Then - History

Then - History

This index is an alphabetical listing of the titles off all articles published on this blog, relating to Then - History - with the date of its publication. For ease of access, the titles listed below are the full names of the original article, minus any "The" or "A" as the first word in the title.

The articles in the list are hyper-linked.  Clicking on them should take you directly to the article.

Each article has a number of "labels".  These are listed, and high-lighted in green, at the foot of each article in the blog. By clicking on one of these, you will be directed to all other articles in this blog which has that name/subject as a label, and so be able to access further information on the subject.

This index is updated manually, usually every three months, or so.  It was last updated on 27 March 2017.  Articles appearing since that date can be accessed by scrolling down from the home page, or via the "Archives" column on the left of the home page.

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Alms and the manor - 28 Feb 2014
A survey of three sets of almshouses in Forest Gate - past and present.

Archaeology and oral history of Wanstead Flats in WW2 - 11 Sept 2014
There are a considerable number of relics in and around Wanstead Flats reminding us of the role the Flats played in WW2.  These are illustrated and the post is supplemented with some recollections by older residents of the Flats during and immediately post war.

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Becoming rapidly forgotten - 3 Aug 2014
A survey of the war memorials in Forest Gate and the sorry state of neglect of some of them.

Bike building in Forest Gate - 20 March 2014
Forest Gate was a centre of bike building at the end of the nineteenth century.  This article looks in detail at the operations of the largest local manufacturer.

Black war hero and local football pioneer: Walter Tull - 5 Jun 2013
A brief biography of Walter Tull, black ex Clapton FC footballer and WW1 war hero.

Boxing's memory lane: Walker v Mildenberger fight, March 1967 - 29 January 2016
Billy Walker lived locally for some time and was owner of the Uppercut club.  he was also British heavyweight boxer, this post looks at his European championship fight with Karl Mildenberger, and reproduces the programme for the fight.

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Centenary of anti-German riots in Forest Gate - 11 May 2015
The sinking of the Lusitania in May 1915 sparked anti-German riots, nation-wide.  This article looks at the disturbances in Forest Gate.

Charles Ward: Forest Gate designer, printer and politician - 21 Nov 2014
Charles ward was a prominent local printer and  "Municipal Alliance" (anti-Labour) councillor. He had a print shop on Woodgrange Road. This is his story, complete with examples of many of his designs.

Christmas Day in the Forest Gate Workhouse - 24 Dec 2013
The Forest gate weekly News published an account of Christmas Day in the Industrial School, Forest Lane in 1896.  It is reproduced here.

Christmas Greetings from Forest Gate - 17 Dec 2013
An illustrated Forest Gate greetings card from the turn of the twentieth century, probably the work of Charles Ward (see above).

Cycling in Victorian Forest Gate - 26 March 2014
Cycling for p-leasure was a boom time past time in late Victorian England.  This post looks at its influence in Forest Gate.

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Death of Forest Gate's Bryan Forbes - 14 May 2013
A brief obituary of Forest Gate-born Bryan Forbes.

Durning Hall story - 23 Feb 2015
Durning Hall on the junction of Earlham Grove and Woodgrange Road has a long history as a settlement and philanthropic organisation in Forest Gate and beyond.  This is a potted history.

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Early recorded history of north Forest Gate - 26 June 2014
Using a Friends of Forest Gate Hospital publication, of 1954, this post traces the history of the northern section of Forest Gate from earliest records until the mid nineteenth century.

Educating Arnie: The Terminator on Forest Gate - 15 July 2015
Arnold Schwarzenegger remembers his time in Forest Gate - extracts from his autobiography.

Edwardian Forest Gate - a photographic essay (1) - street life - 10 September 2016
The Edwardian era was a boom one for the post card industry.  A large number survive of individual streets in Forest Gate.  We present a number of them, here.  The views are a considerable contrast with the same streets today!

