Londoner's | Pub Talk | Documentary Report | 1972

An enchanting look back to the 'Good Ole Days' when you knew everyone in your street. When 'We was all one' Some old Bermondsey residents reminisce about what life was like in the old London borough. First transmitted on 07/03/1972
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Quote: VT60156

[@slydoll7877]

At least they had a community in their old age. Can't see older women sitting like this in the pub today.

[@tgrech9146]

These are the women I look up to. Not the idiot celebs. These women were the salt of the earth. God bless them ❤️❤️❤️

[@alexkaye108]

The finest generation this country ever produced; tough as old boots, never had a pot to piss in, went trough two world wars and the depression but survived on their wits, courage and community. God bless em all!

[@Knappa22]

The very elderly lady in black must have been 80+ and was probably a Victorian.

[@frazzleface753]

The hardness of life shows in their faces. But the humour and dignity shines through!

[@tilerman]

My mum moved to London from Germany in 1960. 15 years after the end of WW2 and she had it hard. I was born in 65, 2 years after my sister with another 3 coming in the next 4 years. She learnt to speak English although struggled with writing. She was ignored and verbally abused by a lot of people in our street, because she was German. She was a brave woman. There was a little old lady 4 doors away, Aunty Miffy we called her and she took my mum and us 5 kids under her wing and helped out. These ladies very much remind me of my aunty Miffy, a lady whom i have such fond memories of.

[@CoverButton]

These sort of clips are pure gold. How life has changed so much. They would not know London these days.

[@homestead44]

fantastic to watch, i was born in 1970 and grew up with old women like that, if only i could spend time with them now, proper people ! 🇬🇧

[@janetrobb4742]

Me too.Chas's death brought me here, you don't hear our accent much anymore in Bermondsey.

[@Bloxdio_God]

Me too. We lived in Lambeth.

[@pommiebears]

Stephen David I grew up in walthamstow. I still have my cockney accent, I refuse to lose it. These women remind me of my old gran....hard as nails, funny and would give the shirt off of her back to help someone less fortunate. Those days are gone.....and it makes me so sad. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@colinluckens9591]

Tell me about it!...I was born a year after you....I come from a different part of the country, but I also remember growing up with my elderly relatives - people like that....yeah, what wouldn't I give to experience those old times again!!❤️

[@jasonantigua6825]

Pommie bears It’s so sad this generation has passed

[@haroldofcardboard]

oh my god i was a little boy again sittin there listenin to my nan and aunts all over again. wow. total echo of my childhood. lovely!

[@shepski8065]

Love it.. True to true my friend

[@abuhamza1970]

As a Londoner born and bred, I take heart listening to these old dears. From S.London and the accents are the same. Most of these old dears have departed, but there’s still a few old school working class Londoners about. As soon as they open their mouths, you know straight away you’re talking to one. They may have gone but their spirit lives on. Honest, hard working, know when people are taking the piss with them, don’t stand for any nonsense, and love a good knees-up (party). God bless them all. From time to time I drive through SE London and explain to my kids that at one time, the world’s goods and commodities came and landed here on these docks and made this country what it is. I don’t wanna get into the rights and wrongs of colonialism here but without these dears and their husbands, we wouldn’t be where we are today. The sad thing is that their children and grandchildren have lost the strength and fortitude of this lot - and Britain will always be poorer for it. 😢 Even though I don’t look it, I consider myself British through and through and try to keep true to British values and stay strong in these difficult times. As a nation we’ve been through far worse and I’m sure that if we keep true to our values: work hard, think through problems, innovate and give the politicians and bankers a slap from time to time, we can emulate these lovely old dears and come out the other side stronger and wiser. These ladies are an inspiration to us all.

[@gwenniegrant5287]

The good ole London sense of humour. People had nothing but they were grateful and happy! I want to hang out and laugh with these ladies!...sad that they are gone now.

[@ajs41]

Some of them must have been born in the 1890s.

[@fodsaks]

I could cry for what we've lost.

[@gristofthemill5997]

It's genuinely heartbreaking.

[@peekypoo2577]

@Al Bundy for President And these old women would welcome the migrants and refugees with open arms, so don't say otherwise, Society moves on, this is the past and should remain so.

[@robbiewright9145]

@@peekypoo2577 - they probably would've welcomed the immigrants only to get it through back in their faces

[@reinerraymondo1586]

Bless.... You are such a cry baby. Thank god things moved on ....

[@modigbeowulf5482]

@Al Bundy for President .... true, I'm from Bermondsey, now in Rotherhithe, Canada estate. I'm surrounded by foreigners. ZIONISM! And now we have to have 5G. Banned in Israel of course.

