What interests you locally? Find the neighbourhood stars and meet Islingtonians on Islingtonfacesblog in the list below (or jump to the A-Z list if you already know the name of the person you want to read about).

  • Here’s how Hazel feels when she reads Islington Faces (May 2021):
    “It’s always lovely reading positive stories and especially about people who live locally. It makes you have a nice warm feeling like that person is from my hometown.”
  • Here’s why Ben likes Islington Faces:
    “I was particularly struck by your love of the community aspect of Islington.”
  • Message from the Mayor of Islington (Jan 2019):
    “Islington Faces Blog is one of many wonderful things that helps much-needed communication about our wonderful borough.”
  • Feedback from David, who was born and brought up in Islington, but now lives in Essex.
    “The creativity of the people that you interview never ceases to amaze me. What of course also comes across is Islington’s diverse community, which was almost totally absent during my day.”
  • And from Charlie:
    “I absolutely love Islington Faces – I used to check out the site regularly when I was a Musical Theatre performer during long stints in the dressing room! I was living in Archway at the time and missing the lack of community that comes from being new somewhere for a while. The site helped me feel part of just that – so thank you!”
  • And from Edy:
    “Thank you for sending your Izz Faces. You are very good at this!”
  • And Sarah: “I love your friendly chatty style. It reads very well.”
  • And Mavis: It is amazing how so many people are contacting me re the article which is great! Have even had contact from America from an old Highbury Hill girl. Also I was contacted by the Islington Gazette for my memories of the doodle bug which dropped on Highbury Corner.I feel privileged that I am still here and have retained my memory for so long. Just think this is all down to you for starting all this. Ithink it is wonderful.”
islingtonfaces2013_cover

BUY THE E-BOOK: Please note that all the interviews are free to read on my blog – and I would be thrilled if you become a blog follower (see right column) – however if you want to download the first 30 interviews in an e-book, Islington Faces 2013, it costs less than a fiver and is available here. Alan Banks the N4 milkman graces the cover!

BUY THE E-BOOK: Any name listed below with a * or **  or ^ or ^^ or ^^^ is not yet included in an ebook format.

To discover Islingtonians look at the sections below…

1 Animals, 2 Arts & Craft, 3 Campaigners, Specialists & Politicians,
4 Car Crazy, 5 Community Stars, 6 Computers & Technical,
7a Dancers, 7b Energy stories, 8 Family Focus, 9 Fashion & Clothes,
10 Film & Theatre & Comedy, 11 Food & Drink,
12 Garden, Plants & Wildlife Focus,
13 Health & Mindfulness,
14 Islington History, Heritage & Houses, 15 Locals, 16 Music & Song,
17 Shopkeepers & Services, 18 Showmanship, 19 Sponsored,
20 Sports & Games & Arsenal, 21 Stallholders, 22 Writers & Media,
23 Young Islington (teachers & 26 & under) 24 Guest posters & contributors.

  1. ANIMALS & ANIMAL FOCUS

+John Bailey: university beekeeper (8/3/17)

*Jez & Melli Bond from the Park Theatre see Hazel, Park Theatre dog (30/12/13)

^Peter Buckoke, beekeeper (10/6/15)

Freightliners Farm, country life in the city (31/10/12) and Mum & kids go camping at Freightliners Farm (4/6/14)

Sharon Hayes, animal nurse (11/9/12)

*Hazel, park theatre dog (30/12.13)

***James Lemon, illustrator (25/6/14)

+++Liz McAllister, farm manager (12/9/18)

++Anna McCracken, dog walker (30/8/17)

Ron Pace, horseman (18/7/12) – this is the first interview

Mike Priaulx, islington swifts champion 4/3/20

Pete Prodromou, crocodile catcher specialist (26/11/14)

^Matthew Sherwood, fisherman (6/5/15)

++Robert Stuhldreer, dog trainer (19/9/18)

^John Webber, and Max, PAT dog team (20/5/15)

2) ARTS & CRAFTS

Berrin Bates, art teacher & art therapist (26/11/20)

++Dominic Bennet, furniture restorer (20/9/17)

+Paul’s Emporium, Islington antiques (22/2/17)

^James Cambridge, photographer of Islington past and present (25/3/15)

^^^Mr Chotai, watch and jewellery repairs on Holloway Road (28/9/16)

**Roberta Cremoncini, Estorick Director (14/5/14)

^^^Jonathan Davis, artist and studio manager (25/5/16)

+++ Isatu Funna, designer at Dar Leone (25/7/18)

+Kimi Gill, photographer (25/4/17)

Lindsey Glen, Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration (20/5/22)

*Roy Griffiths, carpenter/artist  (15/8/13)

Molly Gorell Barnes, teaching assistant & Mollypop cards (6/8/14)

+Clarissa Hulse, textile designer (10/1/17)

^^Nick Jobbings, illustrator (17/5/15)

^^Garry Kennard, artist, writer & mountaineer (16/9/15)

***James Lemon, illustrator (25/6/14)

+++Jeremy Leslie, at magCulture (16/7/18

Elia Luyando, ballet mistress (11/12/2013)

*Robbie MacGregor: pavement & farm artist (30/5/13)

**Cyril Mann: painter and sculptor (9/4/14)

Renske Mann: my life with artist Cyril Mann (20/4/22)