Edwardian Forest Gate - a photographic essay (2) - community life - 30 September 2016
The Edwardian era was a boom one for the post card industry.  A large number survive of community life in Forest Gate.  We present a number of them, here. The views offer a considerable contrast with popular activities today!

A Huguenot family's wood turners' business, with a history stretching back to the 1830s in Hackney, closes its doors in Forest Gate for the last time.

Essex comes to Forest Gate - Upper Cut Club, Feb 1967 - 7 March 2014
Part of a monthly series looking in detail at the performers in the Upper Cut, 47 years previously.

Every picturehouse tells a story - 3 Jul 2013
History of cinema in Forest Gate.

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Fascists in 1930's Forest Gate - 16 April 2014
Forest Gate was home to a thriving branch of the British Union of Fascists in the 1930's.  Events and people associated with it are detailed here.

Fire! Fire! Fire! in Forest Gate - 5 June 2015
History of the Fire Brigade and service in Forest Gate, by local brigade historian, Peter Williams.

Fire guts famous gym - 17 April 2013
A fire gutted 353 Romford Road, known as "Muscle Mansion", home and gym of Wag Bennett and his guest in 1966, Arnie Schwarzenegger, in his build up to becoming Mr Universe.  Plenty of photos of Arnie, Wag and the gym.

Fires and drought on Wanstead Flats - a reflection - 19 August 2016
A number of significant fires have swept over Wanstead Flats over the last 200 years, this post reflects on them.

Forest Gate - a local anthem! - 1 Jan 2014
Details of those performing at the Upper Cut club in the two Decembers in which it was open - 1965 and 1966, together with details of Lester Sterling's record: "Forest Gate rocks".

Forest Gate and family history - 30 October 2015
Queries from readers looking for help with their Forest Gate-related family history quest.

Forest Gate and Irish Independence - 9 June 2016
Forest Gate played a bizarre part in Irish republican gun running in the early 1920's.  The strange tale is told here.

Forest Gate during the blitz - 31 July 2015
An attempt, using different sources to produce as complete as possible guide to bomb damage in the area during the first three years of WW2.

Forest Gate's early transport history - 30 December 2015
A look at the development or early railways, and the roads that proceeded them, serving Forest Gate.

Forest Gate's first Polish community - 5 February 2017
Forest Gate's first Polish community were refugees fleeing persecution from Nazis and communists, at the end of WW2.  This post examines ther roots they established in the area.

The first Forrest Gate pub guide - with a unique Stellarometer, indicating drink prices at local hostelries.  History of now-closed pubs, too.

Forest Gate: hub of Victorian bike manufacture - 11 March 2014
Forest Gate was a centre of bike building at the end of the nineteenth century.  This article traces over a dozen local bike builders.

Forest Gate Industrial School fire: New Year's day 1890 - 30 May 2014
A contemporary account of the tragic fire that killed 26 youngsters in the fire at the Industrial School on Forest lane on New Year's Day 1890.

Forest Gate Industrial school - The 1890 inquest and background to its 1906 closure - 2 January 2017
An account of the inquest at the fire (see above), and details from Will Crooks biography of his and other socialists'roles in the closure of the school in 1906.

A history of the plot of land on Forest lane from the mid 1850s, when it was opened as a Poor Law Industrial school, through its subsequent life as a hospital and now a housing development (Gladys Dimson House).

Forest Gate's listed buildings (1) - 18 December 2015
First of two part series on the English Heritage listed buildings within Forest Gate.

Forest Gate's listed buildings (2) - 9 January 2016
Second of two part series on the English Heritage listed buildings within Forest Gate.

Forest Gate's little gem - 15 February 2016
History of a 7th century, Anglo Saxon jewelry pin excavated in the 1870's on junction of Romford and Sprowston roads.

Forest Gate - Pathe News clips - 25 Aug 2014
Links to, and details of,  eight Pathe News film clips featuring Forest Gate.

Forest Gate's proud suffragette legacy - 6 March 2015
A look at suffragette activity in Forest Gate in the run up to WW1.