[@kronossonork6994]

The old loyal London working class, they had a spirit about them that's all but gone now.

[@homestead44]

lovely to see old london, shame its gone

[@henninghinkelstein6755]

Stephen David Same here in Berlin....

[@marius_m.]

@@ryancummins8067 may I recommend you a good port?

[@jpooky9141]

Ryan Cummins bit harsh. Nice to be able to read and write and live in great country .

[@ryancummins8067]

@@jpooky9141 I do live in a great country and it is not England.

[@catfordkat]

@@ryancummins8067 Same is happening in Dublin, Ireland and we didn't colonize anyone, real lazy excuse.

[@SensaiMan]

Proud people, and worked hard for what they had.

[@stuartwray6175]

They didn't have nothing, bless em. Straw beds, bare floors.

[@theaylesburycyclist8756]

Absolutely 💪

[@RoadCone411]

My guess is most of these women never saw the end of the decade, certainly unlikely to have seen the end of 1980s. Crazy to look at this and think how they all lived their (long) lives, drinking and socializing into their 70s and 80s, discussing a time when they were young (a full century removed from 2018) and now their existence is perhaps only in the memories of their children or grandchildren, as well as a few photos and this old video dredged up in the Thames TV archives. [Thanks for sharing!] The things these ladies must have seen and lived through - and the things they would be amazed at about in today’s world, good and bad. Makes me think of the song “Handbags and Gladrags,” for some reason. It certainly puts life into perspective.

[@jakmak1199]

God bless the marigold girls, we will never see their like again.the backbone of working class London.

[@katephillips1227]

All us Londoners have moved away now... not what I was brought up like no more... makes me very sad

[@stevenedwards2162]

Go to the pub nowadays and most people are on social media and shut off from socialising the internet is ruining us

[@joelarama]

My grandparents were from the East End of London. Nan and Grandad. I miss them so much and can hear their voices in so many of these wonderful characters.

[@ravenhill_the_cryptic_of_1968]

ahhh the good old days in london town, can't believe the change i see now.

[@myworldstorm]

God bless them all, real hard old English ladies that knew what Hardship was all about, unlike today.

[@stuartwray6175]

There's plenty of hardship. Not so much spirit/solidarity.

[@matthewmiller8048]

I'm a northerner but these ladies remind me of my grandmother's. Tough, honest, intelligent hard working, working class ladies. Lovely people. I used to love visiting London, I don't recognise it now..

[@matthewmiller8048]

@Matty Jones I was thinking more the architecture and cockneys whom seemed to have moved outside the inner areas. It's all ciabattas and daft coffee.

[@jakmak1199]

The Hand and Marigold pub in the opening scene still going strong today in Bermondsey Street.

[@paulph12002]

Proper Old School Cockneys, God bless 'em all.

[@DrCarr-nb1tf]

These people lived life , they may not have had much but they knew how to live life and get on with everyone ! Darn shame it’s all gone today

[@danbus180]

If it wasn’t for them old girls I wouldn’t be typing this message now ( born in the 70s )

[@Thirdfish]

Or KZbin.

[@etherealdreams7936]

Brilliant I work in this area. The first bloke is classic and the lady talking about wearing a "mini" fantastic. This was an era where people connected and weren't preoccupied whether or not their latest tweet has gone viral. Real characters/communication & community never to be seem again.

[@heyokaempath5802]

What a lovely glimpse into the past. Absolutely precious.

[@b.goodfellow465]

My father (born 1922- died 2009) grew up in Bermondsey, so it’s lovely to see this footage!

[@importantjohn]

On this video you can see people in 1972 saying things were better 40 years ago. On this comment thread you can read people in 2019 saying things were better 40 years ago. Anyone see a trend?

[@barrieholditch3800]

I am from London born in 1952 in St, Mary’s, and Londoners at that time would help and say hello. Now life has changed it’s how much money do you have ! Life...

[@sallythomas8599]

There are no cockneys left in London. There was a documentary about it a few years ago but it got buried in late evening scheduling. It was sad to watch

[@GokTurkBey]

i actually felt like crying whilst watching this, all these ladies have passed away long ago.

[@ElzevereBlock]

Sadly, all these lovely genuine Londoners are all dead. Everything they grew up with was passed onto us, manners and sharing being at the top. What is London now.........? a sad place compared to then. I honestly wouldn't live there free of charge for the rest of my life. Someone in the press christened it a few years back as "Londonistan". How true! God Bless all you girls in Heaven watching down on us all and wondering whatever allowed the city and country to come to this?

[@AA-ek5kz]

stephen you are the moron of the Century with that statement, there are many old people in nursing homes and are lonely in their own homes, what have you done for them? It is probably those foreign people who are looking after them and providing more help than you have ever given in your life.

