Recorder reunites old Stratfordians

Katie Nathan, a 94-year-old former Stratford resident, contacted the Recorder asking whether anyone who remembered the area from the before and during the Second World War would like to join her for a reunion and she got more than she bargained for.

Eleven old Stratfordians got in contact with Katie after seeing her invitation and telephone number in the paper and they organised a coach to pick everyone up and drop them off outside the Stratford Theatre Royal.

Katie planned the redenzvous to catch up with old stallholders, shopkeeers and residents who lived in or around the area to join her to walk around and see what became of their old home.

Now living in Bromley, Katie used to live in Angel Lane where the Nathan family owned a drapery shop and were friendly with the other local businesses nearby.

Katie said: “I cannot thank you enough. It was so wonderful and we’ll probably never be able to do it again.

“We are so fortunate, and I am especially at 94, to be able to this. We all saw the sign that said ‘Angel Lane’ and the years just fell away.”

Jan Dooner, landlady of the Railway Tavern on Angel Lane, called Katie to say hello and the manager of the Theatre Royal also met the reunion party and gave them a personal tour of the building.

Katie also extends her thanks to the coach driver who went out of his way to drive the reunion party through central London, where they talked about Spitalfields Market when it sold fruit and vegetables, and through the Canary Wharf development.