Comments on: Vivian Betts Of Bishopsgate https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/09/28/vivian-betts-of-bishopsgate-iii/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:44:24 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 By: Liam Timmer https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/09/28/vivian-betts-of-bishopsgate-iii/#comment-2179024 Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:44:24 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=208138#comment-2179024 Vivian’s memories make Bishopsgate feel wonderfully alive. The everyday details about shops, neighbours and changing streets are exactly the kind of history that rarely makes it into official records.

]]> By: Alto Saxx https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/09/28/vivian-betts-of-bishopsgate-iii/#comment-2179017 Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:26:14 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=208138#comment-2179017 Plastic sandals we used to get from Woolies in the 60’s.

]]> By: Adele https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/09/28/vivian-betts-of-bishopsgate-iii/#comment-2178785 Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:40:10 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=208138#comment-2178785 In the group photo of the Italian holiday, I recognize (on extreme right) Alf and Doris Shekora – I think around that time he was mayor of Shorditch. I was friends with their daughter in later years.

]]> By: Marcia Howard https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/09/28/vivian-betts-of-bishopsgate-iii/#comment-2178781 Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:36:20 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=208138#comment-2178781 What a truly interesting story, made even better by the personal element of Vivian throughout it. Love that Toto found a nice warm spot too! I’m just a ‘tad’ older than Vivian, and also lost my own dad when I still in my teens, but glad that her mum and dad, like my own parents, always captured any family event on film, with everyone looking smart whatever the occasion.
Thank you Vivian for sharing your story, and to the Gentle Author for sharing it with all us local fans.

]]> By: JerryW https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/09/28/vivian-betts-of-bishopsgate-iii/#comment-2178715 Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:48:39 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=208138#comment-2178715 I lived in Shoreditch High St for a while in 1972-3, in a flat over the NatWest bank. Sadly I can’t remember the Primrose, but I do remember the Raven quite well – I always used to cross to the other side of the road when I went past it! It was quite a rough place. I thought it was in Norton Folgate, but I may be wrong. Never quite knew where one finished and the other started ..

]]> By: achim https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/09/28/vivian-betts-of-bishopsgate-iii/#comment-2178711 Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:28:52 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=208138#comment-2178711 An impressive history of pubs. And I can understand the sadness at the loss of the old neighbourhood. That’s the disadvantage of urban development: everything usually gets uglier and more inhuman… But still: the memories remain. They are the only paradise from which we cannot be banished!

Vivian & Toto — a bit like a future Marilyn Monroe!

Love & Peace
ACHIM

]]> By: Winnie https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/09/28/vivian-betts-of-bishopsgate-iii/#comment-2178708 Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:14:09 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=208138#comment-2178708 The Top Alex was a fabulous venue when Vivian ran it. Superb Sunday jazz sessions. Happy days.

]]> By: ANDY STROWMAN https://spitalfieldslife.com/2026/09/28/vivian-betts-of-bishopsgate-iii/#comment-2178696 Mon, 28 Sep 2026 07:19:01 +0000 https://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=208138#comment-2178696 These photos are brilliant and I remember going in this pub as a teenager and it makes me happy seeing all this and I pay homage to the Gentle Author and Vivian and her family .
All the best everyone ,
Andy

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