Rain doesn't dampen Bethnal Green's first cockney seaside beano
Neighbours from Columbia Road back from their coach outing to Margate - Credit: Belinda Harman
Even drizzling rain couldn’t spoil the cockney beano day at the seaside arranged by Belinda Harman for her neighbours in Bethnal Green.
Her aim on the day trip to Margate was to reconnect families around Columbia Road after 18 months of isolation during the pandemic.
Now she wants to run beanos every summer — just like East Enders enjoyed in past decades.
Belinda... on the beach at Margate, hoping to make it an annual beano - Credit: Belinda Harman
However, Belinda was just a little disappointed with the weather and Margate's Dreamland amusement palace shutting early.
“Unfortunately Dreamland closed at 3pm because of a Billy Ocean concert,” the 59-year-old filmmaker said. “But there was lots to do, swings and bouncy castles on the seafront, despite the rain.
You may also want to watch:
“Some of us had lunch in Charlie’s seaside cafe. My neighbour John Cotter in a wheelchair was happy to get out of London. One mum said she and her children had never actually seen the sea before.”
Too blowy on the beach... so Belinda's neighbours make do instead in Margate's Turner art museum with its seaside view - Credit: Belinda Harman
That made the “positive community-building exercise” worthwhile, she said, with the coach hire paid for by Tower Hamlets Homes.
Most Read
- 1 Police officer sacked after criminal conviction
- 2 Man who stabbed teen at Crossharbour station found guilty of murder
- 3 Road and rail round-up: Steer clear of these disruptions next week
- 4 Man in 30s dies after Isle of Dogs stabbing
- 5 East London's 10 prettiest streets to visit
- 6 Three places to go pumpkin picking near east London
- 7 Police patrols to increase after fatal Isle of Dogs stabbing
- 8 Concern growing for man last seen at Bow Road station
- 9 Jailed: Tower Hamlets man who tried to rape another man
- 10 Sadiq Khan warns of flood threat in east London from climate emergency
Belinda plans to make it an annual beano for Columbia Road if she can source funding.