***Louis Masai: artist (30/4/14)

Sara Mclaughlin: artist (11/6/20)

*Minerva: tailor (27/11/13)

**Chris Morris: tattoo artist (26/3/14)

^^Colin O’Brien, photographer (2/12/15)

Jet Osman, 3D artist (24/1/13)

^Andy Parker, musician & painter (11/2/15)

***Jane Amelia Parker, designer/maker (16/7/14)

*Dieter Perry, press photographer (17/10/13)

+Holly Peterson, Gothic Valley WI (1/2/17)

Gary Power, Canonbury artist (6/6/19)

Richard Rhys O’Brien, the dinner puzzle (25/03/20)

+++Rosie Roksoph, street artist (13/12/17)

^^Tim Sayer & Annemarie Norton, art lovers (3/2/16)

Melissa Scott-Miller, artist (22/4/20)

+++Brian Thompson and Derek Rothera, antique and art dealers (30/5/18)

Jeane Trend-Hill, back in Islington (1/5/21)

*Pat Tuson, urban nature photographer (29/8/13)

Unbelievable Mr X, film blogger (16/1/14)

+++ Matthew Wang, art student (28/3/18)

+Zabou, street artist (25/5/17)

3) CAMPAIGNERS, SPECIALISTS & POLITICIANS (also see COMMUNITY STARS below)

Ursula Arens, nutritionist (26/6/19)

Zannthie Bennett, King’s Cross dynamo  (21/03/13)

Valerie Bossman-Quarshie, campaign activist (29/07/20)

Dorothy Boswewll, green campaigner (18/4/23) This is the 365th interview

*Zrinka Bralo, tough spirit (15/5/13)

Rosemary Brown, activist and author (8/12/21)

Diane Burridge, local activist (7/3/13)

John Burton, lighthouse keeper (7/8/23)

^^Tara Button, buy me once campaigner (9/9/15)

***Kate Calvert, Archway community star (30/7/14) interviewed by Joanna Bevan

+++Sam Clarke, Prisoners Abroad fundraiser (18/10/17)

Bob Collins, Islington Pensioners Forum (06/04/20)

^^Jeremy Corbyn, a tribute to the brilliant Islington North MP (2/9/15)

Jen Cronin & Hannah Staab, climate change campaigners (3/7/19)

^^Caroline Dent, Death Cafe co-ordinator (15/10/15)

^^Barry Edwards, Islington Mayor 2013-14 (2/10/13)

Lucy Facer, Islington Clean Air Parents (6/05/20)

^Ed Gillespie, Futerra co-founder (2/12/14)

Dr Charles Goodson-Wickes, retired DL (9/7/23) Photos by Kimi Gill

Anita Grant, islington4women (23/4/19)

Patrick Green, on Ben Kinsella’s legacy (23/10/22)

^^^Richard Greening, Islington Mayor 2015-16 (30/3/16)

+++Andy Grieve, air pollution analyst (6/12/17)

+++Yemi Hailemariam #freeandytsege (1/11/17)

^^^Benali Hamdache, Islington Green Party coordinator (12/10/16)

Karl Harder, ethical investment (20/12/21)

+Jean Hughes, recycling & waste minimisation officer (9/11/16)

***Lizzie Hunt, islington giving week (7/5/14)

Anna Hyde, climate activist (8/11/23) Photos by Kimi Gill

Talal Karim, Finbury Park Trust (3/11/19) Photos by Kimi Gill

Charlie Kiss, activist (12/3/14)

^Stephanie Leonard, community organiser (22/4/15)

Oliver Lord, clean air policy maker (21/7/21)

***Alison Marshall, Women’s Equality Party activist (18/5/16)

Lucy Mathen: opening people’s eyes (14/2/13)

^Abu Mensah, deputy young mayor (24/6/15)

+Holly Peterson, Gothic Valley WI (1/2/17)

Dave Poyser, Mayor of Islington 2018-19 (24/01/19)

^^^Marnie Rose, the Garden Classroom founder (10/8/16)

*Caroline Russell, road safety campaigner (20/11/13)

Pawel Ryczan, food waste campaign (2/5/19)

Ian Shacklock: CAMRA, canals & campaigning (13/3/13)

Lindy Sharpe, food and waste campaigner (8/04/22)

+++Raquel Siganporia, solicitor (25/1/18)

Angela Sinclair-Loutit, pioneer spirit (22/9/12) Angela sadly died in 2016.

^Lemn Sissay, poet (2/6/15)

Hannah Staab & Jen Cronin, climate change campaigners (3/7/19)

^^^Roberta Wedge, champion for Mary on the Green statue (19/7/16) – this is the 200th interview

4) CAR CRAZY (plus a few bike fans)

*Miles Brown, garage boss (30/10/13)

^Nabila El Ahmadi, multi-tasking mum (27/5/15)

+Ray Coggin, taxi driver (21/12/16)

^^SPONSORED: Brendan Gill, car-sharing & bike sharing fan (5/8/15)

^John Harvey, J&J Motors (22/3/15)

Patrick Lawson, London’s happiest bus driver (7/2/19) Photos by Kimi Gill

*Caroline Russell, road safety campaigner (20/11/13)

+ Russell Selway, cycle shop assistant manager (6/12/16)

