John Gilbert – Divis

Initially I went to Divis during the construction of the Divis Flats. I was shown around by a resident, of the Divis Residents Association probably around 1970 (I only know that later he was interned).
It was shocking to see the dereliction of the old terraced houses, people were forced out of their homes by the conditions. The Divis flats were similar to the flats in the Gorbals in Glasgow, a scissor plan accessed off a deck. Security for residents was poor and condensation rife.
I was looking down from the flats at the dereliction (Divis Flats 09) when a saracen swerved into the puddle in the picture and deliberately soaked a woman pushing a pram. After that I had no faith in the ‘British’ presence.
When I worked in the Housing Executive in 1975-76 I had to attend some meetings with residents on behalf of the Executive. The play area was awful, but the main complaint was that you couldn’t get a coffin into a lift. The meeting also had soldiers at it with their guns.
When I was in Glasgow, the residents asked me to return to prepare a report on the flats, which I did.  The flats have since been demolished thankfully.