[@steven-vn9ui]

@@AA-ek5kz Are you on the same planet? look at London now - it's a violent disgrace.

[@m80tmm]

A A your wrong

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Look at these nice ladies. Soft skin, big hearts and `tuff as nails! I had a grandmother like that. God bless all of them! Be safe, and stay safe! Greetings from Norway!

[@wendyjane6634]

Great times a sad shame what London become reminds this of my mum and grandparents

[@mrpangyang5225]

Absolutely priceless ,"Strawbeds & no half pint beer glasses" These folk were what living in London was all about,the closeness & trusting of their community,their spirit of life,Bless them.

[@ajs41]

These are the type of people the politicians wanted to get rid of. They were too independent-minded for their liking.

[@pommiebears]

Sam 2014 they would rather gnaw their own arms off than thieve from their own! What would you know?.....you weren’t part of this community.

[@davidf.563]

God for bid us working class ppl have an opinion lol

[@qualitygoldfish2198]

@@Sam-cz2bz Cowardly vermin,i would honestly duke back up and meet you but i know you are way too cowardly.

[@shepski8065]

Real English working class... Fuck all money.... But real down to earth folk!

[@robertstone8056]

@@Sam-cz2bz you tit!

[@fl3162]

Hard women drinking pints - all their husbands died years ago

[@justgnatjones]

Wonderful footage, this is one of a handful of Bermondsey pubs still open, so many have been closed over the years

[@davieleerio]

these ladies are old school wonderful!!

[@redfred70]

Loved this, just like my memories of proper South London people when I was a child in the 1970s. Would love to go back and talk to them now.

[@nezbit8989]

Aww bless em. That generation was hard as nails, bombed relentlessly in the war to a point where hitler himself gave up trying to break their spirit and changed his game plan! Real people with a true sense of community and care for one’s neighbours. They had a lot less then but they had a whole lot more at the same time. I believe they were far more satisfied with their lives than a lot of people nowadays, no sense of missing out or not being good enough. Mentally strong and morally rich!

[@johnnylock2162]

Sad to think their all gone now! True Bermondsey girls.

[@janetsides901]

Reminds me of my grandmother,I'm American,but she was a tough lady. Lived through a lot of bad times,but told a story so well.

[@andynixon2820]

My grandma was the eldest of 13 kids from Walthamstow . This reminds me of her and her sisters back in the 70s - think there's a little bit of that spirit in me and my cousins and it's a wonderful thing .

[@sidsnot6952]

You wouldn't recognise the stow anymore.

[@catherineoconnell3213]

Now that's what I call "True English Folk" Common soda for washing.......great stuff for cleaning.......... Where has all the laughter gone? Bless ole England........

[@jimmyskyblue6057]

It's great how they're talking about the good old days and they all have it easy today, and this was nearly 50 years ago.

[@jimmyska4]

I’ve watched this 6 times in a row now just to hear their voices.

[@michaelduffy7246]

I could sit down and listen to them people all day long people like that the backbone of the country and we just haven’t appreciate it God bless them

[@jeffersonwest834]

I was born in Stockwell in 1967 ♥️ . I remember My Mum & Dad's Families all lived within the same Mile . Community Spirit & Humour ♥♥♥ ..

[@22poopoo]

Sadly my local has recentley closed down. Remeber gong in to hear roaring laughter. That only works when there are locals and proper regulars.

[@paulwhelan9923]

these lovely ladies it like listeining to my mum and my aunties born and bred in the east end, down to earth women, i miss it even today,even thou these ladies are from the south of london. it does not matter they all come from the same cloth.R.I.P mum and aunties and to these down to, earth ladies god bless

[@MuhammadAli-hr1bj]

Very humbling to watch these ladies reminiscing about life. My early years were spent with ladies from this generation,some of my best memories.

[@ZeldaFitz]

The tiny old dear with the grey hair is just fantastic, she looks like something out of the 1870s.

[@anniefranklin9853]

This is my grandparents generation, I have so many memories of listening to conversations like this. Pure gold Thankyou

[@sabinaagha11]

The men remind me of my father. Proper English gentleman he was.

[@mjamescork]

I'd give anything to go back and have a night in that pub with these characters

[@robj8201]

What a brilliant watch...I'm an Eastend boy originally and can identify with not just these beautiful people's memories but the people themselves. Everybody was a character, something our streets and societies lack today. Strange thing was how they described their changing areas in away you hear many still voice today...the ones that didn't move away that is....⚒❤️⚒

[@trondog8503]

"We all mixed , we were all one"

[@matthewbrooker]

Love this. Grandparents were from Woolwich. I remember their laughter....it still gets me through the hardest of times and taught me a healthy mistrust of authority;-)

[@harold_Shitmum]

Not a tooth in site!