*Stanley Smart: mechanic and poet (7/5/13)

^^^Gordon Warrel, musical mechanic (5/10/16)

5) COMMUNITY STARS

Jay Adeyemi: Finsbury Park TOLO organiser (22/4/21)

Alan Banks: milkman/spaceship driver (19/10/2012)

Jack and Verity Baldry, getting ready to open Christchurch Community Centre (14/4/22)

^^Csaba Miklos Beck, postman (15/7/15)

+++Merium Bhuiyan, CakeFace make-up (23/5/18)

+Lisa Burrell, St Luke’s community centre (13/12/16)

Diane Burridge, local activist (7/3/13)

*Stephen Coles, vicar of St Thomas’ (31/7/13)

Amy Daniels, Canonbury Mutual Aid (29/04/20)

Dr Michael Eades, Being Human Festival (16/5/17)

^^David Gibson, Islington Society (21/10/15)

Adam Hardy, community activist (15/2/23)

+++Val Henney, offering Help on Your Doorstep (10/1/18)

^Chloe Holmes, Elizabeth House Centre Director (8/4/15)

Katherine Horsham, community mobiliser (22/1/14)

++Islington Faces: treasured interviews (11/10/17)

Talia Hussain, community champion (30/5/22)

*Sue Jandy, volunteer (11/6/13)

Hazel Jhugroo from The People’s Army (18/5/21)

^^^Elizabeth Jones, Talking News Islington (19/10/16)

^^Nicolette Jones, plimsoll for #plimsollday (13/1/16)

+++Helen Kersley, Islington Giving (31/1/18)

Michael Keshani, Islington Faces Trustee (12/2/20)

+++Mohammed Kozbar, chairman Finsbury Park mosque (29/08/18)

Vicky Lawson and Daisy, the positivitree (22.07/20)

Lollypop people: Jane, Ronnie, Nora & Pauline (5/12/12)

Nicky Ludgate: good neighbour (21/10/21) Photos by Kimi Gill

Mojo, disco barber (6/1/20) Photo by Kimi Gill

Chris P, canal enthusiast (27/2/13)

^^^Nann du Sautoy, Islington Foodbank volunter (24/8/16)

Savvas Panas & the food bank at Ringcross Community Centre (27/5/20) This is an in-depth interview including vox pop from 15 volunteers and food bank visitors.

Also meet Hazel Jhugroo from The People’s Army – a long interview with the founder, 3 volunteers and the volunteer head chef Tonya Wong (18/5/21)

Anna Scher MBE, drama teacher (27/4/16)

+++Mary Stevens, leaving Islington (8/8/18)

Chris Stuchbery, Big Issue London & South East Regional Manager (19/7/17) Photos by Kimi Gill.

Jack Tomkins and Verity, getting ready to open Christchurch Community Centre (14/4/22)

John Walters, Pearly King of Finsbury (23/10/14)

Diye Wariebi, manager Bright Sparks repair and reuse shop (11/03/20)

Anne Weyman, Islington u3a dynamo (1/10/14)

Adam Wilson, nature and art at the Stuart Low Trust (6/5/22)

Tonya Wong from The People’s Army no waste kitchen (18/5/21)

6) COMPUTERS AND TECHNICAL

Paulo Fino, web designer (20/8/14)

Carole Kenrick, scientist and inventor in residence at Gillespie School’s Lab_13 (3/5/17)

Polly Robbins, Space4 manager talks about Outlandish (3/1/18)

+Jessica Tompkinson & Alan Parker, discovery with three (23/11/16)

7a) DANCERS

*Elia Luyando: ballet mistress (11/12/13)

*James Olivo, dancer (26/6/13)

^^^Bert Roman, making Islington dance (12/7/16)

*Sarah Toner, ballet teacher (23/11/13)

7b) ENERGY STORIES – thanks to anyone who supported this from our Crowdfunder and also for the photos by Kimi Gill

Jay Adeyemi, TOLO rail organiser how the climate crisis doesn’t effect us equally (22/04/21)

Hasan Al Islam, nature apprentice who trained at Islington Ecology Centre (14/1/22)

Merium Bhuiyan: what would make you cycle – loads of tips for women, especially if you wear modest clothing (13/3/21)

Nicola Branch: energy advice officer – useful if you are a renter

Danai Davatzis: Rudy’s vegan butcher – offers ideas for plant based/vegan choices at this innovative ‘butcher’ on Upper Street (5/8/21)

Amanda Gowing, volunteer chef making use of food waste and cooking in bulk (26/5/21)

Adam Hardy, community activist who’ll help you count your carbon footprint – bonus interview as this was published in Feb 2023.

