2020 Obit: The Passing of Henrietta (Joan) Keeper

Subject: Obit: The Passing of Henrietta (Joan) Keeper
From: rich-joy
Date: 07 Feb 20 - 01:12 AM

I didn't know Joan, nor had I ever heard her sing (I live in Oz), but the news comes from my most favouritist online blog "Spitalfields Life" where one can while away many enjoyable hours in amongst the stories and photos of East End London folks and their lives and their history, as described by "The Gentle Author" :
https://spitalfieldslife.com/
There are a couple of stories on the site about Joan (described as a "Ballad Singer" - though perhaps not in the traditional folk / Child ballads meaning).

Not sure how I came across this site (it was some years back now), except that my great great grandfather, Willy Thacker, was an East Ender (before he was transported!!), so it may have been via a photograph of a district or a church or such.

ANYWAY, if you are not familiar with it, I hope you find much enjoyment there too!! (I know some 'Catters will enjoy the animal stories from Spitalfields and surrounds, as much as me!)

Cheers!
Rich-Joy
(Down Under)

PS    Mods, not sure if this is for Below the Line???

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: The Passing of Henrietta (Joan) Keeper
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 05:37 AM

Ah rich-joy, what a lovely and comprehensive selection of tales of Spitalfields, and especially the accounts of Henrietta (Joan) Keeper, the ballad singer. She certainly was tiny wasn't she?
I particularly liked the photos of the Regent's Canal.
I'm not a Mod, but I think this does belong here above the line, as the account of Joan is pertinent to singing and a tradition in the East End of London.

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: The Passing of Henrietta (Joan) Keeper
From: Bruce from Bathurst
Date: 09 Feb 20 - 06:20 AM

Thanks rich-joy, for pointing me/us down into this fascinating rabbit hole.

In London last year, my wife and I walked for a few kilometres (Aussies can no longer afford 'miles') along the Regent's Canal towpath.

Google told us it looked like a reasonable option to get from our particular A to B at the time.

What a good decision that was. We found it a wonderful walk, revealing something of a part of industrial London we'd not experienced in many previous visits over 40 years.

Now, to further explore "Spitalfields Life".

Subject: RE: 2020 Obit: The Passing of Henrietta (Joan) Keeper
From: rich-joy
Date: 12 Feb 20 - 04:51 AM

Refresh


Just in case there are some others here who would care to fall down that Rabbit Hole into another amazing world!

Cheers!
Rich-Joy :)