[@anniefranklin9853]

So many memories of my grandma who was just like the women in this oh so poignant piece. Miss those days

[@kaoskrew8577]

Salt of the earth

[@Haberdashery22]

My Nana and Grandad's voices and actions! Grandad worked in the docks as a ship's plumber and nana in the Silvertown Tate and Lyle factory. Pre WW1 they narrowly escaped death in the Silvertown Explosion. I was born in '54 and as a child I remember many parties thrown by my great aunts and uncles - 'knees-ups' they were called. "Lets 'av a good old knees-up" my nana would shout out ....and we would. Someone tinkering the keys of the old Joanna, pinnies would come off, drinks would come round on a tray, pipes and cigarettes would be lit... kids all over the place joining in the fun and getting up to mischief. Bless 'em and God rest their souls.

[@highgreen6452]

Brilliant this I was born 200 miles away in Yorkshire we didn't have the same places to talk about but I remember the old uns like this round here

[@paulbrowne6087]

Priceless. Oh how I laughed at this. What characters. With their weight in gold.

[@garymccolgan1861]

Salt of the earth. The best

[@janetnjie8318]

Lovely old dears!! 😙

[@peterevans3504]

I remember a few years back I went to London to work with a blind lady who was a amazing woman. Her home was immaculate and she was the most loving human I have ever met. I cried my eyes out after a week at the way she was treated by londoners especially on the tube. Not all were bad but by heck I went back home to my next patient in tears at the way she was treated

[@Asm-sg8gb]

Brilliant,. Great that this piece of history is preserved for all.

[@celticwarrior1365]

Didn't realise that ladettes existed back then. Great viewing.

[@ameerabdhadi5694]

Imagine! after tens of years we are watching those kind simple people from a simple age, we are watching them in our smart phones may be laid on our beds or somewhere else ... definitelly they all never even thought about us now watching that special moment they recorded this video clip! Its clear from their faces they suffered a lot I and II WW ... May they all rest in peace

[@davidpike9590]

Reminds me of my Grandmother and my own Mum! God bless them both!

[@VarliVuitton]

I wonder what infuriates politicians in the UK about Londoners having a community like this.

[@ravenhill_the_cryptic_of_1968]

2:56 the woman here bless her heart looks and sounds like my old mother.

[@111oxford]

The old girl telling the story about the bull reminds me of my nan who lived in the same area. Same sense of humour, same way of speaking. Brings back some great memories,

[@Shemra]

When I " was a little boy, I would go to the shops, for old ladies and men like these. " Get yerself a bag of crisp, boy."

[@kalthoummahmoud6655]

Mind you I ain’t gonna lie I do miss hearing cockney accents

[@jackcharlie9322]

It’s khalils Animation can hear so much Australian

[@levieenrose7646]

Not one 'snowflake ' amongst these wonderful people! Just hard working, decent working class individuals.

[@tonybates7870]

If there's any snowflakes here it's in this horrible comment section.

[@zazee5953]

Bless those old folk ❤️

[@desapole]

When are people going to realise that you can express admiration for bygone eras without insulting our current one?

[@Thirdfish]

Gaw'd Bless' em all.

[@rhythmictiger]

The lady with the blue headscarf is like Catherine Tates Nan character.

[@carolynmurphy3697]

What a fab video. That woman with the jokes was so funny, timing was great. I remember the oldies back in my childhood not having teeth

[@OldGoolekid]

This is AMAZING! Reminds me of the women of my childhood :)

[@mehhandle]

I'd love to go back in time and have a drink with these ladies.

[@brucevilla]

Thanks for Uploading.

[@marclaw4511]

Proper old school folk.

[@Kevinfordsynthesizers]

I was in The Angel, Bermondsey about five years ago. There was still a hint of this spirit around.

[@sandiagatha1288]

Love the clip. :) Thanks for sharing and uploading.

[@catherinedoyle1194]

I love the people talking in this video! God bless these good honest peoplexx

[@denisegallagherae]

Oh bless their hearts !! What a beautiful bunch of ladies !! My God they had some hard times ❤️❤️❤️

[@leemitchellmusic]

Salt of the earth....I'm from The Old Kent Road...

[@jaysahota7728]

Love these women so sturdy and funny God bless them they don't make them like that no more..... Legends

[@johnlowdon5809]

Salt of the Earth bless em.

[@bobstar6837]

God bless them, proper characters.

[@therange4033]

Gord Blimey when yer put yer pint down in was gorn!

[@jumpfortyfour9965]

true brits