Rae Hoffenberg
On Sunday 23rd February Limehouse became a lesser place with the passing of Rae Hoffenberg.
Born and wed in South Africa, Rae had success on the stage, as a writer and an interior designer; she moved to the docklands in 1973, with her beloved husband Leon and their three daughters. They were true pioneers of our community, where they battled bureaucrats to allow the change of use from commercial to residential for the abandoned wharf buildings many of us now call home. She foresaw the space, light and panoramic views possible, while maintaining, in the words of Prince Charles. “a more human scale” to the Docklands. Together with her husband, who passed in 1984, Rae converted four Narrow Street warehouses, creating 19 homes. Incensed by a 17% increase in Council Tax in 2003, Rae refused to pay and was taken to court vowing to go to prison as part of the “Can Pay, Won’t Pay” movement. A strong and determined campaigner for cooperation between the private and public sectors, Rae was a proponent of a “central focal point, or social focus” for Limehouse, “a place where people can relax, shop, eat and drink”. The LCF is in complete agreement with Rae’s dream of central focal point in our community, and at our next normal meeting will be discussing a proposal to request the green space on Branch Road to be designated, and will be calling for the Greater London Authority and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to designate the green space locally known as Branch Road “The Rae Hoffenberg Community Park”.
A commemoration of the life and passing of Rae Hoffenberg will be held on Tuesday 25th February at 11am, at the Liberal Jewish Cemetery (NW10 2HP), with a reception to follow from 1:30pm at The Narrow, Limehouse. The Limehouse Community Forum would urge all residents and members to stop in at The Narrow and offer their thanks and condolences to the family.
The LCF Officers
Born and wed in South Africa, Rae had success on the stage, as a writer and an interior designer; she moved to the docklands in 1973, with her beloved husband Leon and their three daughters. They were true pioneers of our community, where they battled bureaucrats to allow the change of use from commercial to residential for the abandoned wharf buildings many of us now call home. She foresaw the space, light and panoramic views possible, while maintaining, in the words of Prince Charles. “a more human scale” to the Docklands. Together with her husband, who passed in 1984, Rae converted four Narrow Street warehouses, creating 19 homes. Incensed by a 17% increase in Council Tax in 2003, Rae refused to pay and was taken to court vowing to go to prison as part of the “Can Pay, Won’t Pay” movement. A strong and determined campaigner for cooperation between the private and public sectors, Rae was a proponent of a “central focal point, or social focus” for Limehouse, “a place where people can relax, shop, eat and drink”. The LCF is in complete agreement with Rae’s dream of central focal point in our community, and at our next normal meeting will be discussing a proposal to request the green space on Branch Road to be designated, and will be calling for the Greater London Authority and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to designate the green space locally known as Branch Road “The Rae Hoffenberg Community Park”.
A commemoration of the life and passing of Rae Hoffenberg will be held on Tuesday 25th February at 11am, at the Liberal Jewish Cemetery (NW10 2HP), with a reception to follow from 1:30pm at The Narrow, Limehouse. The Limehouse Community Forum would urge all residents and members to stop in at The Narrow and offer their thanks and condolences to the family.
The LCF Officers