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Living in Islington

Gail & Barry: Cally Park Pet Memorial Wall

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  Everyone has a story. Gail Timewell and Barry Garnham talk about dogs and the Cally Park Pet Memorial Wall – a unique spot in Islington created to remember dearly loved furry friends. Interview by Nicola Baird Dog walkers know Islington’s parks better than most of us because they visit…

 Kevan Tomlin: creative recovery worker 

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Everyone has a story. Creative recovery worker Kevan Tomlin explains why he loves working on community craft projects around Islington. Interview by Nicola Baird  After 35 years as a fashion designer Kevan Tomlin has found a role in Islington that he adores – answering his creative instincts and making him feel a part of…

Zoe Pearson: Islington Faces trustee

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Everyone has a story. Introducing our newest Islington Faces trustee, Zoe Pearson, 28, who brings creative energy to our board. She’s also a huge fan of Islington life after moving here after lockdown. Q&A by Nicola Baird. Q: Why did you want to be a trustee? I think what Islington…

Twixmas special: what do you love to do in Islington?

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Everyone has a story. Islington Faces goes on a Twixmas 2025 mission to find out how people enjoy spending time in Islington. Interviews by founder Nicola Baird and our new trustee, Zoe Pearson. Top tip: FOLLOW Islington Faces, a new interview is published approx once a fortnight. We’re also busy…

Steve Platt: squatting memories

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Everyone has a story. In the 1970s and early 1980s Islington was famous for its squat culture. Back then politicians from Labour, and even the Tories, were forced to accept squatting as a way to bring abandoned and neglected homes back into use. Plenty of young people found cheap homes…

Darren Greenwood: Islington Boat Club

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Everyone has a story. Water sports expert Darren Greenwood is the chief operating officer at Islington Boat Club, running the day-to-day business of this community hub at Angel which gives so many young people in Islington a chance to mess around safely in boats on Regent’s Canal. Interview by Nicola…

Margaret Deasy: retired occupational health worker

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Everyone has a story. Former occupational health worker Margaret Deasy recalls her pet-filled early life off Essex Road in a home that “isn’t there anymore”. This interview was first published in ‘Elthorne Pride Lasting Legacy’. Interview by Nicola Baird, photos by Kimi Gill. Margaret Deasy was brought up off Essex…

Julio CĂ©sartist: visual artist

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Everyone has a story. Social photographer and artist Julio CĂ©sar Osorio can take six months to produce his highly coloured canvases. Here he talks about how he got into art mid-career. Interview by Nicola Baird If it wasn’t raining so much in early summer 2024 I’d have met Julio CĂ©sar…

Claudia Janke: artist

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Everyone has a story. Super skilled with a camera and creatively playful Claudia Janke finds inspiration in her Angel neighbourhood for pan-European harmony. Here she talks about how photography, games with string phones and even a little wave helped everyone on the rebuilt Packington in N1 to connect. Interview by…

Anjna Khurana: Mayor of Islington 2024-25

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Everyone has a story. In this on-stage interview at Islington Faces’ 365 celebration Islington Mayor, Anjna Khurana, talks about being a role model. She also revealed to a roomful of Islington fans that she loves cake, raspberry is her favourite fruit and she adores fried ravioli. Interview by Nicola Baird.…