Crowdfund Report

David Hoffman’s photograph of anti-racists occupying Brick Lane to prevent the National Front from setting up its stall following the racist murder of Altab Ali, a Bengali garment worker, in 1978

Our crowdfund closed yesterday and, thanks to the generous contributions of 180 readers of Spitalfields Life, we raised £10,952 in twenty-eight days. Consequently, I am overjoyed to be able to confirm that David Hoffman’s exhibition of his Whitechapel photography ENDURANCE & JOY will open at the Museum of the Home on 15th October and run until 30th March. After the exhibition closes, David’s framed photographs will become part of the Museum’s permanent collection as the legacy of our project.

Over coming months, there will be a programme of events, discussions and lectures accompanying the exhibition at the Museum which we will announce shortly and we look forward to welcoming you to these.

Thank you to all our donors without whom none of this would be happening:

Sarah Ainslie, Sophie Alderson, Kate Amis, Elizabeth Aumeer , Kate Bacon, Joan Bailey, Michael Bareham, B Y Beech, M Boulesteix, Iain Boyd, Michael Jake Brown, Jonathan Bunn, Jonathan Cherr, Colin Childerley, John Clark, Michael Coleman, Harriet Coles, Nicola Crosse, Charlotte Crow, Rosie Dastgir, Maura Dooley, Josephine Eglin, Laurence Elks, Marion Elliot, Barbara Emami, Sally Fear, Gillian Figures, Deborah Finkler, Linda Florio, Laura L France, Nora Franglen, Vivian French, Louise Fry, Chris Gad, Jon Gertler, Deby Goldsmith, Andrew Jamieson-Greaves, Tracey Gregory, Jayne Hamilton, Mark Hamsher, Georgette Harrison, Julia Harrison, David Heath, Stella Herbert, Angela Mary Hobsbaum, Graham Hollis, Charlotte Ruth Hope, Lorelei Hunt, Jessica Hunter, Brian Hurwitz, Joan Isaac, Jane James, Chrina Jarvis, Annie Johns, Andrew Jones, Ron Joyce, Frances Homan Jue, Hilda Kean, Michael Keating, Sonja Khambatta, Niall Kishtainy, Leah Kloss, Vivien Knott, Sumitra Lahiri, Bridget Leach, Marie Lenclos, Jenny Linford, Martin Ling, Sarah Ludford, Imogen Malpas, Anne-Marie Marriott, Brian Mcauley, Jill Mead, Nigel Mellor, Shio Miyazaki, Daniel Moorey, Barry Mordsley, Maria Morgan, Jeremy Musson, Mysore, Rachel Nolan, Gilbert O’Brien, Vivienne Palmer, Monica Paolini, Peter Parker, Miss ME Percival, Chris Plumley, Kate Pocock, Jeffrey Ian Press, Jonathan Pryce, Anthony Quinn, Miss Helen E Rimell, Gilda Williams Ruggi, Jennifer Russell, Jane Ryan, Adam Scorer, Julie Scott, Mary Scott, Chris Sharp, Irina Shumovitch Mick Skipworth, Rob Small, Mary Smith, Rachel Darnley-Smith, A Sparks, Louise Stack, Lawrence P Stevenson, Graham Styles, Steve Szilagyi, Farokh Talati, Pen Thompson, Sophie Thompson, Susan Tiffin, Toby Titter, Christopher Turner, Simon Walker, Arabella Warner, Nicky Webb, Simon Wedgwood, Charlie De Wet, Katherine West, Jane Williamson, Jill Wilson and those who chose to remain anonymous.

We were humbled by our supporters magnanimous comments.

Very much looking forward to this exhibition. As a former squatter (in South London) it’s always great to see what the “little people” can achieve! – Kate Bacon

Appreciate your generosity of time to arrange this exhibition – Jennifer Blain

Thank you for all the memories from an East Ender born 1935 – Ron Joyce

Best of luck with the exhibition- it sounds wonderful! If it’s still on when I’m next in London, I will look forward to seeing it – Frances Homan Jue

Love the life in these photographs, these people deserve to be celebrated & remembered – Jayne Hamilton

Such a valuable collection of photographs – Peter Jackson

Looking forward to a great exhibition – Brian Mcauley

This exhibition will be unmissable so thank you and David for making this happen for us – Charlie de Wet

Such great photographs- a fascinating record of a particular place – deserve an exhibition – Jenny Linford

Looking forward to seeing this book as an ongoing part of the Spitalfields Life publication list. Great news! – Jane James

