Esther Annenberg

Esther, known as Etty, was born in 1909 in Upton Park in London. Etty went to Venetian Road Special School in Camberwell, London from the age of five, going on to an apprenticeship in dressmaking at Holdren’s department store in Peckham. At the time of interview Etty was 104 years old.

Dinner time

Here Etty describes her reaction to being forced to eat food she didn’t want.

Sweetheart

Here Etty describes making friends.

Going on the Trams

Here Etty describes going on the trams with her brothers.

Don’t Know Why

Here Etty talks about having to stand in front of the class.

Horses

Here Etty describes going to school in a horse drawn bus.

Lovely Mum

Here Etty remembers her mum.

Getting to School

Here Esther describes her journey to school.

I Didn’t Understand

Here Etty describes how she felt when people teased her.

Holdron’s

Here Etty describes her apprenticeship at Holdron’s department store after school.

Taking the Mickey

Here Etty describes her painful memories of being teased as a child.

Oranges

Here Etty talks about her wishes to see the world.

Bunked Away

Here Etty describes avoiding going to school.

Sore Knuckles

Here Etty describes being punished with a ruler at school.

Horse Drawn Ambulance

Here Etty talks about her daily journey to school from her family home in Bow.