FOREST GATE FACES EXHIBITION - 1930s 

The lady in the large hat is Mrs Claydon, she was 100 years old on this day in 1935. The old gentleman is Mr Offord from Watson's Chemist in Woodgrange Road and the couple standing behind him are the licensee's of the Eagle and Child.  Mr Offord always swam in the pond in Wanstead Park early each morning, even in the winter when sometimes he would have to break the ice on the pond before getting in the water.  He would take the clay from the bottom of the pond and put it on his face as he said it was good for his skin.

Photo: Carol Johnson