'Growing up in Tower Hamlets'

Actuality tapes and edited inserts for the final programme. A copy of the final programme.

Related paper records for this project are catalogued in section MS 4000/2/156.

MS 4000/6/1/80/3 is closed under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 until because some items contain personal information about individuals. The remainder of this project is available for consultation. See description field for dates when material will be available. Remove marked 'closed' files before serving.

A programme made for the Open University (Open University programme reference E361/01). The programme was produced and introduced by Charles Parker, compiled from interviews conducted and gathered by Charles Parker.

The programme concerns the school and housing provision in Tower Hamlets in the 1970s. People interviewed included teachers and youth workers, children and teenagers of various ethnic backgrounds and some parents. Topics covered within these themes include: the transition from primary to secondary schools, truancy, vandalism and street violence, youth clubs, tower block and new housing developments, teaching methods and clashes between pupils and teachers, unemployment in the area and prospects after education, ethnic diversity in the area.

The actuality recordings also include discussions on the history of Tower Hamlets - from the 'Battle of Cable Street' at which local residents resisted a fascist march through their area involving Oswald Mosley, to the contemporary decline of industry and closure of the docks in the area. The discussions about immigration to Tower Hamlets of people from different ethnicities are covered in more detail in the actualities, in which there are occasionally racist views given.