Hazel Jhugroo from The People’s Army – a long interview with the founder, 3 volunteers and the volunteer head chef Tonya Wong (18/5/21)

Oliver Lord: clean air policy maker (21/7/21)

Dan Miller, M&S Energy Operations Manager (30/7/21)

Andrew Myer: deep retrofit guru 25/11/21

Tessa Shaw: bookshop co-owner at Ink@84 with climate crisis book recommendations (13/04/21)

Lindy Sharpe, food and waste campaigner 08/04/22

Petko Tashev, the Home of Sustainable Design (13/8/21)

Jeane Trend-Hill, climate change from a health perspective (1/5/21)

Tonya Wong from The People’s Army no waste kitchen (18/5/21)

8) FAMILY FOCUS

^^Charles Baron, born 1920 in Islington and still visiting the borough (18/11/15)

Sai Gulam Bi, grandmother (28/7/12)

JK, from Accra to Archway (18/1/13)

^^^Angela Neustatter, writer (23/3/16)

^^Susan Oudot, Corrie writer with a passion for Milner Square (7/10/15)

Scarbrough family, from postcard collecting to Jedward superfans (12/10/12)

Michael & Sam Smith, dad & son at Parkrun Highbury Fields (4/11/15)

9) FASHION & CLOTHES

Merium Bhuiyan, CakeFace make-up (23/5/18)

Minerva: tailor (27/11/13)

^Valerie Good, ethical fashion at Kitty Ferreira (1/7/15)

Phillip Hatton, store manager (3/4/19)

Victoria Jenkins, accessibility designer (4/5/23)

+Clarissa Hulse, textile designer (10/1/17)

Nadine Mellor, Frock Up Friday highlights (28/3/22)

10) FILM & THEATRE & COMEDY

Gabby Best & Will Brown, on stage at the Pleasance (7/11/17)

Theatre review, the Roundabout by J B Priestly at Park Theatre (29/8/16)

*Jez & Melli Bond from the Park Theatre see Hazel, Park Theatre dog (30/12/13)

^^^Melli Bond: Park Theatre Script Accelerator opens 2016 (27/7/16)

Shereener Browne, actor/producer (17/5/23)

**Alex Carter, puppets at Little Angel Theatre (5/2/14)

^^^Barry Ferns, Angel Comedy (17/6/16)

Bill Freedman: theatre history & pilates (16/4/20)

^Jonas Grimas, film director (6/1/15)

John Hegley, poet performer (12/5/16)

+Joey Jarossi, YATI acting coach (10/5/17)

Duramaney Kamara, actor (4/5/16)

^^Susan Oudot, Corrie writer with a passion for Milner Square (7/10/15)

Brandon Richards, finding his animation design feet (6/6/18)

^^^Michael Ross, Happy to Help playwright (11/6/16)

^^^Anna Scher MBE, drama teacher (27/4/16)

++Robert Stuhldreer, dog trainer (19/9/18)

^Carlos Torres, filmmaker and photographer (21/1/15)

+++James Wren, film festival director (11/4/18)

11) FOOD & DRINK – cafes, cooks, chefs, pubs, restaurants, coffee shops & work spaces

5 recipes from Islington Faces (17/3/17)

Ursula Arens, nutritionist (26/6/19)

^Alfonso Arajuo, Greenhouse dreamer (29/4/15)

Alan Banks, milkman/spaceship driver (19/10/12)

Tony Bedwell, Highbury Barn pub manager (19/2/14)

+Mikhail Braunhofer, Pop Coffee by the Whittington Hospital (15/3/17)

^Ade Clarke, Landord at the Lamb Beer & Liquor (13/11/15)

^Anna Colquhoun, culinary anthropologist (17/9/14)

Danai Davatzis: Rudy’s vegan butcher – offers ideas for plant based/vegan choices at this innovative ‘butcher’ on Upper Street (5/8/21)

Natalie Dinning, Lesley’s Sauces (7/7/20)

Yehia El-Nemer, Oasis cafe (27/9/12)

^Chris Evans, social entrepreneur at Blighty (18/3/15)

Tina de Freitas, ice cream van lady (17/7/13)

*Chris Godfrey, butcher (18/12/13)

^^^Eglal Gomaa, Italian food deli owner (1/6/16)

David Goodman, tapas chef (20/12/12)

Amanda Gowing, volunteer chef (26/5/21) Photos by Kimi Gill

*Steve Hatt, fishmonger (18/9/13)

++Elton Keka, restaurant manager (27/9/17)

++Mr and Mrs Raj Kotecha,Udderlicious ice cream (20/6/17)

+Sofia Larrinua, cookery school manager (29/3/17)

+++Killian Lynch, chef at WBYeats pub (14/3/18)

*Nina Marcangelo: Alfredo’s cafe family (24/7/13)

^^Maxence Masurier: French wine seller (10/2/16)

David Mayers, butcher (5/10/12)

**Danny Michelson, La Fromagerie owner (15/4/14)

^Simon Moore, architect turned Highbury Arts Club boss (8/7/15)

Rohan Naik, cafe owner (27/5/19)

Savvas Panas & the Ringcross Community Centre food bank. This is an in-depth interview with vox pop from 15 volunteers and food bank visitors. (28/5/20)

^^^Priti Pedersen, Sunday Cafe at Gillespie Park (3/8/16)

^Aaron Resch, ramen restauranteur (29/10/14)

Pawel Ryczan, food waste campaign (2/5/19)

Lindy Sharpe, food and waste campaigner (8/04/22)

Freweeini Tesfazghi & Melake Fessehazion: Cafe Asmarino owners (19/6/19)

^Peter Theoklitou, owner Coffee Works Project, see Coffee Music Project in Islington (31/3/15)

^^Peter Theoklitou, owner Coffee Works Project (30/12/15)

**Pauline Tiffen, fair trade guru (26/2/14)

^^^Jack Tomkins, The Daily Grind barista (26/10/16)

Jack Tomkins & Verity Baldry, getting ready to open Christchurch Community Centre (14/4/22)

*Manuel and Stella Saavedra, puttin’ on the Ritz (22/8/13)

^^^Nann du Sautoy, Islington Foodbank volunteer (24/8/16)

***Matt Segal, Frederick’s manager (9/7/14)

++Roshni Shah, 8 Plates supper club (13/9/17) This is the 250th interview.

