ABSTRACT
Y ou might say that cabinet-making was the family trade of the Hardings, though only one o f them did it regular.
My uncle Albert was a carver. He had a shop in Old Bethnal Green Road. He had three or four sons who were carvers. We used to employ one o f them — my cousin Jack - when we had the cabinet-maker’s place in Cotton’s Gardens. Him and Bill Saville - my partner — was pals. But Jack was a bit on the posh side and he became a very expert carver. He and his brothers used to do the exhibition work - they became internationally known for their carving. They moved right over the other side — Peckham, Gypsy Hill way, they all went over there. After that we never came in contact. It was a different sphere - we remained where we were known in the Nichol and they got right away from it.