Forest Gate's role in WW1: The Hammers Battalion (1) - 5 June 2015
A detailed look at Forest Gate residents who fought in the famous Hammers Battalion, during WW1, part 1.

Forest Gate's role in WW1: The Hammers Battalion (2) - 17 June 2015
A detailed look at Forest Gate residents who fought in the famous Hammers Battalion, during WW1, part 2.

Forest Gate: scene of Rock Against Racism's first gig - 12 December 2016
Post celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first ever Rock Against Racism gig, at the Princess Alice, in October 1976.

Forest Gate's unique place in the history of witchcraft - 17 March 2016
The last person convicted of witchcraft in England was Jane Rebecca Yorke of Forest Gate, in 1944.  This is her story.


Forest Gate's 12 MPs - 13 Feb 2015
A brief biography of each of the 12 MP's who have represented what is now recognisably Forest Gate.

Forest Gate Ward in 1907 - 28 Nov 2014
Social researchers, Howarth and Wilson published "West Ham - a study in industrial problems" in 1907.  In it they gave pen portraits for local government wards.  This is their account of West Ham ward.

From Chapel to ...? - 23 Sept 2015
One of Forest gate's most historic buildings is currently in a sorry state of repair at the junction of Woodgrange Road and Forest Gate lane: it has been a chapel, school, club, cinema, glass merchants, restaurant, drugs den - and much more.  This is its story.

From Forest Gate to Irish Taoiseach, via the Easter rising - 21 June 2016
Desmond Fitzgerald was a Forest Gate lad, a key nationalist during the Easter Rising in Dublin in 1916 and father of later Irish Taoiseach Garet Fitgerald. This is his story.

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George Tutill: Forest Gate resident and Trade Union banner manufacturer - 7 February 2016
The most prolific manufactures of trade union banners, George Tutill made his home in what is now the English Heritage-listed Red House on the Upton Lane.  This is his, and the house's, story.

Georgie Fame, Tremeloes and Unit 4 + 2 at Upper Cut - 3 Oct 2013
First of a monthly series looking in detail at the performers in the Upper Cut, 47 years previously.

Godwin School ( boys ) log 1 - 1883 - 1984, the origins - 13 January 2017
The first of a series of a look at local life, through the eyes of the school log of Godwin school.

Godwin School ( boys ) log 2 - Godwin and Forest Gate pre WW1 (1900 - 1914) - 30 January 2017
The second of a series of a look at local life, through the eyes of the school log of Godwin school.

An interview with former British heavyweight boxing champion, Billy Walker about his Forest Gate connections, including ownership of the Upper Cut club.


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He's one of our own - Ronnie Lane - 31 March 2016
A potted biography of Forest Gate's Ronnie Lane - bassist of the Small Faces and later Faces.


The Home Front in WW1 Forest Gate - through the eyes of Godwin school - 21 March 2017
The third of a series of a look at local life, through the eyes of the school log of Godwin school.

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Kenny Johnson and the Lotus Club - 17 Sept 2014
The Upper Cut ran for a year. Kenny Johnson ran the Lotus Club, directly opposite it for around 50 years.  It had its highs and lows, but a great set of line ups in the 1960's.  Kenny talks about his days here.

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Local rail crashes in Spring of 1953 - 7 April 2015

There were two rail crashes in and around Forest Gate in 1953. This post looks at the press coverage and investigation reports into them, and other railway "incidents" in the area.


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Mixed bunch at the Upper Cut in April 1967 - 9 May 2014
Part of a monthly series looking in detail at the performers in the Upper Cut, 47 years previously.

Mouthwatering musical fayre on Woodgrange Road - 3 Dec 2013
A review of gigs at the Upper Cut and Lotus clubs in November 1966 - a veritable feast!

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Nod at our neighbours (1): chronology of Wanstead House and Park - 14 Jan 2015
The first of a series of articles looking at the history of places of interest near Forest Gate. This looks at the now sadly demolished and fascinating Wanstead House and surviving Park.