^^Michael & Sam Smith, dad & son at Parkrun Highbury Fields (4/11/15)

**Stephanie Smith, Archway Market founder and manager (23/4/14) (guest post)

Helena Spurr, foodie, chef and cafe owner (15/11/12)

^^Simon Wilson, young entrepreneur from dellvo.com (25/11/15)

^Jennifer Yong, founder Jenius Social (27/1/15)

++Paul A Young, chocolatier (26/7/17)

The Garden Classroom gets pupils learning outdoors (c)TGC

The Garden Classroom gets pupils learning outdoors (c)TGC

12) GARDEN, PLANTS & WILDLIFE FOCUS

Hasan Al Islam, nature apprentice (14/1/22) Photos by Kimi Gill

Dorothy Boswell, green campaigner (18/4/23) This is the 365th interview

*Tim Bushe, architect and hedge cutter (23/5/13)

Bunmi Otubushin, trustee at Graham Street Park (12/12/20)

++Ray Parlour and the sweet gum tree (14/6/17)

^^^Marnie Rose, The Garden Classroom founder & CEO (10/8/16)

^Chris Setz, tree champion (14/4/15)

^^Silver Tiger, walk through Islington (26/8/15)

^^^Jane Tuely, landscape architect (6/4/16)

+++Jack and Lucy Rickards, allotment gardeners (10/10/18)

^Hedera Vetch, wildlife gardener (29/12/14)

Adam Wilson, nature and art at the Stuart Low Trust (6/5/22)

++Paul Wood, London street tree author (28/6/17) Photos by Kimi Gill

*Marco Wouters, flower seller  (5/6/13)

13) HAIR, HEALTH & MINDFULNESS

Faisal Ahmed Mian, Wu Shi Taiji Quan & Qi Gong instructor (20/9/14)

Suad Ahmed, health improvement officer (31/10/18)

Natalie Appiah, hair stylist (20/3/19)

Olav Ernstzen, chair of Healthwatch Islington (30/9/15)

Vickie Farquharson, trainee manager at Gorilla Perfumery (11/11/15)

Oonagh Gay, inspiring London walks (27/1/16)

+Ilario Guidu, from prisoner and life coach (5/4/17)

Eddie K, security team leader (22/10/19)

Hannah Kalmanowitz, Stuart Low Trust manager (27/8/14)

Judith Kleinmann, Alexander Technique teacher & musician (15/10/14)

Karen Liebenguth, life coach (21/5/14)

^^^Mathy Lisika-Minsende, creative mentor (16/3/16)

+++Rosie Markwick, paddle boarder (5/9/18)

Mojo, disco barber (6/1/20)

Subhash & Urvashi Patel, Five Boys Natural Health Store (3/2/15)

++Natalie Simpkin, The Great Health Clinic (15/11/17)

Jeane Trend-Hill, back in Islington & ambassador for Crohns and Colitis network (1/5/21)

+++Joan Williams, chiropodist (28/11/18)

14) ISLINGTON HISTORY, HERITAGE & HOUSES

If you are looking for FAMOUS people – past and present – who’ve lived or worked in Islington there is a great list on Islington Council’s site, see here.

Home is Islington (six short interviews) (14/11/18)

Mark Aston, Islington Museum & Local History Centre manager (24/9/14)

^^Charles Baron, born 1920 in Islington & still visiting the borough (18/11/15)

++Dominic Bennet, furniture restorer (20/9/17)

The Charterhouse: Mike Lawlor, Charterhouse Brother (10/2/21)

+Roz Currie, Islington Museum curator (2/11/16)

Cally Clock Tower: 46m of history (18/12/19)

Christopher Curtis, Highbury Corner history man (30/1/14)

Cass Farrell, Small Restorations boss (8/10/14)

Tom Foakes, Director of Operations the Charterhouse (4/3/21)

+John Finn, tour guide trainer (8/2/17)

+++Mick Fitzgerald, growing up by Chapel Market (25/10/17)

^^Ivy Allan Freeman, Islington memories from 1933 (22/7/15)

Andy Gardner, historian (14/1/15)

^^Oonagh Gay, inspiring London walks (27/1/16)

^^David Gibson, Islington Society (21/10/15)

^Simon Goode, architect (16/2/15)

Hugh Grover, estate agent (2/4/14)

+Joe Hagland, remembers N7 in the 1950s (5/01/17)

+David Hammond, Islington childhood memories (1/3/17) and on instagram @islingtonfaces all February 2017

+John Henry Hammond, from soldier to pacifist (31/5/17) guest post by David Hammond

Andy Harvey, growing up on the Bonnington Estate, King’s Cross (27/6/22)

Michael Hayle, house detective (3/9/14)

+Jean Hughes, recycling & waste minimisation officer (9/11/16)

Mike Lawlor, Charterhouse Brother (10/2/21)

