am I East End enough?

[Dalston Boy]

Just joined after finding the website through a "East End Fifties" search on Google. Now I'm in my sixties I seem to spend more time than ever thinking about the past and my roots. I see that the core of the universe is Beffnal Green according to most of you in the forum. I have to confess that I was born in North London (am I allowed to say that here?). But only just, I was five minutes walk from Dalston Junction which of course is in E8. Anyway, I hope you can tolerate this "Northerner" in your midst!

Dave

[ladyDeWint]

Hello Dalston nice to meet you, and yes you are east end enough it's true that the forum is Bethnal Green centric but I not all of us are 'greenies' I grew up in Hackney and live now in Poplar so it's nice to have another 'outsider' among us. Hope you enjoy your visits here.

[Vic]

Hiya Dalston, I was a Bethnal Greener but when I was about 3, my family moved to a better class of slum in Hackney.
The Dalston area reminds me that I saw on Google Streetview that the old sign saying Lebons Corner has gone,
I wonder why ?

[Barryoneoff]

Hello Dalston Boy. All are welcome here. Enjoy your visits.

[cockneyoz]

G'day Dalston im an ex bethnal green/old ford boy also in my 60s, now living in Australia,i think you should fit in well here.
yipee I'm not the new boy anymore.

[Meryl575]

Hi Dalston Boy I'm a "Northerner" too, and this group has tolerated me I grew up a bit North of you, in the Harringay area, but my parents were both Eastenders, Stepney area to be precise. Now living in the States for all of my adult life - around 46 years Welcome and I know you will have a fun time around here, especially with Barry at the helm

[Aldgate West]

Welcome to the forum, Dalston!
Sure you're eastend enough. I used to go to Dalston regularly as a kid as my dentist was in Kingsland Road, just opposite the Tip Top cleaners by Ridley Road. By the way...you'll probably remember there was a pie mash shop by Ridley and Kingsland Roads. You'll find that there are some here (ahem!) that have 5 pie mash shops within walking distance of where they live.

Now I ask you...why should someone have 5 pie mash shops within walking distance of their home when some of us have none at all. Sometimes life just ain't fair.

[Bigguy]

Hi Dalston!!

Welcome to the forum!!! If the folks here can tolerate this Canadian hanging out here I'm sure you won't have any problem. Though I've never lived in the Eastend, my Dad was born and raised in Mile End. I came across this site while I was doing family research and never left. I've had a great time since. Hope you have a great time also.

[Dalston Boy]

thank you all for your warm welcome - I'll try to fit in!

Vic, I'm not really surprised that the Lebons Corner sign has finally gone - as I recall Lebon's were coal merchants so I guess there's not been too much demand for that for a while... I used to pass there twice a day on the bus because Joseph Priestley in Homerton was my secondary school. I was in the same class as Alan Sugar - but he still won't send me any money...

Meryl, I also lived in Tottenham from '69-86 so am very familiar with Haringey.

Algate, didn't they have any dentists in Bethnal Green?! I remember the cleaners 'cos I had a schoolfriend who lived over the top of the shop. The pie and mash shop was called Cooksies - but I believe it's gone now and, personally, I couldn't stand the stuff! It was always cod and threepennyworth of chips for me... I worked a 100 yards or so up from there in Kingsland High Street next to the old Classic cinema for many years...

cheers for now,
Dave

[tabbynera]

Hi - I am one of the ex-Bethnal Greeners. Moved out when I was 20 and went to Switzerland to learn the language whatever. Am still there after 44 years - happened to meet Mr. Swiss so that was that, but still make a visit about once a year when I visit my dad who now lives in Dagenham.

[jo]

hi dalston boy yep im from befnal green , but went to school in haggerston ,thats a stones throw from dalston , also worked in the old metropolitan hospital (shows my age)kingsland road , and st annes in tottenham so i know some of your old stomping ground .where are you living now? im out in essex,welcome

[marilyn]

Hi Dalston boy - I was born in Hackney so not too far away from Dalston. Moved to Bethnal Green when I was 11 and have now lived in Brisbane for nearly 13 years. Hope you enjoy your visits to the forum - can't believe you don't like pie and mash!!!

[Meryl575]

Jo: I walked past St.Annes hospital everyday on my way to South Grove School.

[Dalston Boy]

thank you for your message, Jo.

I live in Romford now - I think that, and the rest of Essex, is where most of the East End went to.

I always thought Haggerston was the tough part of town back then, so no wonder you talk about throwing stones!!

I had several stays in the Met as a patient back in the early sixties so we may even have met - what did you do at the hospital?

cheers,
Dave

[johnworc]

Welcome Dave from Dalston! It's a most interesting site and forum. So many of my ancestors lived in Shoreditch, Hoxton, Hackney and Whitehall - but came to Oz from 1839 onwards and we're still here. It's a big task to get back to London - but I always spend time round the East End following family footsteps and I've been buying books and reading about it nearly all my life. I spent time living in Earls Court and Ealing 40 years back but last time stayed in Barking which I found good.