Redbridge residents share their own April Fool’s Day experiences

Renati, of Vanquis Bank: Photo: Will Bostock (Image: Archant)

April Fool’s Day is said to have started as long ago as 1392 and is celebrated by millions of people around the world ever year, including residents of Ilford.

Ilford local Frederico, a ‘fashionista’, said: “Oh! I put super glue on the insole of my brother’s shoes, needless to say he found out. Mum was so angry she made me wear glued shoes the next day!”

Renati, who moved to London from Romania and works at Vanquis Bank said: “In Romania we have a service where you can hide your number when calling someone by typing some numbers before the phone number.

“I called my ex-boyfriend as a prank on April Fool’s Day, but forgot to put the secret numbers in before his number. I’ve never been so embarrassed when he knew it was me”.

Myriam, second hand bookseller. Photo: Will Bostock (Image: Archant)

Her colleague Georgia, originally from St Albans but working in Ilford, said: “I told my family I was moving away to New Zealand, they didn’t seem too fussed, despite not knowing it was an April Fool’s!”.

Miriam, a Redbridge artist said: “At my first job we changed the staff photo on our colleague’s account to Madonna. Funnily enough, they look so similar it took her a week to realise!”

Self confessed mischief-maker in chief, Sabry, who runs a fragrance stall on Ilford market, said: “I did a terrible trick when I was younger, I’d told my mum that my Auntie had passed away, she was so shocked and I learnt my lesson then!’

Another Ilford resident, charity fundraiser Patrick, said: “I got a call from a landline telling me I’d won the pools and to call up a number so I could claim my winnings, I’d just got through to the line when a voice said: “Do you recognise my voice?”.

“Then it dawned on me, it was my best friend. ‘April Fool’s!’ he said.”