Anna Mason, head of heritage at St Johns (1/2/23) Photos by Kimi Gill

+Gladys Muchamore, Arsenal WW2 history under West Stand (30/11/16)

^^^Angela Neustatter, writer (23/3/16)

^^Colin O’Brien, photographer (2/12/15)

^^Susan Oudot, Corrie writer with a passion for Milner Square (7/10/15)

^Islington Park Street: community living under threat (8/6/15) (guest post)

^^Hez Jamil, historical reenactor (29/7/15)

^^Malcolm Marjoram, family history expert (17/2/16)

^^^Charlie Perdios, behind the scenes at Anthony Pepe (5/7/16)

Jake Perkins, estate agent  (22/11/12)

Brian Reeve, Brother at Charterhouse (21/2/21)

^^^Mavis Ring, the day the V1 bomb fell on Highbury Corner 27 June 1944 (23/6/16)

Teresa Robertson, unique house painter (28/3/13)

Jenny Scarbrough (9/11/12) contributes to Blackstock-road-in-the-1870s-robbers-trout-fishing-and-aristocrats

Scarbrough family, from postcard collecting to Jedward superfans (12/10/12)

Samir Singh, Arsenal in the Community (11/6/14)

Alex Smith, heritage assistant (12/12/12)

*Ros Tankard, WW2 memories (4/12/13)

^^Silver Tiger, walk through Islington (26/8/15)

John Walters, Pearly King of Finsbury (22/10/14)

^^Jerry White, author of Campbell Bunk, the worst street in Islington (19/8/15)

Adam Wilson, nature and art at the Stuart Low Trust (6/5/22)

Andrew Wilson, songs of place (10/12/19)

15) LOCALS

Edgar Rogers, council security officer (6/3/19)
Michael Phillips &Eddie King, friends (18/6/14)

16) MUSIC & SONG

^^Jackie Badger, saw the Beatles play Finsbury Park (28/10/15)

Barry Causton, events manager (5/11/14)

Tricia Cottle, Islington Music shop owner (28/5/14)

Ulises Diaz, flamenco heart (5/4/14)

^^^Ben “Frosty” Foster, open mic organiser (29/6/16)

^^Richard Frostick, Islington Music Centre maestro (23/9/15)

Dominic Haddock, opera producer (7/1/14)

Eddie K, security team leader (22/10/19)

^Judith Kleinman, musician and Alexander Technique teacher (15/10/14)

^^^Kass Man, musical poet and event organiser (7/9/16)

Robert Marco, owner T-Bird (30/7/18)

++Sarah Matthias, author (7/6/17)

^^^Alicia Montplaisir, fairy spirit and singer-songwriter (20/4/16)

++Dhevdhas Nair, musician (23/08/17)

^Andy Parker, musician and painter (11/2/15)

^Stevey Porter & Kieran Wilson, Route1audio (17/12/14)

Ben River, singer songwriter (19/6/13)

++Robert Shrubsall & Andrew Greer (5/9/17)

Richard Smith, 70 year old author (22/1/20)

Hanisha Solomon, singer (22/7/14)

^^Dan Spanner, Spanner Big Band at the Gunners pub (20/1/16)

Frank Turner, singer songwriter (9/12/15)

+++Michael Waldron, conductor (29/11/17)

Andrew Wilson, songs of place (10/12/19)

++Kevin Zhang, Peking opera (4/10/17)

17) SHOPKEEPERS, MARKET STALLS & SERVICES

Amin family running Shriji news in Canonbury (28/02/22)

+++Merium Bhuiyan, CakeFace make-up (23/5/18)

+Paul Boorman, Islington antiques (22/2/17)

Suleyman Bulbul,  shopkeeper (4/9/12)

^^^Mr Chotai, watch and jewellery repairs on Holloway Road (28/9/16)

Tricia Cottle, Islington Music shop owner (28/5/14)

Christopher Curtis, Highbury Corner history man (30/1/14)

+++Isatu Funna, designer at Dar Leone (25/7/18)

Lynne Glover, Angel Central shopping centre manager (17/8/16)

*Chris Godfrey, butcher (18/12/13)

Simon Dolin, hair salon owner (17/4/13)

Vickie Farquharson, trainee manager at Gorilla Perfumery (11/11/15)

Cass Farrell, Small Restorations boss (8/10/14)

^^^Lynne Glover, manager Angel Central shopping centre (17/8/16)

*Cemal Kilnic, shopkeeper (7/8/13)

+++Jeremy Leslie, at magCulture (16/7/18)

Mrs Sau Li, DIY supremo at Mix (30/11/12)

Robert Marco, owner T-Bird (30/7/18)

David Mayers, butcher (5/10/12). RETIRED summer 2018.

