During the 1960s, John Claridge took hundreds of photos in the poorer multicultural districts of East London that he knew well. I have featured his work before on this blog, and recently found some more of his interesting portraits. The areas he photographed have changed completely since that decade, and these have immense historical value.
The Groundsman at The Memorial Sports Grounds. He was responsible for the upkeep of the sports pitches.
A Kosher Chicken slaughterman.
A lady selling sweets from a small kiosk, posing with her new gumball machine.
Wrapping spices in a spice dealer’s large warehouse.
A Muslim butcher posing outside his shop.
This lady butcher wanted to be photographed with her finest cut of meat.
The workers on a street fish stall, setting up. They have just received their delivery from the north coast.
A newsagent outside his small shop. The headline to his right is announcing the death of Walt Disney.
Secondhand shoe-seller with a street stall.
A Jewish lady inside her strudel bakerry.
Shopkeeper poses outside a very small grocery shop.
Selling hot saveloys from a stall. For anyone not familiar with a saveloy, they are something like a cross between a hot dog and a larger sausage.
beetleypete 
Very detailed photos. They really told a story.
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He was a talented photographer indeed, Jennie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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The dirty fingers picture reminded me of Jeff Beck’s “You Had it Coming” album cover.
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I wasn’t familiar with that album cover, so I looked it up. I can see the similarities, Phil.
Best wishes, Pete.
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(1) I prefer coffee grounds to sports grounds. Lawyers, of course, appreciate a client’s grounds for divorce.
(2) Chicken farmer: “And that there, over by the compost, is what I call a kosher chicken. I’m sending it to a special place next week.”
(3) The lady should paint tiny alien motifs on her gumballs and sell them as Spaceballs.
(4) Did the Spice Girls ever do rap?
(5) You can’t actually see the lady butcher. Presumably, he’s lurking in the shadows behind the woman, butcher knife in hand, ready for the bloody kill…
(6) “Quit your stalling! Sell the fish already!”
(7) Walt Disney is turning over in his grave these days. The Magic Kingdom has lost its magic.
(8) I tried putting a shoe on my second hand. But it cramped my fingers.
(9) I’m looking forward to a serial featuring Mrs. Strudel. I have a half-baked idea for the storyline you could use.
(10) I didn’t know lions made ice cream. What do hyenas make?
(11) According to Porky Pig, saveloys were originally made with pork brains. To this day, he laments the fate of some of his ancestors.
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9) Posting this ruined my previous idea for Mrs Strudel’s serial, David. Everyone would think it was simply derivative.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Bravo, Warmest regards, Ed
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I think he took some great photos, Ed.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Everyone is proud of something!
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They had to be, Geoff. For them, it was the best it was ever going to get.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wonderful pictures.
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I can only agree. Thank you, Molly.
Best wishes, Pete.
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They all exhibit such pride in their work. And wearing a tie when you are a groundsman, what a hoot.
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Every workman wore a tie when I was young, Don. Even the men digging the roads, and clearing sewage tunnels. š
Best wishes, Pete.
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These are fascinating slices of working life!
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Glad you enjoyed them, Liz.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Ooh, saveloy and pease pudding – takes me back to my childhood!
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I never liked Pease Pudding, but ‘2 Savs and chips’ was often my first choice in a fish and chip shop. š
Best wishes, Pete.
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And a wally. Remember wallies?
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I still have wallies with fish and chips now, and a giant pickled onion! š
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I’ll pass on the pickled onion, but I still buy wallies to eat with fish.
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Never heard of a saveloy! Interesting faces and mostly they look quite cheerful as opposed to faces from earlier times in similar settings. I think life had improved in small but significant ways?
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There was a lot more hope in the 1960s. Not for everyone of course, but many people were caught up in what was something of a boom time in London. This it what a saveloy looks like. They are still sold in some places, mainly in fish and chip shops.
https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/saveloy.html
Best wishes, Pete.
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I love the groundsman
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A face full of character indeed.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Amazing photos with a look into the past….well done chuq
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Thanks, chuq. He had a great eye for characters.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for sharing
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Sorry, you have come up as ‘Anonymous’.
Best wishes, Pete.
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an eclectic mix there & i reckon if have met them somewhere
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Most of the photos were taken in Spitalfields and Whitechapel, Gavin.
Best wishes, Pete.
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