Nod at our neighbours (1/2): Manor Park (Pt 1) - 20 November 2015
One of a series of articles looking at the history of places of interest near Forest Gate. This is the first of a two-parter examining the intriguing Manor Park (formerly Little Ilford).

Nod at our neighbours (2/2): Manor Park (Pt 2) - 27 November 2015
One of a series of articles looking at the history of places of interest near Forest Gate. This is the second of a two-parter examining the intriguing Manor Park (formerly Little Ilford).

Nod at our neighbours (3) - The Bridge House, Canning Town - 1 July 2016
One of a series of articles looking at the history of places of interest near Forest Gate. This looks at the history of the now sadly long-gone and mainly 1970's music venue.

Nod at our neighbours (4): Abbey Mills pumping station, Stratford - 30 October 2016
One of a series of articles looking at the history of places of interest near Forest Gate. This the "Cathedral of sewerage" - an architectural treat.

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Origins of formal education in Forest Gate - 18 January 2016
An article examining the pre-state education roots of schools (religiously backed) in Forest Gate, and their subsequent fates.

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Park Ward in 1907 - 5 Dec 2014
Social researchers, Howarth and Wilson published "West Ham - a study in industrial problems" in 1907.  In it they gave pen portraits for local government wards.  This is their account of Park ward.

Pawnbrokers of Forest Gate - 10 Jul 2013
From Pawnbrokers almshouses on Woodgrange Road in the mid nineteenth century to the siting of a modern pawnbrokers on its site 150 years later.

Prefabs and POWs on Wanstead Flats - more residents' stories - 2 Feb 2015
Using surviving oral history accounts, a look at how it was living in the prefabs of post-war Forest Gate and Manor Park.

Princess Alice - gone but not forgotten - 11 December 2015
After almost 150 years as a drinking hole, the Princess Alice and its later re-incarnations closes, and is replaced by a chain pharmacy.  Gone - but not forgotten.

Prisoners of War on Wanstead Flats - 4 Jul 2014
An account of the camps and lives of Prisoners of War on Wanstead Flats during World War 2.

Public art in Forest Gate - 14 May 2016
The origins and history of the few pieces of public art of distinction within E7.

Public monuments in Forest Gate - 6 May 2016
The origins and history of the few public monuments of distinction within E7.

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Rise and decline of Forest Gate's Jewish community - 20 Nov 2013
Forest Gate hosted a thriving Jewish community from the time of the pogroms in Russia in the 1880's, until the building of the Central Line into Essex, after World war 2.  This is an account of its history.

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Save the Old Spotted Dog petition - 23 Aug 2013
Join the campaign to help save this historic, listed, but closed public house, on Upton Lane.

Sound of Music from Earlham Grove - 19 Jun 2013
Development of the world famous Tonic Sol-Fa system of music education, from its origins in Earlham Grove under John Curwen.

Spotted Dog; still under threat - 15 May 2013
A history of Upton Lane's 16th century pub, The Old Spotted Dog, and the threat to its continued existence, since closure.

Stax comes to town: the Upper Cut in March 1967 - 2 April 2014
Part of a monthly series looking in detail at the performers in the Upper Cut, 47 years previously.

Story of St Angela's school - 23 May 2016
A look at the 150+ years history of this cornerstone of high quality Catholic education in Forest Gate.

Street where you live (1): Woodford Road - 5 Sept 2015
Local historian, Peter Williams, looks in detail at the history of the houses and road, supplemented with newspaper cuttings.

Street where you live (2): Ebor cottages and Irish Row - 2 Oct 2015
Local historian, Peter Williams, looks in detail at the history of the houses and road, supplemented with newspaper cuttings.

Street where you live (3): Chestnut Avenue - 23 October 2015
Local historian, Peter Williams, looks in detail at the history of the houses and road, supplemented with newspaper cuttings.