*Minerva: tailor (27/11/13)

Ian Morris, Map gift shop co-owner (10/12/14)

Rohan Naik, cafe owner (27/5/19)

Joan O’Donovan, charity shop manager (9/8/12)

Subhash & Urvashi Patel: Five Boys Natural Health Store (3/2/15)

+Eloise Rigby, The Pantry Underwear (12/4/17)

+Russell Selway, cycle shop assistant manager (6/12/16)

Scarbrough family, from postcard collecting to Jedward superfans (12/10/12)

Tessa Shaw: ink@84 bookshop owner (13/4/21) Photos by Kimi Gill

^^^Costa Violaris, C&A Drycleaners (9/3/16)

Diye Wariebi, manager Bright Sparks repair and reuse shop (11/03/20)

^^Simon Wilson, young entrepreneur from dellvo.com (25/11/15)

*Marco Wouters, flower seller  (5/6/13)

18) SHOWMANSHIP

*Peter Ball, auctioneer (3/7/13)

John Burton, lighthouse keeper (7/8/23)

*Martin Burton, circus founder (29/04/13)

+++Castellers of London, rehearsing (2/5/18)

*Anna Harvey, N1 Centre administrator (6/11/13)

^^^Cate Mackenzie, love coach (13/4/16)

+*Adele Roberts & Kate Holderness, charity abseil (28/2/18)

19) SPONSORED POSTS

**Rachel Zatz, traveller & Airbnb host (19/3/14)

20) SPORTS & GAMES & ARSENAL

+++Gilbert Alaskadi, pro body builder and trainer (10/2/18)

+++Castellers of London, rehearsing (2/5/18)

^^GUEST POST: Laurie Cunningham, football from Market Road to Real Madrid (6/1/16)

+Jan Dorling, Islington Boat Club office manager (19/4/17)

Bill Freedman: theatre history & pilates (16/4/20)

^^^Charlie George, Arsenal legend (21/9/16)

^^^Simon Izod, cycle tour leader (2/3/16)

+++Lorraine Fox, skipper (17/1/18)

*** Georgina Gray, Bikram Highbury & Islington owner (2/7/14)

**Sybille Hazward, fitness trainer (12/2/14)

Elia Luyando, ballet mistress (11/12/2013)

+++Rosie Markwick, paddleboarder (5/9/18)

^Paul Matz, founder Arsenal Independent Supporters’ Association (4/3/15)

***Faisal Ahmed Mian, Wu Shi Taiji Quan & Qi Gong Association senior instructor (9/9/14)

++Ray Parlour & the sweet gum tree (14/6/17)

Edgar Rogers, council security officer (6/3/19)

Samir Singh, Arsenal in the Community (11/6/14)

Viren Soma, tennis coach (8/4/13)

Edward Smith, chess player (16/9/12)

^^Michael & Sam Smith, dad & son at Parkrun Highbury Fields (4/11/15)

Anna Stishova, Instagram’s hijabi kayaker (1/12/23)

21) STALL HOLDERS

*A Abu Kalbin: newspaper seller (10/10/13)

22) WRITERS & MEDIA

Nicola Baird: your interviewer – guest interview by Sarah Graham (4/2/13)

Rosemary Brown, activist and author (8/12/21)

^^Perdita & Honor Cargill, authors Waiting for Callback (23/2/16)

+++Barry Forshaw, Canonbury Bookshop in the 1970s (4/4/18)

+++Giselle Green, editor Constructive Voices (20/2/18)

***Peter Gruner, 11 years on the Islington Tribune (23/12/15)

^^^John Hegley, poet performer (12/5/16)

Nicolette Jones, plimsolls for #plimsollday (13/1/16)

^^Mark Kebble, editor Angel magazine (16/12/15)

*Clara Macedo Cabral, cultural explorer (10/7/13)

+++Jeremy Leslie, at magCulture (16/7/18)

*Joan Lock, crime writer (10/9/13)

++Sarah Matthias, author (7/6/17)

+Pete May, football writer (15/11/16)

Martin McKenzie, Big Issue seller (2/11/20)

^^^Angela Neustatter, writer (23/3/16)

Ant O’Neill, Moomin translator (3/6/20)

Susan Oudot, Corrie writer with a passion for Milner Square (7/10/15)

+Heidi Rice, romance novelist (14/2/17)

^Lemn Sissay, poet (2/6/15)

***Linda Plater, village of Islington (Canada) co-ordinator (12/8/14)

*Piers Torday, children’s novelist (24/4/13)

++David Wingrove, Science Fiction writer (25/7/17)

Writers workshop during Inspiring Islington (17/5/19) with Lydia, Judi and Janette

24) YOUNG ISLINGTON (teachers, health workers and 26 years and under)

++Farida Ahmed, graduate with PhD ambition (2/8/17)

+++Suad Ahmed, health improvement officer (31/10/18)

^^^Muhammad Ali, maths tutor (14/9/16)

Natalie Appiah, hair stylist (20/3/19)

Berrin Bates, art teacher & art therapist (26/11/20)

James Cambridge, photographer (23/3/15)

Patrick Green, on Ben Kinsella’s legacy (23/10/22)

Netta Hakak, 6th form college student (13/11/20)

+Joey Jarossi, YATI acting coach (10/5/17)

Duramaney Kamara, actor (4/5/16)

+Carole Kenrick, scientist & inventor in residence at Gillespie Primary School (3/5/17)

Michael Keshani, Islington Faces trustee (12/2/20)

Abu Mensah, deputy young mayor (24/6/15)

Rohan Naik, cafe owner (27/5/19)

James Olivio, dancer (26/6/13)

Brandon Richards, finding his design feet (6/6/18)

Michael & Sam Smith: dad and son at Parkrun (4/11/15)

*Corinna Snashall: planning a gap year (25/9/13)

Charles Williams, made in Islington (21/2/13)

Jon Winder, play guru (26/10/12)

All the interviews are with people who live or work in Islington. Let me know if you have any ideas who I can interview – please leave a note here or send me an email to nicolabaird.green@gmail.com. Thank you.

