An Oral History Interview ‘memories of the Canning Town Old Library’ with Bill Farrow and Richie Milton

Bill Farrow

Bill Farrow has had a variety of jobs alongside his musical career as a singer and guitarist. One of his happiest memories was working as milkman in Canning Town where he knew everyone on his round and was often asked to help the old ladies with odd jobs. He then moved to Dagenham which he regretted and always came back to Canning Town. For the last 25 years he has worked in films and TV, the most significant being as background artist in EastEnders for 23 years. He has written radio plays aired on hospital radio and BBC Radio Essex and stage plays. As a guitarist he toured with an American singer and made an LP but never took it up professionally. Being a family man, he recognised the importance of having a stable job and a regular income. He remembers the people who lived in Canning Town as being a big community who would knock on each other’s door.

Rathbone Street Market 

Bill as a teenager in the 1950s, always made a detour to Rathbone Street Market rather than going straight home because of Ron’s record store where he would look at records and remembers Saturday mornings in particular where Ron would mime to the records he played and then sell them. Lots of people would come to the store, and it would be like a party atmosphere.

The Old Canning Town Library – doorway to escape to another world

Bill himself did not really use the library a lot and only went a few times as he really enjoyed music more than books, but he remembers Johnny Speight who “lived in the library” and just read “everything” as he loved reading and said the library saved his life. Bill said the library and reading were like a doorway to escape to another world and took Johnny away from personal and environmental problems just as music did for Bill and Richie.

Johnny Speight grew up to become a very successful British radio and television scriptwriter in the 1960s and ‘70s and wrote many classic British sitcoms of the day.

Richie Milton

Richie has been a musician all his life. He sings and plays the guitar and earlier on in his musical career played the saxophone. He was born in Forest Gate and moved to Leyton and now lives in Plaistow. He has played with many bands, made records and toured with Freddy Macks Soul Extravaganza and reggae acts The Pioneers and Judge Dread.

After switching to playing the guitar he was signed to Bell Records, releasing a single and making further TV appearances. He went on to form “The London Apaches”, who became an established name on the then thriving London R&B scene, releasing the single, “Lost In The Jungle”, and touring with the legendary Long John Baldry.  It was around this time Richie’s songwriting was being noticed by artists such as Ruby Turner and Otis Grand, who both recorded his songs, paving the way for his well acknowledged talent as a singer and songwriter.

Bridge House Pub Canning Town

Richie has fond memories of the now demolished but famous Bridge House pub and music venue where he played a few times that has had many famous bands performing there and as Richie remembers an “eclectic clientele”. The pub also had its own record label where he recorded a reggae album with Judge Dread.

Memories of the Library

Richie found the old Canning Town Library mainly during lockdown after his daily walk around the area. He rediscovered a love for books and said that “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson was the best boy’s book ever. Bill recollects the old Canning Town library having Billy Bunter books and Richie remembers the old Canning Town library as being a fascinating and historical building.

Bill and Richie’s musical career

Bill and Richie have released singles and CDs as solo artists and worked in collaboration with other musicians. They met 14 years ago and performed as a Blues and Skiffle band.  Bill most famously wrote and sang the Canning Town Blues and Dockers LPs. He was also invited to write a new anthem for West Ham Utd as an alternative to “I’m forever blowing bubbles” that was sold at the West Ham Utd retail store when the club was based at Upton Park.

Their music now harks back to their East End roots and is very much “Eastendy” and cockney.

Canning Town Blues

Bill and Richie are still very much working musicians and continue to perform at various venues. They can be found regularly playing at the “Last Wednesday Club” at St Margaret’s Church in Canning Town and releasing new songs. Their latest is a single released now called “Knees Up”.