Youths on Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, 1958 (by Don McCullin)

Comment by Hugh on September 19, 2019 at 11:19

Thanks for joining and giving us the view from someone who was there. I’d assumed that the term gang was used to mean a tight-knit group of local lads, rather than a criminal fraternity. It’s good to hear the view from an insider. 

It must have been quite shocking to hear of someone you knew being hanged, especially if you believed him to be innocent. 

When did you leave the area?

Comment by TerrySilvester on September 19, 2019 at 12:46

The Krays in those days were known but not so well known and yes they came to Grays Dance Hall and also to the Amusement Arcade, of course it wasnt their Manor ( the area that they lived ) but we all travelled to go to different Dance Halls like Barrys Highbury---Barrys at Hackney---Harry Bolts Wood Green---Wood Green Jazz Club--the Lyceum and lots of other places, so the Krays came to places like Grays Dance Hall not to cause trouble but to enjoy themselves like the rest of us and places like Grays and the Amusement Arcade did not claim patronage of the Krays coz at that time they wouldnt have known who they were. Some of us knew them because they by then  did have some reputation and had been decent Boxers.

Comment by Hugh on September 19, 2019 at 13:12

Thanks Terry.

Comment by TerrySilvester on September 19, 2019 at 16:24

I moved from Finsbury Park in 2010 and I now live in Clacton I mainly left because of health reasons. Yes we were a tight knit group of friends who came from all over Islington, and yes some of us got in to trouble but most didnt. I didnt have a lot of schooling coz Hitler was trying to Bomb us all so schooling was very disrupted. The Streets/Roads of Finsbury Park were very rough in those days our playgrounds were the Streets and Bombsites. My Gt Grandfather lived in the Bunk, Worse Street In North London, as did my Grandparents and I am one of the Admin on Campbell Bunk and Playford Road which covers that area and surrounding streets. My Family came in to that area, Finsbury Park/Holloway in early 1860s before that they had lived in some very rough areas, Spittalfields when the Ripper was roaming those streets---Saffron Hill where Dickins based Fagens Kitchen--Agar Town and the the Bunk all very rough areas. My Gt Gt Gt Grandfather died in St Pancras Workhouse and my Great Grandmother died in Islington Workhouse and as you will see from my Gramma and spelling I didnt go to Eton.

Comment by TerrySilvester on September 19, 2019 at 16:27

My late younger Brother was born in the Air Raid Shelter in our back garden in Fonthill Road in 1940 while the Germans were dropping bombs on us.

Comment by John D on September 19, 2019 at 16:44

Somebody please get down to Clacton with a microphone and recorder !!!

Comment by TerrySilvester on September 19, 2019 at 16:48

Yes everybody have been saying for years that I should have writ a book but I have a job writing my own name ha.

Comment by TerrySilvester on September 19, 2019 at 16:57

I have just posted a Don McCullin photo with some comments but I am not sure how to use this site so I dont know where its gone.

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