Colin Grainger

East London

The Ferry Festival – an event with a special place in the hearts of the ‘island’ community of North Woolwich and Silvertown

Of all the marvellous tales that have been captured both in words and on film in the Forgotten Stories series there is one event in local history that has a special place in the hearts […]

Jul, 26

How the floods of the 1950s shaped our past and present

London is thankfully protected from flooding today thanks to the structure dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World – the magnificent Thames Flood Barrier at Silvertown. But the community in and around the Royal Docks […]

Mar, 31

The life of a hero of the Silvertown Explosion – firefighter Henry Vickers

It is always an honour when something you have written reveals more about one of life’s true heroes. And today I am happy to share memories of one of the legends of the Silvertown Explosion […]

Jan, 29

Poignant anniversary of the shocking Silvertown Explosion – an ‘accident waiting to happen’

   Picture: Newham Archives One hundred years ago saw an event in Silvertown’s history that many believed was “an accident waiting to happen”. In this special edition of londonsroyaldocks.com’s Forgotten Stories section we remember The […]

Jan, 10

Help tell the story of the Silvertown Explosion in 1917 – and add to history archive

Local people are being asked to contribute to a history archive being created on the Silvertown Explosion in 1917 in our Royal Docks. Did you or your family used to work in or grow up in […]

Oct, 12

Vivid recollections of wartime evacuation…drama and tears

When a loved one passes away it is a time of great sadness but also a chance to celebrate their life. In the months after, gems about that person’s life can be unearthed and to […]

Sep, 21

East London story that changed the course of the war

The Royal Docks and London’s East End suffered mass devastation during the Second World War. From Black Saturday on September 7 1940, the lives of locals changed forever. But the latest in our Forgotten Stories […]

Aug, 23

Navigation

Please use the navigation to move within this section.