Comments on: A Walk With Suresh Singh

By: Amita

Amita — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 14:29:02 +0000

How lovely to see the Franta Belsky sculpture. There was a similar one in the grounds of Rosa Bassett School in South London where I was a pupil in the 1970s. and yes, by the same artist.
https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?i=196789&WINID=1719411854156

By: Cherub

Cherub — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 10:08:54 +0000

I also loved my local public library as a child. It was upstairs and shared the building with an NHS clinic downstairs. Everything was oak, the wood paneling and the bookcases. I couldn’t wait to turn 12 because that was when you got access to the adult part of the library (I had a reading age beyond my years).
When I returned home to live after 20 years in London I rejoined, but was really disappointed to find the council had replaced all the beautiful oak bookcases with flat pack style white ones.
It then moved to the outskirts of town when they built a new high school there and is now luxury flats. Progress as they say.

People in Britain take things for granted when they are provided free of charge, here in Switzerland you have to pay an annual fee to join a local library, in my area they are run by a charity.

By: Bailey Jones

Bailey Jones — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 17:00:04 +0000

Suresh’s love of his locality comes across so well. Interesting historical detail about Christ Church, plus a big shout out for libraries.

An uplifting read.

By: Adele

Adele — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 15:50:17 +0000

Beautifully written Suresh. My love of books grew thanks to the Whitechapel Library. It has always been a haven for immigrants. My grandfather, who didn’t read or write English, would go to the library to read the Polish and Yiddish newspapers. That was back in pre WWI times.

By: Debra. E. Sewell

Debra. E. Sewell — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 11:50:39 +0000

This was a marvelous article. I could picture him as a little boy walking the streets to/from school. and his BEAUTIFUL little boy face when he entered the library that stole his heart and opened the doors to his future.

Thank you!

when I can I’m going to order his book.

Debra

By: Katrina BURTON

Katrina BURTON — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 09:26:28 +0000

Lovely post, thank you.

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 09:21:34 +0000

A wonderful and inspiring glimpse into Suresh’s life. Love the ‘ensemble’ he’s wearing too. He sounds a real character.

By: Louise Felder

Louise Felder — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 08:46:51 +0000

What a beautifully written piece, which evokes my memories of the East End too. Working in Brick Lane in the 1980s and spending many lunch hours walking round the back streets of the area, including visiting the old synagogue in Princelet Street. Your memories recall the street life, scenes and smells of the East End then.

By: Karen Rennie

Karen Rennie — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:44:20 +0000

Thankyou Suresh, those are wonderful memories. The importance of Whitechapel library resonates with so many generations that have grown up in the area. My own dad was one of these back in the 1920s. His mum was also illiterate, but understood the importance of education.
You look very fine with your smart bicycle too.

By: Joan

Joan — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 06:57:32 +0000

I also received a grant from the Sir John Cass foundation (these days the Portal Trust) back in 1982. In my case it was arranged by local Stepney councillor John Brannigan, who my family knew as he was a parishioner at the same Catholic Church as us. My father died suddenly aged 56 when I was in my second year at university. The sums just did not add up for me to continue, even though I had the standard full grant. The money awarded to me by the foundation meant that I was able to continue my studies and come home from Manchester to Stepney for regular visits with my grieving family. They were a life saver.