Street where you live (4) - Dames Road - 8 April 2016
Local historian, Peter Williams, looks in detail at the history of the houses and road, supplemented with newspaper cuttings.

Street where you live (5): Earlham Grove - 31 May 2016
Local historian, Peter Williams, looks in detail at the history of the houses and road, supplemented with newspaper cuttings.

Street where you live (6): Capel Road - 31 July 2016
Local historian, Peter Williams, looks in detail at the history of the houses and road, supplemented with newspaper cuttings.

Street where you live (7) - Sprowston Road - 20 September 2016
Local historian, Peter Williams, looks in detail at the history of the houses and road, supplemented with newspaper cuttings.

Street where you live (8) - Sebert Road - 16 February 2017
Local historian, Peter Williams, looks in detail at the history of the houses and road, supplemented with newspaper cuttings.

Struggle for Wanstead Flats 1946-47 - 3 December 2016
How popular resistance prevented Wanstead Flats being taken over for housing East Enders bombed out of their homes during World War 2.

Suffragette Suburbs - an International Women's Day nod at our neighbours - 6 March 2016
A tour of local suffragette sites of significance, to celebrate International Women's Day.

Part of a monthly series looking in detail at the performers in the Upper Cut, 47 years previously.

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Thanks for the memory (1) - 23 Aug 2015
First of a two-part round up of comments various articles on this site have received.

Thanks for the memory (2) - 30 Aug 2015
Second of a two-part round up of comments various articles on this site have received.

They lie amongst us - 26 Jun 2013
The history and residents of Forest Gate's 5 cemeteries, part 1.

They lie amongst us; part 2 - 11 Oct 2013
The history and residents of Forest Gate's 5 cemeteries, part 2.

Tons happening in Upton Lane - 27 July 2015
An update on the status of the Old Spotted Dog ground and the strange ownership arrangements.

Tons of history - 7 Aug 2013
History of Upton Lane's Clapton FC.

Tony Banks, in his own words, a recollection of Forest Gate's much missed local wit and MP - 19 Dec 2014
Tony was often known as a cheeky chappy because of his sharp wit. This post looks at some of his better-known output.

Tragic end to local World War 1 romance (part 1) - 19 Jul 2014
The first of two episodes looking at local author, Paul Holloway's book which traced the story of his grandmother, May Larby's romance with Jack Richardson, until his death in France, while on combat, in 1915.

Tragic end to local World War 1 romance (part 2) - 26 Jul 2014
The second of two episodes looking at local author, Paul Holloway's book which traced the story of his grandmother, May Larby's romance with Jack Richardson, until his death in France, while on combat, in 1915.

Trams in Forest Gate, 1886 - 1940 - 23 Jan 2015
A look at the history of trams in Forest Gate - the rolling stock, routes, termini and owners, from the running of the first tram to the final halt.

Trebor story: Forest Gate's sweet success - 30 April 2014
Trebor's factory on Katherine Road - now loft apartments - was for a century one of Forest Gate's largest employer, producing some of the nation's favoured sweets.  This is its story.

Turning Pages of history - 27 May 2015
It stated with a postcard. This article looks behind the history of a postcard featuring Page's shoe and boot makers of Dames Road.

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Updates on previous blogs - 14 Nov 2014
This post adds details to previous blogs, as a result of subsequently recived information, or changes in circumstances since the original post.

Upper Cut beds down; January 1967 - 10 Feb 2014
Part of a monthly series looking in detail at the performers in the Upper Cut, 47 years previously.

Upper Cut; May 1967 - 7 June 2014
Part of a monthly series looking in detail at the performers in the Upper Cut, 47 years previously.

Upper Cut part 1: the rise - 24 Jul 2013
First of two part series, outlining first half of remarkable 12-month history of the Woodgrange Road club.

Upper Cut part 2: hitting the deck - 31 Jul 2013
Second of two part series, outlining second half of remarkable 12-month history of the Woodgrange Road club.

