JTR Exhibition in Docklands

[caz]

ps - that said - what was there was pretty nice - but I felt it could have been done better - even with what was there. There didnt seem to be that much focus on the murders - and particualry barely anything about either suspects or victims.

Hi Jen,

Were we at the same exhibition??

You knew the thing was being organised, so did you make your own suggestions for a much more ripperish event, clear to Julia when you had the chance at the Wolverhampton conference?

As far as I was concerned there was plenty about the plight of the ripper's typical prey, and their everyday fight for survival, and more than enough about the sad array of murder suspects presented to the public to choose from.

Love,

Caz
X

PS Yes, I'm sorry to have missed the talks on Saturday, but it's not like I haven't heard any related talks by Stewart, Robin and Paul before.

[Jenni Shelden]

Nats,

fair enough - but then the exibition shoud be called something broader like JtR's times etc as i mentinoed above. i found a lot of the more general stuff very interesting - eg the ambulance cart and the medals of pc long etc - but thats not what the exibiton was advertised as about. i would want to be able to gain some knowledge of the killer and his victims from the exibiton, all i got was pictures of dead women, extracts of details of their murders and a list of suspects tha was far from complete. Ok there was other interesting artefacts that were jtr related (diary, painting, knife, books, letters, reports etc) but for me something was still lacking, as for what that was i don't know.

However - we went for the talks and they were great. You all missed out!

Jenni

[Natalie Severn]

Quite frankly I would have been bored silly if all the exhibition did was talk about the Ripper! Its ok on here when you can hop over to another thread if the subject gets too repetitive or ghoulish,but for me at anyrate,its the whole East End context that is compelling and I thought Paul did a great job on that .I missed Robin"s talk which was really annoying but Stewart"s account of his personal and enduring fascination with the case and the reasons he gave for that,were very interesting in my view.I had a great time too as I said,seeing some of Docklands, properly, for the first time! Hubbie was very interested in it all when I got back and suggested we go over and have a look round the whole place.We had been watching the brilliant TV reconstruction series, "City of Vice" ,which used the Rocque maps in a virtual reality way,and introduced you to Henry Fielding and his Bow Street Runners.The Docklands Museum series of talks and exhibition follow neatly on from that period of the History of London.
Norma

[Jenni Shelden]

ps - that said - what was there was pretty nice - but I felt it could have been done better - even with what was there. There didnt seem to be that much focus on the murders - and particualry barely anything about either suspects or victims.

[Jenni Shelden]

Hi,

if i was new to the case - i cant imagine i would have left the exibiton knowing anything more about the case - i felt it had some interesting exibits - but perhaps the exibiton should be called Jack the Ripper's east End

or the East End and Jack the Ripper

or something

The talks were first class. I think its the first time i've heard paul or Robin speak - so I was happy to hear them. And Stewart spoke about some aspects I don't think I've heard him say much on before.

It was nice to see all three - and that they were getting on well and agreeing for the most part.

Jenni

[caz]

You are more than welcome, my dear fellow sad old git.

Love,

Caz
X

[Stewart P Evans]

Thank You

Hi Stewart, Coral, All,

I went yesterday so I missed the talk, but can only agree with what Stewart says here.
Love,

Caz
X

From one of the biggest 'sad old gits', thank you for an excellent summary Caz.

[caz]

I forgot to add that when I told my daughter we were going for a Jack the Ripper lunch, she said: "Don't tell me - kidneys and Abberline Angus steak...."

Love,

Caz
X

[caz]

Hi Stewart, Coral, All,

I went yesterday so I missed the talk, but can only agree with what Stewart says here. The exhibition is obviously geared towards the great unripperised - not us sad old gits. While I did not expect it to provide any new ripper info for the tiny minority who are already hooked on the subject, I thought it did a great job of putting the murders in their historical East End context and making them real and relevant for today's visitors to Docklands and the museum. By the comments left by the public (only a couple of tasteless ones: "Gordon Brown done it!" was one such, but on the whole they were serious and very approving - no grumbles as far as I could see) it seems like it's going to educate as well as entertain and be a great success.

I like the way the mortuary photos are in a separate section with a clear warning attached, so that people can choose whether or not to see them. I thought that was the best way to do it. But human nature being what it is, there was no shortage of people browsing that section.

Hubby and I spent a couple of hours going round the exhibits (I could have stayed longer but hubby was getting thirsty) before having a swift pint or two in the Cat & Canary over the bridge (had to be done - it's a Fullers pub! ), then it was back to the 1802 restaurant attached to the museum for the special Jack the Ripper lunch: £12 for two courses from the menu including a drink - beer, house wine or Victorian style lemonade; £4.50 for puddings. I have to say the food was excellent for the money, considering we are in one of the most expensive cities in the world for dining out. I was expecting typical museum canteen fare but was very pleasantly surprised. They also had a cocktail list to die for, I had a strawberry and vanilla mojito. For pudding I had an 'oranges and lemons' custard tart, which was divine.

After lunch we waddled round the non-JtR part of the museum and I had no idea just how much there would be to see, all of it informative and educatatative. We were knackered by the time we left at 5 pm for a last pint in the Cat & Canary, but were home in time to see the Nancies (I mean the 'I'd Do Anything' results, not the film ) and agreed it was a thoroughly good day out.

Love,

Caz
X

[Stewart P Evans]

Pretty Good

Went to yesterdays talk. Nothing new there - I have heard it all before.

I didit have time to do the exhibition but from what others have said - I have seen it all before.
I think it might be an OK exhibition for newbies to the case.

Coral

Time to find a new hobby Coral?

Personally speaking I thought that the exhibition was pretty good, and I saw quite a lot I have never seen before. I heard things at the talk I haven't heard before. However, this was a talk at a public museum exhibition by authors on the subject - aimed at the general public. Also I don't really know what you expected to hear that was 'new' as regards a subject that is so heavily discussed at meetings, conferences and on Internet discussion boards.

[John Bennett]

The 'Dear Boss' letter is not the be-all and end-all of the exhibition, but I feel it could have been given more prominence. After all, the signature on that letter is what gave us the name in the first place.

But it was good to see other original documents and artefacts on display. I think putting two themes (JTR and the East End) that are undoubtably interwoven into one exhibition was a tough task, as both subjects are huge. But the intention was honourable.

Personally, I'm going back for a second opinion. With my Dad

JB

[Natalie Severn]

Coral,
I had never seen these old London dockland warehouses before and thought them magnificent so maybe I was so enthralled by the venue that I saw everything with rose tinted specs! I enjoyed the talks very much and hope to buy that marvellous reproduction of Booths maps next time I go.I didnt see the exhibition but will make a point of it next time -if as John says the letter alone is worth it.


Norma

[John Bennett]

Coral,

I think for newbies and interested 'tourists' it would be a revelation. I think the 'Dear Boss' letter could have been given more prominence, considering it started the name in the first place.

Oh, and you were right, the NA is only donating their material for three months.

So get in quick folks!!!

JB

[coral]

Went to yesterdays talk. Nothing new there - I have heard it all before.


I didit have time to do the exhibition but from what others have said - I have seen it all before.

I think it might be an OK exhibition for newbies to the case.

Coral

[John Bennett]

Well, a number of posters have seen this exhibition, as have I, but personally I need to see it again. I can't quite come out with a definitive opinion.

It's certainly not perfect, but what else could they do?

Answers on a postcard please (not a Saucy Jacky one).

JB