It’s exciting to visit events which share the experiences of other Londoners, both those born here and those who have made their way here from other places – Charlotte Ruth Hope

The Gentle Author is a positive force for good and enhances our daily breakfast. If we can encourage him to do another volume following his first publication and launch as before with a wonderful party – Juliet Wrightson

Good luck 😊 – Joan Bailey

Fantastic project – Mark Hamsher

A wonderful reminder for my grandchildren and future generations. All for it and wish I could cross the pond to see it! – Susan Tiffin

I am happy to support this incredible photographer and wish you well with the exhibition – Linda Florio

The Gentle Author has shared a heart full of individuals and stories about the East End in the most captivating and honourable manner. My understanding and appreciation of this colourful, creative weaving has enriched my life and imagination. May the exhibit reach many more! – Laura L France

Look forward to seeing the exhibition! – Michael Keating

Looking forward to seeing these wonderful photographs … good luck! – Raju Bhatt

Nearly there! – Louise Stack

Your daily article starts my day and tells me England still holds a lots of joy and life – Colin Childerley

Wishing you the best of luck… and looking forward to the exhibition! (fingers crossed..) – Vivian French

Good luck – Chris Gad

All good wishes for the book launch and the exhibition – Julia Harrison

I’m a huge fan of the Gentle Author’s projects! – Sarah Ludford

Good luck – a permanent exhibition would be really appropriate for this excellent collection of images – John Gillman

Pleased to help support an exhibition of David’s powerful images that movingly capture the atmosphere of my teenage years in East London – Julian

Wonderful to put the ‘little people’ on the map! – Stella Herbert

Love David’s photography and look forward to a wonderful showcase exhibition. What a time to be living in and documenting the East End. Hope very much to hear stories attached to the images – Jill Mead

This is a great project, part of the heritage of the East End – Vivienne Palmer

Dear Gentle Author, Good luck (as ever) with this important fundraiser. I was in the East End in this period (and now). All the best – Pen Thompson

Good luck! – Jeremy Musson

Amazing project, all the best 🙂 – Jessica Hunter

Let’s get this exhibition out for all to see! – Andrew Jamieson-Greaves

Fingers crossed! – John Clark

Good luck, I hope you will be successful – Bridget Leach

Do hope this exhibition DOES go ahead. Inter alia I was a squatter in East London in the 1970s etc. Seems as if that radical past is often ignored although important history  – Hilda Kean

Good luck! – Chris Plumley

Good Luck. I look forward to seeing the exhibition – Elizabeth Aumeer

Good luck with reaching the target and look forward to seeing the exhibition and finished book! – Mary Scott

Terrific images – I look forward to you reaching your target and then the exhibition – Iain Boyd

A great exhibition cause – Ann Gallagher

I think these photos are a valuable record of life at that time and should be kept and be available to the public – Marion Watson

Such beautiful photographs connecting us to an (almost) lost world and preserving the memory of the people who inhabited it – Josephine Eglin

Looking forward to the book and the exhibition David. Wonderful – Sarah Ainslie

The East End has a great cultural history which should be preserved and displayed as much as possible – we owe thanks to the Gentle Author for helping us achieve that and to David Hoffman for these photos – Barry Mordsley

Love this idea – thank you! – Nicky Webb

This is a great project, more power to your elbow – Brian Hurwitz

Good luck with this project! I hope you raise enough to be able to put the exhibition on – Jill Wilson

Would love the photographers to be permanently exhibited in this beautiful museum 😊. Good luck! – Jennifer Russell

It will be a powerful exhibition and a magnificent addition to the collection – Linda Grandfield

I cant wait to see this exhibition realised. Important work and proud to support – Kate Amis

Can’t wait to see this gorgeous work on the walls. Much love. xx – Miss Helen E Rimell

Wonderful photos that deserve a place to call home – very much looking forward to seeing them in situ – Arabella Warner

Wonderful images – Mysore

Great photographer, discovered via a peerless blog – Anthony Quinn

Wonderful photos of a lost world – Laurence Elks

It is important that the widest audience possible be made aware of this particular exhibition – I look forward to seeing it myself – Chrina Jarvis

Thank you for bringing such important photography to light – Farokh Talati

Looking forward to seeing this wonderful collection of photographs on display. We must treasure our history – Barbara Emami

I hope to see the exhibition in person! – Jonathan Cherr

Good Luck, David. Really looking forward to it – Sally Fear

Good luck – looking forward to seeing the exhibition – Julia Gay

This sounds amazing, sorry I can’t contribute more. Will definitely come and see it though – Penny Russell