Bernie Cameron Community Centre renamed
On Friday 11 January EastendHomes’ renamed their community centre on the British Street Estate, the Bernie Cameron Community Centre, after a resident who achieved so much for his neighbourhood.
Residents from the estate in Mile End joined EastendHomes staff along with John Biggs, the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, to celebrate the official launch of the Bernie Cameron Community Centre and to toast Bernie’s success in campaigning for the regeneration of the British Street Estate and more widely his long-term contribution to his community.
Bernie arrived in the UK as a Jewish refugee from Germany in 1938 and spent his early years in an orphanage. He and his wife Merna were some of the first residents to move onto the British Street Estate in the 1960s. Even before his involvement in the regeneration of the estate, he was incredibly proactive in supporting his community and bringing people together. He set up successful boxing and football teams, clubs for young mums, chaired Tower Hamlets Police Liaison Committee, organised the famous 999 events at Victoria Park and chaired Tower Hamlets boroughwide Tenants Compact Group.
He was instrumental in ensuring the British Street Estate benefitted from a multi-million pound programme of regeneration work following the transfer to housing association EastendHomes from Tower Hamlets Council in 2005. As a natural leader driven by a desire to do good for all he was elected as EastendHomes' Vice Chair and served on the Board until 2013. Astute and caring, Bernie continued to be the voice of the people.
Neil McAree, EeH’s former Chair and former Councillor for Bromley by Bow said:
I consider it a privilege to have known Bernie. He is close to being one of the best people I have ever met. He achieved so much with the simple aim of making things better for others. He had the foresight to see what EastendHomes could do and without him this estate would not be the place it is today. It’s right that we are naming this centre after him.
Gill Bassam (Bernie’s daughter said)
Dad loved this place and we are so honoured that you have dedicated this community centre to him. He was a real community person, with a positive attitude that meant he saw beyond the obstacles, helping others enriched his life.
Bernie Cameron passed away in 2016. His legacy, energy, and kindness live on today in the Bernie Cameron Community Centre.