postaweek2012

Alan Banks: milkman/space ship driver Everyone in Islington has a story, so meet milkman/space ship driver Alan Banks who sees the best and worst of people – and a lot of slugs – on his night rounds delivering glass-bottled pints to N4 and N5 doorsteps. Interview by Nicola Baird.   “I’ve told my grand daughter that…
Everyone in Islington has a story, so meet butcher David Mayers – a butcher all his working life, but one who has “never had to butcher animals”. Interview by Nicola Baird. “I went to school with Rod Stewart*,” says David Mayers as we start the interview in his spotless shop, Highbury…
Everyone in Islington has a story… Few spend as much time in the park as Yehia El-Nemer who runs the Oasis in the Park cafe at Highbury Fields. Here’s what life’s like at the Oasis, plus Yehia’s plans to make it even better. Interview by Nicola Baird. “I love it here…
Everyone in Islington has a story, so meet Anglea Sinclar-Loutit who has many tales to share – no surprise really as she was born in 1921. Interview by Nicola Baird.   “To my amazement I’ve lived in Islington for 32 years,” says Angela Sinclair-Loutit (rhyme with “blue tit”), now 91. I…
Edward Smith, chess player Everyone in Islington has a story, so meet Edward Smith who’s lived here since 1965. Interview by Nicola Baird. Born in London in 1948, Edward Smith, has been in Islington since he was 17. His father didn’t like to be tied down, so Edward remembers a peripatetic childhood. “I think he…
Sharon Hayes, animal nurse Everyone has a story, so meet animal lover Sharon Hayes doing the perfect job. Interview by Nicola Baird. Sharon Hayes gives a huge Cheshire-cat grin and looks around happily at the place where she works as an animal auxiliary nurse at abbeyVET on Blackstock Road.There are bags of Science Plan pet…
Suleyman Bulbul, shopkeeper Everyone in Islington has a story, so meet Suleyman Bulbul from Arsenal Food & Wine – the Blackstock Triangle neighbours favourite shop. Interview by Nicola Baird. “Everyone knows (my colleague) Ozzie,” says Suleyman, 40, who runs the buzzing Arsenal Food & Wine shop, on the corner of Ambler and Blackstock Road, with…
Joan O’Donovan, charity shop manager Everyone in Islington has a story, so meet charity shop manager Joan O’Donovan . Interview by Nicola Baird. Despite radiating calm Joan O’Donovan, 64, never stops being busy. She started off in Co Galway, Eire one of eight sisters and two brothers, but by the time Joan was 19 years old…
Everyone has a story, so meet early retiree Sai Gulam Bi. Interview by Nicola Baird. “I’ve lived 33 years in this street,” says Sai leading me through the front door and into her immaculate front room that faces on to the N4 road. “It’s always been friendly”. From the kitchen…
Everyone has a story, so meet Ron Pace, Islington original. Interview by Nicola Baird.  Most Tuesdays Ron Pace is up in Highbury. As ever he’s dressed in flat cap, work boots and a blue jumper, but today he’s leaning on a bollard outside Drayton Park Primary School, N5 studying the slow…