Does the Odd Photo Bring Nostalgic Memories Out of You?

East London in the 1960s

Wow! This photo is so wonderful. As a kid, I grew up here and that is how I remember Poplar. I keep thinking of lines from an Al Stewart song.

"In the island where I grew up, nothing seems the same,

Still, you never see the change from day to day. 

No one notices the customs slip away."

Of course, this area is not an island, but the words have a certain poignant meaning to them that I find gratifying. Change has to happen, I suppose, but I would dearly love to walk around those streets again, as they were then.

I know it is nostalgia because, even as a small boy, I had a yearning desire not to stay in the city of London. I got out into the rural areas and was glad of it. But I do like the odd trip down memory lane now and then. I think of my old school, my late grandparents, old neighbours etc. 

This is a very fine photo. A very fine photo indeed.

Story of a Bow Street Runner has Growing Fans

Unusual story of a Bow Street Runner in 1810. He is a discharched Green jacket from Britain's famous rifle regiment of the Peninsular War. An ex-officer. He now works in London as one of the new types of policeman and is charged with solving a highway robberry in which a government official is murdered and robbed of valuble information concerning national security. 

Our Bow Street Runner (Matthew Hawkwood) is taken into a world of espionage with French secret agents and a villinous American who is making a submarine. The story is a good page turnner that is obviously a little far fetched, but hey! We all like a bit of escapism - don't we? Well this tale had it all and I really enjoyed it. There are more stories to come about Mattew Hawkwood. I shall give them a go too.

Grandfather on Mother's Side of Family.

This is a photograph of my Grandfather on my Mother's side. He died in December 1960 and I was born in February 1961. Therefore, I never knew him.

However, my Nan, Mother, Aunts and Uncles all spoke fondly of him.

His name was Freddie Hayward and he worked on the docks in East London. Both my Grandfathers worked on the docks as did many who lived in London's East End.

He was only in his mid to late fifties when he died from lung cancer. This is the only photo I have of him, so I thought it would be a good idea to blog the picture and say a few things about Freddie Hayward, my Grandfather. Once on the web, his photo will always be about and not lost.

He was working the docks all during the blitz of WWII and must have seen a great many things. I also heard a story of him rescuing many horses from a fire when he was young. I think he got some sort of civil award for doing this and he received it from a member of the Royal Family. This is what I once heard. I imagine it took place in the early 1920s.