London's 'best estate' covered in England flags but families are 'feeling the pinch' of being so patriotic

Londoners living on the city’s ‘best estate’ are ready to cheer on local hero Eberechi Eze at Euro 2024 with a huge display of England flags. Residents of the Kirby Estate in Bermondsey organise the eye-catching show of red and white every time a big football tournament comes along.

25-year-old Eze is from nearby Greenwich. He played for local teams during his youth, including at Millwall under 16s, the club closest to the estate, whilst attending a local school.

Now, a striking mural of the Crystal Palace star, painted by street artists MurWalls, has appeared on the wall of a bin shed at the incredibly patriotic and football loving estate. This is alongside an already existing artwork of women’s England forward Fran Kirby.

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Chris Dowse, 45, who works as a DJ, has lived on the estate for more than a decade. But he told MyLondon that decking out the estate in England flags is becoming harder because the price of flags - which used to be available for as little as 33p in ‘bulk deals’ - has increased to more than £2 each.

'The price of flags over the years has gone up considerably'

They also used to be available at local pound shops, but, Mr Dowse said: “A lot of the shops don’t stock it no more. They seem to have moved away from the flag.”

He said: “Over the years we’ve accumulated a hell of a lot of flags and over the years they’ve got tarnished, ruined, the windy elements have ruined them. They’ve been ripped, and the price of flags over the years has gone up considerably.”

Mr Dowse added that ‘everyone is feeling the pinch’ as regards their household budgets, but ‘everyone chips in’. At its peak, the display was 700 flags strong.

Seeing it smaller than usual, the long-term resident added, is ‘soul destroying’. But, the estate has ‘still got loads of flags to put up’.

The entertainer described how it started in 2012 with a few residents putting up their own flags, and it grew from there. The area used to be famous for flying Union Flags in the 1940s, and Chris said the modern display takes him back to ‘how it used to be’.

'Over the years we’ve heard every single comment possible about us putting a St. George cross up'

On whether he thought about potential negative connotations of the flag, Chris said: “Do you know what, over the years we’ve heard every single comment possible about us putting a St. George cross up. From, you know, St. George isn’t English to it’s a far-right estate, it’s a racist flag, Emily Thornberry will love this, all that palaver.

“It’s nonsense for us. Because what we do it for here is purely and ultimately to support Gareth, the boys, the Lionesses in whatever tournament they’re taking part in. You change It’s just about football, and that’s what it’s always been about.”

He added that the estate used to be a place where delivery drivers and cabbies would be afraid to visit as youths would loiter in stairwells. But, nowadays, he says the Kirby Estate is the best of its kind in London with a good community of people who call it home.

Lorrie Turner, 51, who is currently unemployed after working in a coffee bar, has lived on the estate for 31 years. But she maintains that she ‘can’t wait to get off’.

'It’s like a goldfish bowl; everyone knows your business'

Ms Turner added: “It’s like a goldfish bowl; everyone knows your business.” She then said that she had urged one of her sons to put a bet on Portugal before the Euros in 2016, who emerged victorious.

But they did not get round to it, and the family missed out on some winnings. On the display, she said: “I don’t mind the flags. It’s just when they don’t take them down and they get all tatty. They’re up until the next game. That’s a man’s thing, isn’t it? My boys like it, but they’re men.”

Tugce Yildiril, 32, moved to the UK from Turkey in 2021. She said: “It’s good, because it’s different. I’m looking at the street, it’s normal. My estate is different; I love it.”

She added that she has Brazilian and French neighbours. Ms Yildiril said that she is not very into football herself. “Sport, I love it,” she told MyLondon, “but sometimes, I don’t understand football.” Nevertheless, the occasion of a big tournament ‘connects’ the estate, and the landscape architect sometimes goes to an English pub, which she says have a ‘good atmosphere’.

Alan Butman, 54, who works in construction, said of the flags: “It makes you feel proud to be here.” The Liverpool supporter added that the atmosphere on the estate when games are on is ‘fantastic’, as people put on barbecues and the community come out on their balconies.

On Eze’s prospects, Mr Butman said: “I think he’s going to shine. I hope the England manager, Southgate, gives him a go. I think he really will shine, and hopefully he’ll come to Liverpool.” He compared the Palace man to Jack Grealish, as he can ‘get past players’ and draw fouls in.

'I don’t think they’re going to win it - but I think they’ll go far'

Winston Ricketts, 83, was sitting outside his home enjoying the sun. The former foundry worker used to live in Nottingham after coming to the UK from Jamaica in 1962.

He has lived on the Kirby Estate for 12 years. Asked what he thinks of the flag display, Mr Ricketts seemed somewhat indifferent. He said: “It doesn’t bother me.” But he added that they ‘bring joy’ and get more people thinking about the estate.

The resident is an England supporter, but is pessimistic about the team’s prospects. Mr Ricketts said: “I don’t think they’re going to win it - but I think they’ll go far.” He added that he wants to see Eze start.

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