Eric Hall, on Radio Essex, British artists.

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:23 pm

Sorry Marian, I should have included you in the last reply. I've only just noticed your George also recalled a Manzes shop in the East End of London, so maybe that was the same one Peter remembers so well.

Marian.

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 6:52 pm

Hi Marian, As far as we can gather there are still two Manzes Pie and Mash shops in the Eastend and one in Sutton going strong.
The first shop was opened in Tower Bridge Road Bermondsey and then the second in Southwark Park Road, and two or three followed in Poplar.
The one that we used was in the Canterbury Market Place in Kilburn.
Michael Manze originally came from Ravello in Southern Italy and then other brothers of his opened shops here and the total became Fourteen.
Of course there were other names in the Pie and Mash business but Manzes was always considered to be one of the best.
Well both George and Peter knew what was good for them in those days.

People still order this food today for parties and have it bought to the house or venue.

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:26 pm

Lena and Harry, Marian.
I think Manzes must have gone up in the world since those early days, as Peter said his mum used to hurry him inside as she didn't want to be seen going into a place where "down and outs" used to go! I suppose because the meals were very nourishing and cheap.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:12 pm

Hi all---It would be the ones in Poplar that George spoke to me about, because that is where he was born and bought up.

He was much older than I--born in 1919---and from the way he spoke, it sounded as though times could be really tough--but he was always very nostalgic, when talking about his younger days. Sometimes, it used to sound as though it were a completely different world . Maybe it was

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:25 pm

Hi All,
How did we get here from Eric Hall?
Nice to recall old memories, especially happy ones. Looks like none of us went to the same pie and mash shop, but the memories seemed to be the same all over London.

I grew up in South Wales, where the Bracci's ice cream shops also came from Italy.
Marian.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:52 pm

Hi Marian--my mum was born in Cardiff-I have mentioned this elsewhere, but you may not have seen it.

I have been to Cardiff on several occasions in the last 10 years or so--I lost my mum over 20 years ago, but I know she would not recognise Cardiff these days.

George and I went to Swansea and the Mumbles for a holiday---many years ago-but what a lovely place The Mumbles is.

Marian [2]

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:09 am

Hi Marian and Mariana44, times were differnt in those days and many people, and not just Eastend people did experience hard times, but in spite of those hard times they wouldn't change it.
It's a case of what you never had you never missed, in fact on Eric Hall's programme they just love reminiscing. Even during the London Blitz, the Eastend and the docks were constant targets and took the brunt of the bombing, suffering air raids day and night but for those who were lucky to have survived theres a story to tell.
Marian when Peter's Mother used to rush him inside the Pie and Mash shop, we know as kids that didn't occur to us. The Pie shop was part of our community. It was also part of our diet and saved mum cooking.

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 12:30 am

Hi Marian and Mariana44 we've also mentioned about having friends and relatives in different parts of Wales, but have never been to Swansea and the Mumbles, but have been told how beautiful it is, and the Gower Peninsular.
Are intending to visit the " Wales Millenium Centre " at some point too.
Looks and sounds fantastic

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:25 am

Good morning Lena and Harry, and Marian, and everyone.
I think Peter's mum always liked to think she was a bit posher than she really was! but nevertheless she was a lovely mother-in-law and lived to 92.
There are certainly some beautiful spots in Wales, like the Gower coast and the Mumbles. Pembrokeshire is wonderful too. We often visit friends in Penally near Tenby.

Talking of Cardiff. Has Edgar gone on holiday? Haven't seen any posts from him lately.

Marian.

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:58 am

Hi Marian, Yes Edgar is in holiday for two weeks, cruising.
Wait till he sees everyones tan when he gets back home.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:00 pm

Hi all. He won't see my tan as I am an indoors person as mentioned previously. He will not see your's Lena and Harry either, as you just sit "indoors" eating ice cream, having your rolls (I won't look)

and watching TV

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:42 am

We weren't at home last Sunday to hear Eric's programme, but tuned in yesterday to the Listen Again feature.
Eric welcomed back Tenor Tony Dalli who had recovered from his bout of Laryngitis, (pharengitis according to Eric ) when he could barely speak to Eric a couple of weeks ago.
Tony Dalli has a tremendous voice and whatsmore one of the nicest unassuming person's we've ever known.
If ever visiting Spain look in on Tony's Restaurant in Marbella and you'll be serenaded by Tony. There are often violin players to accompany your meal too ( that's if you like violin players).
Anyway Eric never forgets who he regards as the best British singer, and he talked of Matt's new CD "Heart Of The Man" and played the fantastic tracK " Nice n'Easy". Nice programme too.

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 9:05 pm

Eric is jewish and was born in Shoredith in London's East End and part of the Jewish community and tomorrow is Yom Kippur, being The Day Of Atonement.
He spoke of how this is a time for remembering loved ones, when he played My Yiddishe Momma he was clearly emotional.
He played a Perry Como song, he said Perry was his dad's favourite singer.
He played Barry Manilow singing the song, always associated with Frank Sinatra "In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning" and what a superb version this is by Barry.
But then requests were coming in for Matt who rarely fails to get a mention and so Eric played the fantastic "Time After Time".
Of course the phone in is part of the show and Eric always asks them to sing a song. One regular caller even provides his own music on his record player to sing to and Eric has to wait while he sets it up. Wonderful

len & freda · Post by **len & freda** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:39 pm

I Folks

Typical me, months behind with everything, but today due to the weather sat down quietly and went through the Forum, and came across the Eric Hall discussion in July 2006, I was interested in Eric Hall as I spoke to Matt Jnr on his programme late last year.

I was also brought up on Pie and Mash and Jellied eels, but where I lived in Hackney it was Tubby Isaacs. the finest pie and mash in London. My father would never eat it as he said it was cockney food (he was a Lincolnshire Yellow Belly).

Hope no one minds me bringing this subject up again but had a good laugh reading the postings Bye

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:18 pm

Len, pie and mash and jellied eels was part of our stable diet, though I was always partial to the soup, and if a rare occasion occurred when mum was a bit flushed with money, a fruit pie with sugar on top was added to the a la carte.

and we're still here so it couldn't have done us much harm. We remember Tubby Isaacs always had a stall in Saafend, and Rossi's ice cream was a dream.
We were tuned in listening to Matt Jnr on Eric's show Len, so we must have heard you.

Matt Monro Forum

Eric Hall, on Radio Essex, British artists.

pie and mash shops