Most people remember Emily and Spider up a tree in the Red Rec, protesting, but it isn't the first time Emily has gripped a cause by the neck and caused a few ructions. Emily Nugent Bishop may be a mild mannered church-going widow but she always had time for a cause. In our first fab photo today, Emily and Vera sit up all night on guard. The year is 1971 and the community centre and a warehouse is about to be built. Nobody wants it because they fear the busy business will bring noise and uproar to the Street (never mind that there was a factory there for years before the maisonettes were built, which only stood a few years until Val Barlow electrocuted herself and they burned). Emily and Vera and other women formed a sit in to stop the construction vehicles but it all goes wrong. Emily gets arrested and spends the night in a cell! The factory was built. And in 1989, it was demolished when Mike Baldwin sold it to Maurice Jones who redeveloped that side of the street but not before Emily and the other workers who all lost their jobs held another picket causeing the construction to be held up. The result of that was redundancy pay!
Edited: As Mark pointed out, Vera didn't come to the Street until 1974. The incident in 1971 did happen but this photo looks more likely to be from 1989 sit-in for redundancy pay happened.
In our second photo, this time from 1973, Emily is leading a meeting geared to rally the residents round because the Street is going to be demolished. They all thing neighbour Councillor Fairclough hopes to push it through and Emily is so angry that she chucks a brick through his window! He actually voted against the proposal and Emily apolotizes to Len, ashamed of her actions.
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Isnt the first photo later than 1971 as stated, I didnt think Vera was in it til mid-late 70's.
I never comment on these Fab Photo's but this one deserves a mention. A great shot and a bit of history to go with it is always a good thing.
Are you sure the first picture is 1971 and maybe not 81? I dont think Vera was even in 1971, I thought it was 1974 she first appeared? As well, Emily looks a lot older than she does in the first pic thn she does in the second image.
A nice memory, fab photo friday really brings good thoughts from the old days on that cobbled street.
Mark, the magazine i have said 1971 but they could be wrong. Val died in 1971 but I agree it might be a bit early for Vera. The incident involving Emily did happen in 1971 but this photo must be from another incident. Even Emily's hair would indicate that. The magazine must have got the caption wrong.
I want that Hat and Coat combo it's fabulous xxx
There are quite a few errors in these photos. The first was probably taken in the late 80s because Vera is in it and Emily's hair is styled as it was when the factory was demolished, a style she occupied when she turned 60 probably. The second one doesn't look like it was taken in 1973 either, because Emily has a hairstyle she occupied during the 1960s. And Alan Howard is in the picture, and I'm sure he left in 1973 with Elsie. I should say 1970, because there's a picture of Jack Walker that was probably put there after his death. And Emily seems to look like she was before marrying Ernest. And Maggie Clegg is by Alan. And if it was taken before 1970, Jack would probably be with Annie. The audience include Annie, Alan, Ernest, Maggie and Ray. And the first picture has a sign saying 'Jones' on it, confirming it was 1989, when Mike sold it to Maurice Jones. I'm finished for now!
Well, Llifon, as i edited to add, the first photo is likely from 1989 when Baldwin's Casuals was knocked down. I agree the second photo looks earlier than 73, i'm only going by what was in the magazine that the photos were in and the photo captions in that were obviously not matching the descriptions of Emily's various protest actions beside each photo.
It's a great photo, and a fascinating piece of detective work trying to work out which era it's from.
Lifton is right. How funny trying to work it out though!