Photo

Chip Chap Club

Newham Story Admin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:48:19 -0800

The Canning Town Field Club, afterwards The ‘Chip Chap' Club. William Swain, William H. Smith (Hon. Sec.), Amos Herring (President), William J. Swain and Phillip Thornhill. Photographed on 13 July, 1884.

In January 1883, four working men of Canning Town who were interested in natural science, formed themselves into a private association which was given the name of ‘The Canning Town Field Club' they were Amos Herring, a man of over 50 years of age; Phillip Thornhill, aged from 25 to 30 years; William H Smith, 24 years old and William J. Swain, of middle age.

Thornhill was son-in-law to Herring. Each of the four were ordinary workmen; Herring and Thornhill lived at 33 and 26 Montesquieu Street, were boilermakers, Smith of 4 India Terrace, Ford Street was a storekeeper at the Victoria Docks, and Swain of 5 St Lukes Square, Hoy Street, was his assistant-storekeeper.

St. Andrew's Boys Club Christmas Fish and Chip Supper c 1946-7.

alffox — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:53:06 -0800

A photograph of the St. Andrew's Boys Club Christmas Fish and Chip Supper taken around 1946-7. Can anyone recognise themselves from the picture. St. Andrew's Boys Club was one of a number of clubs in the district - St. Lukes - Custom House - Fairbairn and Mansfield - Dockland Settlement were others that did so much for the young population after the Second World War.

Tragedy at Sewage Works

Newham Story Admin — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:36:46 -0800

This memorial which hangs in East Ham Town Hall is dedicated to four brave men who lost their lives on 1 July 1895 in an heroic attempt to save the life of a fellow workman Walter Digby.

FREDERICK MILLS - Superintendant aged 27

ROBERT G. DURRANT - Labourer aged 25

FREDERICK D. JONES - Assistant Engineer aged 22

ARTHUR C. RUTTER - Stoker

Five men suffocated in a sewer at East Ham Pumping Station - An appalling tragedy at the Sewerage Works on Monday morning 1st July, four men engaged there died including Mr F. Mills, the chief engineer were suffocated by foul gas and another died of similar effects in the West Ham Hospital on Tuesday.

The 'Dutch' Wedding

Kathy Taylor — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:21:43 -0800

Pamela Berry of St Stephen's Road married Steef Pardoen of Uitgeest, Holland on 14 October 1974 at St Anthony of Padua, Roman Catholic Church. The bridesmaids are Rosy Berry, Pam's sister (on the left) and Kathy Taylor.

Me and my mate Pam were born 6 months apart, we grew up in Ordnance Road, Canning Town and both went to Star Lane Infants School. Our families were moved out of Ordnance Road in 1957 as part of the slum clearance. Pam's family went to live in Bridgeland Road, Custom House, a little while later they moved to Hammersley Avenue, and my mum moved to Plaistow. Although we went to different schools we still remained friends, in those days it was nothing for a seven or eight year old to catch a trolley bus and go from Canning Town to Plaistow. We went to Girl Guides at the Mayflower, when David Shepherd was there.

Adventures of Jim Pickard

Newham Story Admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:39:41 -0800

No. 9 Broad Street, Stratford in 1903 is typical of the housing where Jim Pickard grew up.

This story was passed on to me by one of Jim's descendants who gave me permission to put it on the Newham Story Forum. I personally don't know any of the details in the contents. I published it simply because I thought it was relevant and rather interesting.

John (nellanhoj)

THE ADVENTURES OF JIM
In Memory of James Pickard

The Gypsy Wedding

Newham Story Admin — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:08:35 -0800

My Nan's sister, Rose Fry with her new husband Edward Harnetty. They married in West Ham register office in 1925. Sadly Rose died in 1939 aged just 39.

They are pictured stood outside Rose's mothers (Rebecca Lee's) Vardo in her yard in Maplin Road, Custom House. It was built for Rebecca as a wedding present by her Uncle Jimmy Toodley Lee in 1889.

Rose Fry was on of the 17 children of Rebecca Lee and Alfred Fry, my Nan was the 9th, of which only eight survived to adulthood. Three more of her children died as adults, so Granny Fry out-lived eleven of her children.

Sandra Smith

Photo: From a private family collection

Hilda and Victor Elms

Newham Story Admin — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:05:36 -0800

The marriage of my mum and dad, Hilda Carter and Victor Elms, took place on 19th May 1934 at St Andrew's Church, Plaistow.

On the left of the photo are dad's Aunt Ethel and Uncle Mark, his cousin Alberta who is a bridesmaid and the best man is William Cromwell. On the right is mum's father, William Carter and her sister Nell is the other bridesmaid.

Dad was brought up by Aunt Ethel who had no children of her own. So the story goes - Dad's mum had bit of a chequered history and was in her second ‘rocky marriage'. Ethel went to visit her sister at Tilbury and she found young Victor playing out in the street and his mother was not at home. Ethel picked up the boy and took him indoors and left a note on the table saying ‘Found young Vic in the road and have taken him home to Canning Town'. My dad stayed with his aunt until he married. He worked as a lighterman for the PLA.

Great Aunt Ethel

Newham Story Admin — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 05:00:59 -0800

This is thought to be the wedding photo of my great aunt Ethel Nicholls to Mark Moore, the date is about 1908.

Ethel brought up my dad. She lived in Denmark Street, then at 6 Watford Road where she was bombed out in the blitz. She then stayed with my mum and dad at Collier Row until she was re-housed in a prefab in Swanscombe Street. She liked it there so much she didn't want to leave.

Ethel worked at Clarnico's sweet factory. Her most treasured possession was her amber beads and when she went out she would always wear them. I remember as a child when I went to visit her in the prefab she would make cups of tea made with condensed milk and get out the biscuit barrel. She had an iron beadstead with brass knobs. Every year, without fail, she would send me a postal order for 2/6d for my birthday. She was seriously injured in a road accident on the Barking Road.

Evacuated From Star Lane

Newham Story Admin — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:59:28 -0800

The photo, taken in Addington Road, shows Star Lane School where Kath Wighton was a pupil.

It is 1939, I am nine years old and living in Addington Road, Canning Town with my father John Frederick Wighton, a ships plumber working in the docks, my mother Lilian, my older brothers Johnny and Jim who are both at work and Flo my older sister who attends Pretoria Road School.

WAR is talked about; my father has dug a large hole in the garden to put in an Anderson shelter, my mother has made blackout curtains, and we have tried on our gas masks, but I am still playing out in the street with my friends, shopping with my mother and sister, and having family trips out at the weekend to Stratford, Chingford and Wanstead. GOING AWAY is talked about, and I will go with my sister, but then it is realised that she will be leaving school on her birthday in November so I will go with my own school, Star Lane.

Cunnington

Newham Story Admin — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:47:50 -0800

This memorial plaque was removed from the second Church of St Mary, Plaistow, prior to demolition about 1977, by the Passmore Edwards Museum. The Church which seated 1,000 was too large for post-war needs and. The site was redeveloped for housing and a much smaller church only seating 150.

Additional details from CWGC Roll of Honour:

Private GEORGE CUNNINGTON

London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)

1st/4th Bn.

Service No.3491

Died 08/09/1916 Aged 29

Son of George and Emily Cunnington, of 62, Chesterton Terrace, Plaistow

Commonwealth War Dead: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

(The age differs from the inscription on the plaque)

Private ARTHUR WILLIAM CUNNINGTON

Royal Fusiliers

23rd Bn.

Service No.4736

Died 13/11/1916 Aged 29