Contributing Photographer Chris Kelly sent me this glorious collection of  her pictures of older women from the East End and elsewhere, entitled In Praise Of Older Women after the book by the Hungarian writer Stephen Vizinczey.

“Iʼve taken many pictures of inspirational women over the years but these are among the ones that make me smile the most,” Chris told me, “I know nothing about the private lives of the people in these photographs, I only know that the characters were strong, determined and fun to be with.”

Peggy Metaxas & Rosie, Whitechapel, 2013

Members of All Saints Dance Club, Poplar, 2003

Members of All Saints Dance Club, Poplar, 2003

Older people from France on an exchange visit to Kent, 1993

Older people from France on an exchange visit to Kent, 1993

Kazia Cander, farmer, Northern Poland, 1984

Kazia Cander, farmer, Northern Poland, 1984

Community Centre, Southwick, East Sussex, 1985

Members of Maidstone CND at Greenham Common, 1983

Irene Livermore & Mary Christmas, Wapping Pensionersʼ Group, St Peterʼs Centre, 2003

Spectator at National Carriage Driving Championships, Windsor, 1983

Queenie Baxter, Connors House, Canterbury, 1993

Sheffield Pensioners Action Group at a rally in Manchester, 1988

Sheffield Pensioners Action Group at a rally in Manchester, 1988

Sheffield Pensioners Action Group member sells copies of Senior Citizen

Sheffield Pensioners Action Group members dress up to commemorate eighty years of Old Age Pensions

Spectators at Ascot Races, 1983

Fernande Bressy, wine producer, Rhône Valley, 1991

Irish Emma leading the bingo at St. Patrickʼs, Wapping

Methodist Centre, Bethnal Green, 2003

Bridie Murphy and Warden Anne Baine, Twinbrook Estate, Belfast, 1989

Anwara Begum, Cable St Community Gardens, 2012

Balkis Karim, Cable St Community Gardens, 2012

Administrator at North London Community Centre, 1998

Photographs copyright © Chris Kelly

You may like to take a look at these other photographs by Chris Kelly

Chris Kelly’s Columbia School Portraits 1996

Chris Kelly’s Cable St Gardeners

Chris Kelly’s Cable St Gardeners in Colour

Chris Kelly & Dan Jones in the Playground