annoyed at being told not to come back. However, in hindsight it was probably the best thing that could have happened. If you look at the pictures recently published by Cafe Royal Books you can see what I was doing at the time. https://www.caferoyalbooks.com/international/tony-bock-social-landscapes-toronto-19701972

And Linda Granfield, thanks for posting the link to my recently published book. Cafe Royal Books has over the years published a number of excellent photographers whose work has been featured on Spitalfields Life.

By: Linda Granfield

Linda Granfield — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 11:37:18 +0000

Hello from Toronto. In 2010 Tony Bock retired as a Toronto Star photographer.

His 1970s photos of Toronto, compiled in a small book, can be seen via this link. Click on the thumbnail photos and they will enlarge.

https://www.caferoyalbooks.com/international/tony-bock-social-landscapes-toronto-19701972

By: Jill Eljadi

Jill Eljadi — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 10:32:54 +0000

Those markets were where actual LIFE happened
A great former life long missed but not forgotten in many areas.

(My mother being a true market shopper –
I remember midlands markets Leicester, Corby and Stamford where real shopping happened in the 50’s and 60’s ? Thankyou for the great photography, full of memories of real life people)

By: Roel van der List

Roel van der List — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 08:45:01 +0000

Photography at it’s best: as a social timemachine. Fantastic!

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 08:23:20 +0000

Evocative photos.. My Mum and I used to go there every week when I was little.. I would hurry to keep up with her and her shopping trolley.
My favourite was Alfie the toy seller, who used to come from Southend.
If I was good I sometimes got a little toy.. Anybody remember Alfie?

By: Richard Turkington

Richard Turkington — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 07:09:25 +0000

As a local resident (in Sidney Street), I’m not sure what’s meant by the need for ‘a new initiative to revive Watney Market’ when the market is thriving on most days offering a fabulous range of fruit and veg , clothing and kitchen ware all at bargain prices and especially serving the local ethnic populations. There are gaps in the stalls on some days so some encouragement is required but what’s really needed is for the market area to be upgraded, it looks as though it’s been neglected for years – and do something with the dreadful closed down ‘Thomas Neale’ pub!