Rediscovered East London Stories Shine in Award-Nominated Podcast Series
In an age of rapid urban change and fleeting digital moments, the oral history podcast “The Hackney and Newham Social History Club” emerges as a powerful counter-narrative — preserving the gritty, vibrant stories of East London’s past. Now in its third critically acclaimed season, the podcast is not just telling stories; it’s reviving a forgotten archive of street photography, amplifying working-class identities, and making East London’s layered history accessible to the world.
This season’s theme — “Same Streets, Different Lives” — brings to life the rediscovered photo collection of Nigerian British tailor and street photographer Bandele “Tex” Ajetunmobi, reintroducing us to a visual narrative once nearly lost forever.
📍 Themes: Migration, fashion, identity, activism, street life
🏆 Recognition: Award-nominated podcast series
🎙️ A Community Podcast with a Mission: More Than Just Storytelling
Unlike commercial podcasts that chase downloads, “The Hackney and Newham Social History Club” aims to capture real voices and preserve living memory. Developed by Immediate Theatre in collaboration with the Hackney and Newham Archives, the podcast originated as a local oral history initiative. Its success and emotional resonance have since propelled it to national recognition.
“These are real stories, honestly told,” says Jo Carter, Artistic Director of Immediate Theatre. “We’ve created something that feels authentic, and that’s why people connect to it.”
Now available across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Pocket Casts and other platforms, the show features rich, firsthand accounts of East End life—told by those who lived through wartime evacuations, Afro-Caribbean migration, post-war industry, feminist revolutions, and more.
📷 A Lost Archive Reborn: The Legacy of Bandele “Tex” Ajetunmobi
Perhaps the most captivating narrative of Season 3 lies within the long-forgotten photographic work of Bandele “Tex” Ajetunmobi, a self-taught Nigerian British photographer and tailor who captured East London’s working-class life from the 1940s to the 1980s.
Long buried in family boxes and assumed lost to history, Tex’s powerful black-and-white images have now found their rightful place in Tate and Autograph’s prestigious collections.
“These were ordinary people, and he made them look like glamorous models,” recalls Victoria Loughran, his niece and the key figure behind the archive’s resurrection.
Tex’s portraits show market traders, young couples, sari-clad mothers, factory workers, and children in their Sunday best — not as mere subjects, but as icons of strength, dignity, and everyday glamor.
🧵 Fashion, Identity & Street Culture: A Lens on East End Style
One of the standout aspects of Tex Ajetunmobi’s photography is his acute eye for fashion and self-expression. Whether it’s the precise tailoring of post-war suits, the DIY punk aesthetic of the 1970s, or the vibrant fabrics of West African diaspora communities, Tex’s work presents fashion as a political and personal statement.
Why It Matters:
His work bridges generational divides, showing how clothing reflects identity, class, and belonging.
For young listeners, it offers a window into the style codes of historical East London.
For older residents, it evokes memories of a community that dressed with pride despite adversity.
🗣️ Real People, Real Lives: Grassroots Storytelling at Its Finest
Each episode of Season 3 layers the visual archive with personal testimonies, cultural analysis, and lived memory, all expertly woven together by host Sue Elliott-Nicholls, a long-time broadcaster with a gift for emotional storytelling.
Recurring Themes:
✊🏽 Activism & Resistance: From anti-fascist protests to squatter movements.
🏘️ Migration Journeys: Caribbean, South Asian, and African experiences.
💬 Community Institutions: Shubeens, sari shops, market stalls, local radio.
👩👧👦 Family Legacies: Intergenerational tensions and pride.
👩🏾🎤 Creative Expression: Street fashion, music, and DIY art scenes.
“When people start talking about things that matter, it unlocks something,” shares Judy Frumin, a participant in the series. “These producers shape your memories into stories that other people want to hear. Isn’t that remarkable?”
🎧 How the Podcast Was Made: Behind-the-Scenes with Immediate Theatre
Immediate Theatre has long been known for its commitment to community-based storytelling, but this podcast represents an innovative blend of archival preservation and digital media.
The Production Process:
✔️ Community outreach via local groups, markets, and libraries
✔️ In-depth interviews with residents aged 18 to 90+
✔️ Archival deep dives across Hackney and Newham public records
✔️ Sound design featuring local ambiance, music, and oral histories
✔️ Intergenerational workshops to co-create episodes
Tools for Preservation:
The series is more than audio—it’s part of a wider movement to preserve urban memory through:
🗃️ Digital Archiving
🖼️ Exhibitions
📚 Education packs for schools
📱 Social media storytelling
🎧 Where to Listen and Get Involved:
All episodes of “The Hackney and Newham Social History Club” are freely available on the following platforms:
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Amazon Music
Google Podcasts
Pocket Casts
Immediate Theatre Website
Listeners are encouraged to submit stories, photographs, and memories to help shape future episodes. Schools and community groups can also book live workshops and listening events.
🌍 Cultural Impact: From Local Podcast to National Treasure
What started as a hyper-local history project now resonates far beyond East London. The podcast has been nominated for national audio storytelling awards, featured on BBC London, and sparked renewed interest in urban community archives across the UK.
It also aligns with broader efforts to:
Combat gentrification through cultural memory
Empower marginalized voices
Preserve working-class narratives often excluded from mainstream media
Encourage youth-led history projects
🎤 Testimonials & Reactions: What the Community Is Saying
🗨️ “This isn’t just about history; it’s about feeling seen.” – Listener review 🗨️ “Finally, my grandmother’s stories are being celebrated, not erased.” – Podcast contributor 🗨️ “I never thought anyone would care about my market stall days. I cried listening.” – Episode participant
📌 Why This Podcast Matters Today
In 2025, with East London rapidly transforming through gentrification, this podcast acts as a sonic time capsule. It gives power back to the people who made these streets vibrant, multicultural, and creative.
This is not nostalgia. It’s resistance through remembrance.
Whether you’re a Hackney native, a curious newcomer, or a cultural historian, “The Hackney and Newham Social History Club” is essential listening for understanding the soul of the East End.
📢 Final Thought: Support and Sustain Oral Histories
To support the ongoing work of Immediate Theatre and the preservation of grassroots history:
🔁 Share the podcast
💷 Donate to their heritage fund
🗂️ Volunteer for oral history interviews
📸 Contribute family photos and artifacts
🎧 Host a community listening circle
🔚 Summary
“The Hackney and Newham Social History Club” isn’t just another podcast. It’s a revolutionary act of community storytelling, memory preservation, and cultural resilience. Through powerful oral histories, lost photographs, and the unmistakable voices of East London, this project offers a blueprint for heritage in the digital age.
