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1980s islington

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…

Ben: Sylvanian Store Keeper

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Everyone has a story. For the past 30 years the Sylvanian Families Shop on Mountgrove Road has been the only independent specialist Sylvanian store. It’s a magical world of little furry families, popular with primary school children keen to spend their pocket money, or find a big gift, and has…

Gary Archer: canoe coach and youth advocate

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Everyone has a story. Former Islington Boat Club member, Gary Archer, talks about how his first experience paddling on the Regent’s Canal has led to a lifetime of paddle work and pleasure – a legacy he has already passed on to hundreds of kids. Interview by Nicola Baird. Note: Gary…

Adam Wilson: nature and art at Stuart Low Trust

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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…

John Finn: tour guide trainer

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Everyone has a story. Clerkenwell & Islington Guides Association (CIGA) has been around since 1988 and has currently has close to 120 qualified members ready to dazzle you with Islington’s history. Meet the chairman of CIGA, who is also the CIGA course director at the University of Westminster, Londoner John…
Andy Parker: musician & painter

Andy Parker: musician & painter

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Everyone has a story. Is it strange to have been born in Covent Garden and become a landscape artist? Probably not if your major influence is Turner whose home was round the corner… just over 200 years earlier. Andy Parker, who’s lived in Islington since 1980, talks about early morning painting trips,…
Subhash & Urvashi Patel: from Five Boys Natural Health Store

Subhash & Urvashi Patel: from Five Boys Natural Health Store

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Everyone has a story. Five Boys – the Natural Health Store – at Highbury Barn has a vast range of household, healing and healthy products. Years ago it was a garment making factory – but for the past 25 years it’s been a place you can find saffron, black treacle and pink peppercorns,…

Charlie Kiss: activist

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Everyone on Islington Faces Blog has a story.  Charlie Kiss is active in Unison and the Green Party but started campaigning years ago – setting up a youth CND* group whilst at school. This led to trips to Greenham Common peace camp*, scene of big protests against nuclear missiles during the 1980s, as…
Pauline Tiffen: fair trade guru

Pauline Tiffen: fair trade guru

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Everyone on Islington Faces Blog has a story.  In 1985 Pauline Tiffen, working from a grungy office opposite the old Angel tube station, began to shake-up the way companies treated their suppliers. Fast forward to 2014 and meet the woman who helped shoppers get Fairtrade* products.  Interview by Nicola Baird “My claim to fame is that…

Christopher Curtis: Highbury Corner history man

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Everyone on Islington Faces Blog has a story. Christopher Curtis is well-known in Islington. Find him selling local history and classic football prints and photographs on his Chapel Market stall or join him for a tour of Highbury Corner and Holloway Road for a walk around Joe Orton’s world. Interview by Nicola Baird “I was two…