We was all one - Television Documentary about Bermondsey People

The vid gave a good feel for an older Bermondsey being dragged into the new age.  Loved watching it. Loved the warmth of the old women on their special day in the pub. The bit with the women singing "Hopping Down in Kent" used to be shown on a circular vid in one of the bells at (Whitbread) Hop Farm (now Family Park), as part of their history of the hop industry.  I think that's gone now, as it's been through a couple of owners since I saw it.  I live not too far from Beltring.  The old 'rents' - the Victorian flats - with the rat problem gave me some idea of what it would have been like for my Bermondsey ancestors when they were very poor, although the 1960s inhabitants looked in a better state than my ancestors would have done.  I thought it a shame that some of the terraces were bulldozed to make way for those soulless tower blocks.  Some of them actually looked quite nice - the ones with the arch-topped doorways/porches and windows, and just needed modernising.  They'd be worth a bomb nowadays.Then there would have been the same community feeing as there always had been.  Why try to mend something when it ain't broke?  My mother was proud to have come from Bermondsey, but she could never get me to be particularly interested.  It's only through doing my family history that I have become interested, and I'm very grateful for this forum.

Hi Kathy

I also loved that Vid.
I remember quite a few of the old girls in the Marigold, they used to wonder up and down Tower Bridge Road doing there shopping.
The old Lady having little dance in the Video at 0.48 in. is my Nan, she lived in Guinness Buildings.
And the young Girl eating Jeelied eels at the stool down East Lane is my cousin, so it has a special place in my life.
It's funny that has a child growing up in Bermondsey i never considered myself as being poor, but now looking back i guess we were not rich by any means. " I would'nt change it for the world"

Thanks
Steve.

I have acopy of this video We were living in Victoria house Blendon Row at the time it was made.There is a quick shot of my wife and her mate looking out of the landing window.My wife is the one on the right of the window in blue cardy her mate Janet is in a yellow jumper.I could have joined them but decided to stand back and not be seen.Sometimes we play it and use the pause to see how young they are.There was a long time filming the rats there were hundreds of them in the park hut but this was edited out for some reason.

Part 2 and 3 is my G-Grandfather Joe Rolfe (Olliffe)1920s Bermondsey Boxer who boxed all the champions in england in he's time. Anyone who knew of him or have any info please contact me.
thanks Chris

A specail presentation, talk and screening on this wonderfull documentry will take place this Sat at the Elephant. Details are thus:

http://studioattheelephant.blogspot.com/2011/05/unravel-at-elephant-saturday-14th-may-1.html

I've only just read this. It's a shame it's such short notice because I was one of the Bacon's pupils in the documentary.

It would be interesting to hear what people have to say.

the little boxer in the video is Tom Daly lightweight boxer with 96 fights under he's belt, he fought in the 1920s/30s, he was also best pals with Joe Rolfe.

I was in the this documentary,I was one of the boys from bacon school singing at the church on harvest festival,I remember  so many faces in the film.Im sure one of them old ladies worked in manzies.

please can you tell me what doc this was ???
Many thanks

Hello Mrs spooner,

The documentary in question was 'We were all one' by Thames Television.
You can watch this programme in the Video section on this site.

Regards

Phil (Bermondsey Beat)

HI                                                                                                                                                 Have just watch the video,boy were do you begin,so many faces from the past that i can recognise.The ladies in the pub, admitted i don't know their names but i do remember most of their faces.so many emotions i don;t know whether to laugh or cry,it could be my mum there.Wonderful down to earth hard working women who never gave up, so much respect for them,.WOW it,s a cup of tea time.I had to laugh when one of them said she still had a scrubbing board, so do i all the way from Bermondsey  to NZ. Hearing the noises of East Lane was brilliant, i remember the man selling the Black current.Like to have seen the man with the suitcase who sold ties & hankie's.Who use to do a runner when the the copper who didn't   take a back hander came along,those were the days.I can remember Tom Bushell very well also the lady Lizzie who use to take him to the pub,was it Meakin Estate they were coming out of.The rats in the buildings brought back memories of living in Guinness Buildings, Pages Walk,we never had many in the flats but there were plenty running round the square & in the bike sheds.I'm still scared of them to this day.( go on you can call me a wimp).It was nice to see Tommy Daly he was friends with my Mum & Dad & came up to our flat in Guinness a few times,they always spoke well off him, Joe Rolfe was another face i recognise.Like the man in the video i can remember my mum waiting for the letter to go hop picking,and worrying when it was late arriving.I've already watch the video three times (go on say it sad old git), but the bit that makes me smile with pride is the old gentlemen & old lady receiving their Harvest Festival bags from the youngsters & both of them not forgetting to say thank you.My mum always said to us we may be poor but it cost nothing to say please & thank you.Your lucky to hear it in todays world.As we have mentioned East Lane can any one remember the Kelly's who lived just off the lane in Eltham Street.                                                                                                                                                   KIWI                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

excellent

The woman talking about the rats is my mum and the baby in the cot was me.

Free showing of this film (with refreshments) at Fisher. See link to the SE1 website for information:
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/whatson/event/12335/we-was-all-one

Absolutely brilliant!  God I remember so many of the people in East Lane and the old jellied and  blackcurrant stall.  I even remember my dad talking to me about the blind man who could walk around without any help.  The Marigold made me think of my old nan, Kate Oliver, and her sisters.  It really make you laugh and cry to think how much as changed.  People never had nothing but the one thing they did have was true neighbours and family - that's worthless.

eltham street has gone now - its part of a park - nursery row park, blendon row and nursery row make up the rest of the park, there was a football pitch, (but it got filled in and is now a small hill - they call it a meadow cause no machine can get up there to mow it) with the debris from the old circular car park off westminster bridge - which is now a hotel.

they used to park the stalls round marnock house before they built the garages - I think thats what could have attracted the rats - the council charge the stall holders to clean up now so it's not as bad.  I know my mum and the neighbours had a rota and used to wash the stairs and the landing every week - people would complain if you left your rubbish outside the door - they still do.  plus the fact that the streets around blenham row were bombed in the war - people had been moved out so the houses were emply.  I never saw a rat or a mouse - infact i remember bermondsey being very clean.  My nan had a stall selling childrens clothes - it was at the top end near walworth road - I remember the enamel jugs and cups that we had tea out of, she got from the cafe.   I remember once going over to east london to buy stock with her, my mum used to help her push the stall - she had that stall for years. 

they call it a meadow cause no machine can get up there to mow it

-sueboucbac

with the debris from the old circular car park off westminster bridge