Pub Tales
At one time you could find a pub on virtually every corner of the East End. Changing demography and the conversion of many pubs into luxury housing has diminished the number of drinking houses dramatically. My ‘local’ for many years was the Alma in Spellman Street run by the late Steve Kane. It now has a different use far removed from the serious business of consuming alcohol.
Tour guide in the Alma pub, 1989
As the licensee and owner of the Alma Steve Kane was always looking for ways of improving business during hard economic times. By organising historical walks he was able to attract coach loads of unsuspecting tourists into his bar at the end of their tour around historic Spitalfields. In reality they were Jack the Ripper tours but for various reasons they were never advertised as such. The two gentlemen photographed (above & below) were the tour guides who were attired in Victorian clothes.
Tour guide in the Alma pub, 1989
The ban on smoking has resulted in drinkers leaving their beer for a cigarette outside the pub. This has facilitated the following photographs taken on Commercial Street where a number of pubs still trade.
Smoker outside a pub in Commercial Street, 2008
Smoker outside a pub in Commercial Street, 2008
The George Tavern on Commercial Street is housed in a Grade II listed building. The pub holds regular live music, exhibitions and theatrical productions. Below is the conclusion of a performance consisting originally of a number dancers with skipping ropes.
Performance artist in the George Tavern, 2008
Through the window
This shop window on Brick Lane attracts the attention of Hazuan who has become illuminated by light reflected from the mannequin in the window.
Brick Lane shop window, 1998
These two children (below) spend most of their day in and around the railway station in Chittagong. They survive by persuading passengers to let them carry their bags in exchange for a few Takas and collecting recyclable rubbish. Smiles disguise a very vulnerable life which also means sleeping rough near the station. Their family are the other children who share their dangerous life.
Chittagong railway children, 2008
The man (below) sitting in the window of a Brick Lane cafe supports his arm on the chair back and contemplates the world. His silhouette is flamboyantly nourished and framed by a combination of bold letters and decorative border curves.
Silhouette of a man sitting in the window of a cafe in Brick Lane, 1983
View of the City looking west from Whitechapel, 1988
The photograph above really tells two stories. Firstly it was shot from the top window of the former ragged school behind Whitechapel station. Like most Victorian buildings in the East End it has since been turned into gated private housing. A bit of a shame really considering the need for social housing and the rising level of homelessness. Secondly the City is without the resplendent Gherkin and other office blocks; you can still even see St Paul’s cathedral.
Mobile phone shop, Dhaka 2009
Globalisation is great at selling mobile phones and providing shops that are the same all over the world but not that good at addressing the underlying causes of poverty and inequality.
Carved face in rock. Temple in Cambodia 2009
The timeless magnificence of a face carved in rock greeted me as I emerged from a temple in Cambodia. It left me with a lot more to contemplate than the display of mobile phones in Dhaka.
Market Forces
All markets depend on Labour. I’ve always been impressed and amazed at the daily cycle of labour required to operate a street market. Each day the shop has to be unloaded, moved to a stall, laid out and moved back to storage.
Man moving a market stall, Whitechapel 2008
Before any stall can be arranged on Whitechapel market the stall itself has to be moved into place from its over night resting place in a side street off the main road.
Young man moving goods near Time Square, New York 2005
I have no idea what the young man (above) is pushing with his trolley or if the goods are destined for a street market. Nevertheless a good deal of skill and strength is needed to weave the goods between pedestrians. He achieves this unnoticed by everyone else. It is thanks to the daily efforts of people like himself that a city such as New York ticks on with an apparent effortless ease.
Man moving goods in Chittagong railway station, 2008
The assorted blankets and cloths have come from trains arriving at the Chittagong railway terminal in Bangladesh. Once cleaned they will probably be returned to new journeys around Bangladesh or into India. Without the strength of the barefooted man (above) for this short journey they would be going nowhere.
Market trader pushing goods to his stall, Whitechapel market 2007
Although the majority of stalls are set out early in the morning goods can be seen moving at any time in Whitechapel market. Traders will shout ahead to warn pedestrians of their approach. As I have been known to ‘day dream’ whilst walking through the market I’ve grown to appreciate the cry of ‘mind your backs’.
Market trader pushing goods on Whitechapel market, 2007
This market trader (above) combines strength and balance to move her stock down Whitechapel Road. The bag around her waist is her bank, money float and office.
Rickshaw driver transporting a fence in Chittagong, 2008
Rickshaws are not just for the movement of passengers. They are also the carriers of a multitude of items which at first you might think were unlikely candidates for a rickshaw ride. The driver is looking through the fence resting on his head and the top of the rickshaw in order to navigate his journey. Rickshaw drivers exude inventiveness when it comes to moving almost anything on their machines.
Spitalfields market trader pushing goods under the the gaze of Christchurch Spitalfields, 1990
Market Children
Boy selling vegetables on Brick Lane, 1985
Girl selling toilet rolls in Cheshire Street, 1984
Boy looking after vegetable stall, Chittagong 2008
Boy selling fruit, Cheshire Street 1986
Boy selling cigarettes in Dhaka, 1994
Boy selling vegetables, Brick Lane 1985
Mobile in Stepney, Cambodia and Spitalfields
This lady with her walking stick and bags brings some order to the hostile environment plastered with graffiti. At first you can be forgiven for thinking she is some how at risk of being attacked. However she seems to strike a pose which exudes confidence; this in turn renders the menacing graffiti harmless.
Woman using a mobile phone in Stepney, 2008
Young man using a mobile phone in a boat, Cambodia 2009
Man with a mobile phone, Spitalfields 2010
