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Nicola Baird

Anna Mason: Head of Heritage at St John’s Gate

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Anna Mason from St John's Gate: “Our museum turns 100 in 2023. Lots of celebrations are planned from March.” (c) Kimi Gill for Islington Faces
St John has dominated the southern tip of Clerkenwell for more than 900 years but may still be Islington’s best-kept secret. Here Head of Collections and Public Engagement, Anna Mason, shares the many wonderful offerings from its historic buildings and 100-year-old museum, to its community programmes. Interview by Nicola Baird.…

Patrick Green: Ben Kinsella’s legacy

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Patrick Green, CEO of the Ben Kinsella Trust. “The trust has always used its voice to speak out against knife crime and challenge governments to do more to tackle the issue.” (c) benkinsella.org.uk
Everyone has a story. The Islington-based charity, the Ben Kinsella Trust in Clerkenwell, helps tackle knife crime with its flagship exhibition at Finsbury Library in St John’s Street – which re-opened in mid April 2022 after a refresh. CEO Patrick Green explains more about the ways this murdered 16-year-old’s legacy…

Let’s Chat: ideas to beat loneliness

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Let's Chat ideas: Write prompt questions on a big piece of wood (or brick) and watch the conversation flow (c) Kimi Gill for Islington Faces
Let’s chat: ideas to beat loneliness and get local people talking Sharing our learning from the Let’s Chat project with ideas to beat loneliness and get local people chatting. We found writing questions on big bits of woods helped inspire chat. Try it and see if it works for your…

Andy Harvey: life at Bonnington House in the 1970s

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Andy Harvey at the West Reservoir. (c) Islington Faces.
Everyone has a story. Shared Lives community worker Andy Harvey recalls stories about growing up in the 1970s around King’s Cross plus his thoughts about estates, the old Islington slums, hobbies and moving on. Interview by Nicola Baird.  Islington Faces met Andy Harvey, who is 60 in September, paddling at…

Company of Elders ready for Elixir Festival at Sadler’s Wells

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(c)Dave Barros
Everyone has a story. A special visit behind the scenes with the Company of Elders crew at Sadler’s Wells a week before they perform at the Elixir Festival on 16 and 18 June 2022. Interview by Nicola Baird The Elixir Festival at Sadler’s Wells celebrates creative ageing with films, workshops…

Talia Hussain: community champion

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Talia Hussain: When I first lived here, I literally knew just one of my neighbours, but now with the street association I know a tonne of them. We’re all in a WhatsApp group.” (c) Kimi Gill for Islington Faces
Everyone has a story. Cycling across the borough to work and shops helped Talia Hussain find a flat and volunteer for Cycle Islington. Now she’s helping strengthen the Canonbury community vibe through street associations and of course a Jubilee street party. Interview by Nicola Baird. Photos by Kimi Gill. As…

Lindsey Glen: Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration

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Quentin Blake Illustration Centre Director Lindsey Glen . © Islington Faces
Everyone has a story. The gallery that brought the first bit of destination culture to Kings Cross, the House of Illustration – which was on Granary Square for six years  – now has plans to restore and open up the derelict New River Head industrial site in Clerkenwell as the…

Adam Wilson: nature and art at Stuart Low Trust

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Adam Wilson, Development Manager at Stuart Low Trust and Healthy Generations, is honoured to both live and work in Islington. © Kimi Gill for Islington Faces.
Everyone has a story. Living, working, volunteering and creating in Islington, Adam Wilson talks about music, nature and working online with the Stuart Low Trust and Healthy Generations. Interview by Nicola Baird. Photos by Kimi Gill It’s hard to condense all Adam Wilson’s skills. He’s a Law graduate, photographer, published…

Renske Mann: my life with artist Cyril Mann

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Renske Mann with her new book The Girl In the Green Jumper: my life with artist Cyril Mann. (c) RM
Everyone has a story. What’s it like to be an artist’s muse? Renske Mann reflects on life with the artist Cyril Mann – including their time at Bevin Court – in her new book. Review by Nicola Baird In 2014 Renske Mann contacted Islington Faces about a new people’s plaque…

Jack & Verity: ready to open Christchurch Community Centre, Highbury N5

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Jack Tomkins won the tender for the new café inside soon to be opened Christchurch Community Centre, here seen with co-ordinating committee chair Verity Baldry who says: “Everyone’s invited to the centre’s opening on Easter Sunday 2020 from 4-6pm.” (c) islington faces
Everyone has a story. For the past three years Verity Baldry has spent much of her time making the dream of a new Christchurch Community Centre actually happen – from funding to furnishing as one of the project managers for this new community building. While Jack Tomkins from Vent Coffee…