Human of Tower Hamlets - Mary

I’ve been here for 17, 18 years now. When I first moved in, it was such a vibrant community—coffee mornings, bingo nights, even exercise classes. I actually started the bingo myself! Things have changed over the years, but I do my best to keep the spirit alive with summer parties and little traditions.

When we moved in, there was a cherry tree outside. The housing officer asked if we wanted it removed, and my husband and I said, ‘Absolutely not!’ We loved that tree.

My husband passed away 13 years ago after a long battle with cancer, but I still remember him saying, ‘Life’s no rehearsal. Live it.’ And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.

I’ve lived all over the East End. I’ve got so many memories from each place, but one of my favourites is meeting the Queen. My mum gave her a rose. She gave my mum the sweetest smile and said, ‘Thank you.’ Afterwards, our neighbour, who had given my mum the rose, joked ‘but you're the queen of this block!’.

Mary, Cable Street, E1

Welcome Humans of Tower Hamlets! We are proud to live, work, and play in one of London’s most diverse boroughs, where every person has a unique story to tell. In this new series, we’ll be sharing snippets from candid conversations with our residents, community members, and team, celebrating the vibrant stories, spirit, and people that bring Tower Hamlets to life.?If you’d like to chat and share your experiences as a Human of Tower Hamlets, we would love to hear from you! [email protected]????