Abney Park held an online memorial for the 80th Anniversary of the Coronation Avenue Bombings – one of the biggest civilian tragedies of the Second World War – on Tuesday evening.
The event included a series of talks by Councillor Susan Fajana-Thomas, historian Alan Gartrell, Rabbi Herschel Gluck and recordings from the Police, Fire Brigade and relatives of those who lost their lives.
Councillor Susan Fajana-Thomas, who introduced the event, said: “While this event is a sober reflection of a dark time in history, I’m feeling pleased and excited that Abney Park is putting up this event to remember the people who lost their lives in this tragedy.”
Historian Alan Gartell spoke about the impact of the Blitz on Stoke Newington and the neighbouring communities. He described the memorial as “a dignified and poignant testament of the impact of the Second World War on the local community, and it is right to remember these people that died.”
Many of the victims were refugees and part of the Jewish community. Speaker Rabbi Herschel Gluck said, “Stoke Newington wasn’t just a home for the Jewish people, they contributed a tremendous amount.”
He ended with a note on the COVID-19 pandemic, “it is an opportune moment to reflect [on] how can we do more to protect the lives of others … how can we ensure that society becomes fairer, becomes kinder, becomes more compassionate for each and every one of us.”
The event ended with recordings of relatives of those who lost their lives.
Norman Levinson, who lost his mother, said, “all the names on the headstones have a direct effect on me, all these people were with my mum when she died.”
“The people who died there must never be forgotten”, he added.
The bombing took the lives of 160 people, 88 of whom are buried at the Civilian War Memorial in Abney Park Cemetery. They commemorates the lost Stoke Newington residents, as well as those from Green Lanes, Lidfield Road and others.
