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highbury barn

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

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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…

Richard Rhys O’Brien: the Dinner Puzzle

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Everybody has a story. Retirement has enabled Richard Rhys O’Brien to create music, books, articles and even a puzzle at a rapid pace, including a ballad of Highbury Barn through the ages. Now he’s turned history detective and needs your help to track down the missing pieces of the Dinner…

Tamsen Courtenay: homeless stories

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Everyone has a story. Tamsen Courtenay spent months listening to the stories of homeless people living on the streets of central London during winter 2016. Interview by Nicola Baird “I’m a chronicler, not a campaigner,” explains Tamsen Courtenay when we meet who has a way of making you feel like…

Mary Stevens: leaving Islington

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For the past 10 years Mary Stevens, now 38, has lived at Highbury Barn and coped brilliantly with all sorts of life changes from full time commuting, job hunting and becoming a mum. All that time she was fully involved in community activities such as school governor, babysitting circle and…

Dhevdhas Nair: musician

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Everyone has a story. Islington in the 1970s was famous for its squats and creativity. Musician – and jazz pianist – Dhevdhas Nair remembers it well. Interview by Nicola Baird. Photos by Kimi Gill  Dhevdhas Nair, known to his friends as Dhev, grew up in Islington with his mother. They…

Sarah Matthias: author

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When Highbury local Sarah Matthias isn’t busy as membership secretary of the Islington Choral Society she’s writing books. Here she talks about life in Islington and the inspiration for her latest novel, ‘A Berlin Love Song’. Interview by Nicola Baird & photos by Kimi Gill A Berlin Love Song follows the story of Lili,…

Heidi Rice: romantic novelist

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Everyone has a story. In February everyone’s thoughts turn to love… but for best-selling novelist Heidi Rice, every day has romantic power. Enjoy a special Valentine’s Day Q&A with the author of ‘Bedding Bad Boys’, ‘The Mile High Club’ and ‘So Now You’re Back’. Interview by Nicola Baird Long time Highbury…

Jack Tomkins – The Daily Grind barista

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Everyone has a story. Have you seen the little tuk tuk tucked into the corner of Christchurch Vicarage by Church Path on Highbury Fields? If not you have a treat in store – The Daily Grind’s artisan coffee made by former Highbury Grove student Jack Tomkins. Interview by Nicola Baird…

Charlie Perdios: behind the scenes at Anthony Pepe

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Everyone has a story. Charlie Perdios, joint owner of Anthony Pepe in Highbury, explains how his passion for Arsenal led to him becoming… an estate agent. Interview by Nicola Baird “My business partner – Ari Theodorou – and I knew Highbury well. It felt like coming home opening our office…

Charles Baron: born 1920 in Islington & still visiting the borough

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Everyone has a story. Charles Baron is having lunch at the Highbury Barn pub – nothing remarkable about that, except he was born on 6 May 1920 to Jewish refugees from the Russian pogroms – 95 years ago. So what are his memories of pre-World War Two Islington and life in…