London's East End, once celebrated for its rough-and-ready character and tight-knit communities, has undergone such dramatic transformation that even its most famous residents struggle to recognise it today.
Anita Dobson's Emotional Return
Anita Dobson, the EastEnders legend recently awarded an OBE for her charitable work, returned to her childhood neighbourhood only to find it fundamentally changed. The actress, best known for playing Queen Vic landlady Angie Watts, described visiting Stepney Green as both emotionally familiar and profoundly saddening.
"Some of it is incredibly familiar, in a very emotional way: the flats I was brought up in as a youngster, the church was still there," Dobson told the Mail. However, she noted that many landmarks from her youth had disappeared, with pubs radically changed or demolished entirely.
The Vanishing Community Spirit
Dobson remembers a very different East End, one characterised by strong community bonds where neighbours genuinely knew each other and doors remained unlocked. "There was a very, very strong sense of community, your neighbours were really your neighbours," she recalled wistfully.
This sentiment is echoed by lifelong residents who have witnessed the area's transformation firsthand. Paul and Mary Tabner, who recently moved away after becoming "totally fed up," described how the community fabric has unravelled. "I could walk down most areas and know somebody, that's gone," Mary lamented.
Changing Faces and Places
The physical landscape of the East End has transformed alongside its social fabric. Brick Lane, long celebrated as the curry capital of Britain and home to a significant Bangladeshi community, now features vintage clothing shops, coffee shops, and trendy nightclubs alongside its traditional establishments.
According to Carole Middleton, a 54-year-old Plaistow resident, the sense of community has been "destroyed" along with the closure of traditional pubs that once served as social hubs. "The proper East End really has gone and I don't think it's coming back," she said.
Statistics reveal the area faces ongoing challenges, with the Met Police reporting an average of 126 crimes per thousand people across Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham in the last year.
Contrasting Perspectives on Change
Not all residents view the changes negatively. Zia Butt, who has run his father's textile firm on Brick Lane for 40 years, maintains that community spirit persists despite the transformations. "I'd say I am an East End Cockney," said Butt, whose family originates from Pakistan.
Syrian-born Azzam Harastini, who operates a restaurant on Brick Lane, acknowledges the area's evolution but sees it positively. "The younger crowd is the new East End and I think we need to get used to that," he commented, noting that Brick Lane continues to thrive.
A Personal and Professional Journey
Anita Dobson's connection to the East End extends beyond her childhood memories to her professional legacy. Her recent surprise return to EastEnders for its 40th anniversary saw her character Angie Watts appearing as a ghost to on-screen daughter Sharon during a dramatic explosion at the Queen Vic.
The actress, who now lives on a 100-acre Surrey estate with husband Brian May after their Kensington flat flooded, reflects philosophically on the changes. "Everything in life is like a double-edged sword – good things bring bad things, and bad things bring good," she observed.
Despite the area's transformation, Dobson acknowledges the East End's enduring spirit in her latest project, appearing alongside Nigel Havers in Channel 5's revival of Play For Today, appropriately titled "Never Too Late."
