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Men

Gilbert Bankual: House of Hodge volunteer

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Everyone has a story. Book seller Gilbert Bankual loves the ways book collections reveal people’s lives – just one of the reasons he volunteers at House of Hodge on Blackstock Road. Interview by Nicola Baird Over coffee (double espresso for him, decaf for Islington Faces) at The Blackstock Kitchen, just…

 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…

Toby Mitchell: Tall Stories theatre

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Everyone has a story, but not everyone has such a close connection with the amazing Gruffalo, that wonderful creation protecting a resourceful mouse. Thanks to a theatre company based in Highbury The Gruffalo is not just a book – it’s also celebrating its 25th anniversary on stage. Here Tall Stories…

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…

Charles Costa: singer songwriter

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Everyone has a story. The singer who was King Charles, now known as Charles Costa, began his Knock Knock tour in Finsbury Park (not the park, a small N4 garden!). What was it like asks Nicola Baird Islington Faces insists that King Charles is a singer songwriter, but it clearly…

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…

Andy Ruiz Palma: Chief Exec for Islington Centre for Refugees & Migrants

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Everyone has a story. The joy of teaching English language skills has taken Andy Ruiz Palma from youthful travel around Thailand to managing the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants in Cross Street. Here he talks about how Islington and the Centre offer a welcome to people in desperate need.…

John Mackie: fruit and veg shop owner

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Everyone has a story. Here John Mackie talks about growing up in Islington, early starts and how he became a professional footballer. Plus, insight into his day-to-day life running a fabulous greengrocer, Christmas tree and flower shop, White Brothers Fruit & Veg, on Blackstock Road, N4. Interview by Nicola Baird…

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…

Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong: catalyst & science teacher

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Everyone has a story. Introducing Islington Faces’ chair, Ernestas Jegorovas-Armstrong (Ernie). He’s a modern polymath – Green councillor, space physics advocate, secondary school physics teacher, dad, volunteer and lovely bloke (although he might dispute this order). Ernie’s so busy this interview has taken a few years to organise. Here he…