===================

23) GUEST POSTERS & CONTRIBUTORS
(writers, photographers, film makers, radio journalists)
Big thanks to anyone who has written an interview for this blog or contributed in any other way. Kimi Gill is Islington Faces official photographer. Also thanks to Catriona Beck, Joanna Bevan, Sarah Graham, Chris Humphris, Dermot Kavanagh, Jessica O’Neill, Meagan Walker, Vicky Ryzhkyh, Carlos Torres, Isabelle Vandergert-Wilson

KIMI GILL
Kimi Gill is a photographer, see her website, who will be collaborating with Islington Faces from spring 2017. Read the interview on Islington Faces with her here. Enjoy Kimi’s photographs in these interviews: Mr and Mrs Raj Kotecha, Joey Jarossi Dhevdhas Nair Sarah Mathias, David Wingrove, Chris Stuchbery,

CATRIONA BECK
Studies journalism at City University. In her first year she joined the Engage London team and worked as a team with young people from the Pilion Trust. This is the interview she did with Brandon Richards who spent winter of 2017-18 at the Pilion Trust’s night shelter.

JOANNA BEVAN
Joanna Bevan
(photo, right, taken by Evgenia Kharitonova) has a background in community development and lives in Archway. She researched community resilience at the City University of New York. She speaks five languages and loves writing poetry and running marathons. Joanna has recently set up a pop up language cafe in Archway, Speak Street and was a guest on ISLINGTON FACES LIVE 2014 talking about it. Follow her on Twitter @JoannitaBevan @Speak_Street

“The best thing about living in Islington is the huge amount of world cuisine on offer.”

Read Joanna’s interview with:
>Spaniard Ulises Diaz here,
>Tattoo artist Chris Morris here
>Archway Market manager Stephanie Smith here
>Archway community campaigner Kate Calvert here.

SARAH GRAHAM
Sarah Graham interviewed this blog’s founder  Nicola Baird: your interviewer  on 4/2/13. Sarah is a feminist journalist and the deputy editor of Feminist Times, follow it on-line here. She’s got a Newspaper MA from City University, which is based in Islington. You can follow her  @SarahGraham7

“I actually never lived in Islington, but as a student at City I loved the mix of things to do (and places to eat!), the vibrancy of the history and the beautiful areas like Highbury, where I spent a lot of time working on my reporting portfolio.”

CHRIS HUMPHRIS
Chris Humphris is on the City University MA course (2014-15). As an assignment he did a radio interview with Nicola Baird about the thinking about Islingtonfacesblog just before ISLINGTON FACES LIVE 2014. You can listen to the Soundcloud interview here.

Chris can be contacted @ChrisChatsStuff

DERMOT KAVANAGH
In Jan 2016, sports desk picture editor for the Sunday Times wrote a guest post about Archway-born footballer, Laurie Cunningham, who was signed for Real Madrid in 1979. Dermot wants to crowdfund a book about Laurie, please follow this unbound link to help. STOP PRESS: This book was published in summer 2017. Congrats to all.

JESSICA O’NEILL
Jessica O’Neill first moved to Islington from her home town in Canada. She currently lives in Hackney. Jessica helped organise the Islington Faces Live event (Oct 2014) while interning at the King’s Head Theatre.

“As an outsider it’s interesting to get to see a new community and to find out about the hidden underside of an area. It would usually take a decade to discover the characters you profile on Islington Faces, helping organise the show is a quicker way!”

Here’s Jessica’s experience of living and working in Islington in an interview.

MEAGAN WALKER
Meagan Walker is at City University, studying journalism. This is the interview she did with Antonagis Andreou, who came to London as a refugee from Cyprus.

VICKY RYZHYKH – contributing photographer
Vicky Ryzhykh
To see pictures by photo blogger Vicky Ryzhykh (left) go to the gallery & games page. Vicky took all the photos at ISINGTON FACES LIVE 2014 – a show which raised £200 for the King’s Head Theatre.

Vicky says: “I like living in Islington because it has everything. I like cakes from Ottolenghi and taking a stroll along the Regent’s Canal. I’ve lived in Angel for five years. I was born in Moscow, Russia and moved to UK in 1996 to study.” To contact her re photo work, email: vica_5@hotmail.com

CARLOS TORRES
Carlos Torres made the film of Islington Faces Live 2014 at the King’s Head Theatre. You can contact him for commissions on Facebook here.

I hope I’ll be in Islington for a few years,” says Carlos who is from Granada, Spain, but has lived in Archway since 2013. “If you want to get somewhere – and I want to do more with films and photography – then you can achieve that in London.”

ISABEL VANDERGERT – WILSON
Isabel lived in and went to school near Islington for six years. She now runs a herb growing project in Leyton. Isabel did work experience on the Islington Faces blog in June 2015.

“I miss the bustle of the streets and all the great places to go, along with the public transport, Islington is such an authentic, great place to be. I’ve also got so many great memories from Drayton Park Primary School for example playing on the life boat and tree house.”

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