East End street parties making comeback after 28 years

By Danielle Myles

STREET parties are making a comeback in London this weekend—especially in the East End where the tradition goes back 100 years.

It’s all part of a nationwide campaign to bring Britain’s diverse communities together—just like the old days!

East Enders are taking to the streets in a big way, with at least a dozen street parties in Whitechapel, Spitalfields, Stepney Green, Shadwell, Bow, Bethnal Green, Shoreditch and Hackney.

TRELLIS TABLES

One of the East London organisers is grandmum Barbara Nunn who is setting up the traditional trellis tables in Stepney Green’s Beaumont Grove.

“I just want to experience an East End street party again,” she told the East London Advertiser.

“A lot of people have never set up a street party or even been to one before.

“The last time I did one of these was 28 years ago.”

Barbara organised her last street party in 1981 to celebrate the wedding of Princess Di and Prince Charles.

BEER AND SONGS

East Enders have always brought the beer and food out and the old jonanna’ for a singalong on big occasions, like the Queen’s Coronation in 1953, VE Day in 1945 and George V’s Silver Jubilee in 1935.

Sunday’s street parties are part of a national project called The Big Lunch, bringing communities together by reclaiming the streets, sitting down to have lunch together and putting a smile on Britain’s face.

Those planned in the East End are:

Whitechapel: Fieldgate Street, Buxton Street and Grace’s Alley (off Wellclose Square).

Spitalfields: Corbet Place (off Commercial Street)

Stepney Green: Louisa Street, Beaumont Grove and Maria Terrace

Shadwell: Flamborough Street, Ratcliff

Bow: Lefevre Park, Mooreville Street and Link House

Bethnal Green: Roman Road, Wilmot Street and Kirton Gardens

Shoreditch: Boundary Street

Hackney: Tudor Grove

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