05/08/2015

Londoner #94 | What is the true impact of the 2011 riots? Leni White

On the fourth anniversary of the London riots, we visit Leni White, a violinist who was once described by the Daily Mail as the ‘Amy Winehouse of classical music’ whose flat was burnt down by a group of young people.

Shot in intervals over four years, this powerful new film by Chocolate Films shows never-before-seen footage of the immediate impact of the riots – from the burnt-out shell of Leni’s house to her temporary Travelodge home.

In the middle of the London riots, Leni’s flat in Ealing set on fire by rioters. As the flames destroyed all of her possessions, she asked a fireman if he could rescue her precious violin. He brought it back to her singed, but in tune – the only object she managed to reclaim from the fire.

In the days after the event, the story of Leni’s violin was featured in the press and on TV news as a heart-warming story. However, what happened afterwards was not so positive.

Leni had to move into a Travelodge for several months while she was waiting to hear about her insurance settlement. She then discovered that, like many people, she was underinsured, and that the settlement did not come close to what she needed to rebuild her life. Ironically, the promised compensation for the victims of the riots was only offered to those that had no insurance, making Leni ineligible.

As a result of the riots her life has changed beyond recognition. She has moved from Ealing to Greenwich, she has a new partner and a baby, and while she still plays music, she now works in IT for a bank in the city. But Leni has never quite recovered from that night. She still has flashbacks to the riots, and eating disorders have returned. After all this time, she still hasn’t recovered the feeling of being safe at home.

Here is a link to Leni’s music, Hazlitt. Here is a link to her mental health blog, The White Pariah.

Next

Londoner #93 | How to be a great chess player - Agnieszka Milewska