Upstairs, downstairs in Forest Gate: 1881 - 16 Jul 2013
Who lived in Claremont Road at the time of the 1881 census.  Abouty hald of houses had live-in servants.

Upton introduction - 21 July 2016
The early history of Upton - for long the most important, and quite wealthy part of Forest Gate. Or, So-Ro (south of Romford Road), as it is sometimes jokingly referred.

Upton Ward in 1907 - 28 Dec 2014
Social researchers, Howarth and Wilson published "West Ham - a study in industrial problems" in 1907.  In it they gave pen portraits for local government wards.  This is their account of Upton ward.

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V1 and V2 bombs in Forest Gate, 1944 - 45 - 7 Aug 2015
An attempt, using different sources to produce as complete as possible guide to bomb damage in the area during the final two years of WW2.

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Wanstead Flats saved from post WW2 development plans - 11 Jul 2014
The boroughs of East and West Ham had their eyes on Wanstead Flats as a series of potential building sites, which could rehouse many East End families bombed out during World War 2.  Many local people had other ideas and the building did not take place.

What's in a name? local street names - 10 Dec 2013
A brief look at the origins of the many perplexing street names in Forest Gate.

When Godwin school went to Paris - 1912 - 27 February 2017
A diary account of a Godwin school trip to a music festival in Paris, in 1912.

A brief account of Otis Redding's 1967 appearance at the Uppercut Club on Woodgrange Road.

When Stevie Wonder played Forest Gate - 6 Nov 2013
Part of a monthly series looking in detail at the performers in the Upper Cut, 47 years previously.

Woodgrange Estate: the early years  - 5 June 2013
An account of the origins and development of the Woodgrange Estate conservation area, from its origins in the 1870's, as a project of the Corbett family.

Woodgrange Road in 1900 - East side - 1 May 2015
Using old photos and newspaper advertisements, an illustration of how the east of Woodgrange Road would have looked at the turn of the 20th century.

Woodgrange Road in 1900 - West side - 24 April 2015
Using old photos and newspaper advertisements, an illustration of how the east of Woodgrange Road would have looked at the turn of the 20th century.

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1919 Forest Gate murders - 8 March 2017
Henry Perry (aka Beckett) was hanged in the summer of 1919 for killing four members of a Forest Gate family earlier that year.  This is the story - was it a miscarriage of justice?

Members of the Rolling Stones were convicted at West Ham magistrates court of "insulting behaviour" for urinating on the forecourt of a petrol station on Romford Road. This is the well illustrated story.

7Es of E7 - 19 Oct 2014
A round up of Education, Ecology, Energy, Entertainment, Epicurian delights, Engine and End in Forest Gate.

4 comments:

  1. I have really enjoyed wandering around your blog and was looking to have a memory re-surfaced! It is quite an old one (1955) and concerns my bathing in a tin bath in front of the fire! My parents and older sister on the other hand spoke of going to the "Public Baths" Do you have any idea which one this would have been? Our address was on Green St, Forest Gate. I would appreciate any suggestions.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you, Vicki. I think the baths you are referring to would have been West Ham Baths, on Romford Road. They were built in the 1930's and doubled up as swimming and personal bathing baths. They were knocked down about five years ago, because of the widespread presence of asbestos within them, and have been replaced - on the same site - by the Atherton Centre, a modern swimming baths/fitness centre/gym. As well as public baths, the West Ham baths also hosted music and boxing events in the 1960's - search for Billy Walker and Jerry Lee Lewis in the search box of this site for details.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ive just read john walkers book-out of sight.....
    i had 2 geat uncles there -dismissed 1888(ancestry .co.uk).it will help add more to the family history.
    does anyone know where to research for further information please.
    chris savory

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, Chris,
    The surviving personal records of the children at the school are held at the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA), in Clerkenwell. There should be details of admissions and discharges and creed register entries of the family members you are tracing. With luck, other records too. The staff at the LMA are very helpful, and will help you track down the relevant files and records. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete

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