Over the weekend there were a couple of unveilings locally.
- I say weekend but one of them was at 5pm on Friday, that counts as weekend doesn't it?
- I say unveilings but one of them was more ripping off a sheet of protective polystyrene.
- I say locally by which I mean local to me, which probably isn't local to you.
- It could be local to you, I'm not saying it definitely isn't, just that it probably isn't.
- Obviously it was in Newham if it was part of Newham Heritage Month.
- It's not Newham Heritage Month any more but it was at 5pm on Friday.
Specifically it was on the Carpenters Estate off Stratford High Street.
- The Carpenters Estate is a very large council estate built in 1967.
- It's been under threat of majorredevelopment for a couple of decades now.
- Being right next to the Olympic zone and Stratford station hasn't helped.
- It's quite lowrise for one of the best connected spots in Britain.
- It's his first permanent memorial and was unveiled by the Mayor of Newham.
- Alexander lived here from 1971 to 1987 but he was born in Lewisham in 1969.
- He went to school at Carpenters Primary just round the corner.
- His parents Ronald and Joyce were very proud of his burgeoning fashion career.
- Alexander was found dead in 2010 on the eve of his mother's funeral.
- I don't know if King Charles still has the suit with the swear word sewn into the lining.
He actually lived at number 11 but the plaque is on the end of the terrace.
- It's not an attractive road you're going to stumble into by accident.
- One side is original 3-storey terrace and the other side is pre-Olympic flats.
- I bet there weren't BMWs and Mercs parked here when Alex was a kid.
- 1-27 ODD Biggerstaff Road is a dead end these days leading to a locked gate.
- I confess to sniggering at 2-12 EVEN Biggerstaff Road.
It's good to be reminded that genius can spring from any social surroundings.
- Hopefully the plaque will help prevent this row of houses being redeveloped.
The other unveiling was yesterday in Grove Hall Park in Bow.
- If you've ever gone up the alleyway beside Bow Arts, that's where it is.
- Crossrail passes directly underneath, not that you'd notice.
- It's my local park, I know it well.
This time it's an information board not a blue plaque.
- Tower Hamlets has got quite good at putting information boards in parks lately.
- That's especially for anniversaries of moments of major social upheaval.
- In 2021 Poplar Recreation Ground got one for the centenary of the Poplar Rates rebellion.
The board commemorates the Matchgirls strike at the Bryant and May factory in 1888.
- If you're a long-term reader you'll know the story so I won't go over it again.
- If not, just know that women didn't normally go on strike back then, let alone win.
- Of course you could just come along and read the information board.
- A 135th anniversary isn't usually cause for celebration, but hey why not?
- They invited folk to bring a picnic and stay for two hours but not many did.
- A few families with small kids obliged - no obvious socialist militants.
- I hoped I'd arrived late enough but the vicar was still blocking the board.
- I had to go back again after they'd packed up, and yes it's an interesting read.
The actual site of the strike earned a real blue plaque last year.
- That'd be Bow Quarter, which is a five minute walk up the road.
- You'd think they'd put the information board there, not in a park.
- You can't even see the rooftops of the old factory over the bus garage.
- Thing is, Grove Hall Park is the nearest bit of council greenspace.
- Anyway, the board's here on the offchance anyone ever finds it.
