Do you have memories, or stories from your families, of going to the dogs or the races? Or what about popping down the pub in the days of the old East End? If so, JEECS member Isabelle Seddon would like to hear from you.

This is another aspect of her project examining at what stage Jews from the East End came to consider themselves Cockneys.

She writes: "This is all part of my research on the 'Jewish cockney' and what pursuits the Jewish East end shared with their non-Jewish neighbours. I know that not many went to the pub but if there are stories about interaction there, that would also be helpful."

Isabelle is working on a PhD on the East End Jewish contribution to left wing political theatre in England, with particular reference to the Workers Theatre movement and Unity Theatre, and the work of Lionel Bart, Arnold Wesker, Bernard Kops and Harold Pinter as well as performers in their works.

As part of it she is looking at what made people such as Lionel Bart consider themselves Cockney and when and why that occurred and at the interaction between Jewish East Enders and their neighbours.

What do you think? To share your ideas, you can email Isabelle at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..