Highbury Community Association July 2020 HIGHBURY COMMUNITY NEWS highburycommunity.org | @HighburyCA | facebook.com/highburycommunity Farewell to Stephen Coles

By DOROTHY NEWTON with JESSAMY, ANNE, MALCOLM, ROWAN, SENYTE, the St Thomas’ Sunday School children & GILL SHEPHERD

Stephen Coles retired on Easter Day 2020, after 31 years at St Thomas’ Church in St Thomas’ Road. He was also a member of the General Synod of the Church of England for many years.

Stephen and the building of community We celebrate Stephen in the newsletter because he has made such significant contributions to the life of the local community by his involvement in so many activities. He initiated meetings among leaders of different faiths and this dialogue, particularly with Finsbury Park Mosque and Muslim Welfare House, has offered both celeb- rations, and frameworks for problem-solving. For instance, he has convened meetings to facilitate community responses to drug dealing and drug use in the area. A further legacy of this relationship is the creation of the Finsbury Park Sisters - women from all faiths and Mohammed Kozbar, General Secretary of the Finsbury Park none who meet several times a Mosque; Stephen Coles ‒ St Thomas’ Church; and Rabbi year to share conversation, food Herschel Gluck, President of the Stamford Hill Shomrim and and visits. chairman of the national Muslim-Jewish Forum Stephen regularly visited the notorious Finsbury Park mosque people, as well as by giving food to has been your favourite moment preacher Abu Hamza al-Misri in jail the Islington Centre For Refugees about being a priest at St. Thomas’? between 2006 and 2012, explaining and Migrants. He worked to get After much thought, he replied, ‘The that while you may hate a person’s climate change taken seriously moment when the Muslims asked crimes, you must love them as a locally and challenged the cong- me to go and talk to them at Friday human being, and follow the Bible’s regation to think through how our prayers, because I felt that there injunction to visit the sick and lifestyles affect the world’s most had been a break-through between prisoners. vulnerable people, and how to us, and we didn’t have to regard Stephen encouraged the cong- reduce consumption. ourselves as separate’. regation to support migrants and The Sunday School children inter- asylum seekers as individual viewed him, and asked him, ‘What Continued on page 2...

Issue 115 highburycommunity.org 1 Highbury Community Association July 2020 Farewell to Islington Council’s ‘Commonplace’ Stephen Coles initiative

...Continued from page 1 I n o u r a r e a , comments cluster Stephen and local activities intensively on issues Stephen supported the Finsbury we are already only Park Action Group, the Finsbury too familiar with: Park and Stroud Green neigh- bourhood forum, the Friends of •The closure of Gillespie Park and Elizabeth House. Gillespie Road part He was active in local democracy, way along its length attending Ward meetings, and has hugely increased supporting local campaigns. At traffic now making its times he has been a key middleman way to the Drayton in negotiations between Arsenal Park/Holloway Road football club and local residents. junction along Avenell Road and Aubert Stephen at St Thomas’ Park His contacts always went well beyond congregation members, to •The re-design of agnostics and atheists and to those Highbury Corner, and of other faiths. Individuals from By GILL SHEPHERD the desire of many vehicles to within and beyond the congregation avoid it completely, has en- commented on his capacity for Nothing will ever be quite the same couraged much northbound traffic listening to problems, and for after the Coronavirus crisis is over, to choose the Liverpool Road accompanying people on their which is why now is the time to over Upper Street. Some traffic journey through good times and make changes to make sure joins the Holloway Road and bad. He was profoundly committed everyone can keep enjoying their continues northwards. Some, to maintaining diversity in the streets. The council has already probably aiming in due course for congregation and remarked to a started adapting Islington's streets Stoke Newington, Dalston and parishioner, ‘If you go into a church to make it easier to socially distance beyond, cuts across from Palmer and everybody looks like you – whilst walking to busy areas for Place into Drayton Park and run!’. essential reasons, and more chan- makes its way to Highbury Park ges are being rolled out around via Martineau Road and Highbury Stephen has provided a trem- schools and transport hubs. Hill. There have been truly endous underpinning to many From this summer, the council is colossal and quite inappropriate aspects of our local life. The HCA introducing People-Friendly Street traffic increases on these roads. would like to thank him for Plans. By installing inexpensive everything, will miss him greatly, measures like bollards, planters and You can add your own comments or and wish him the very happiest of smart cameras across the borough, can endorse existing comments in retirements. they will create more space for particular places if your point of everyone to enjoy their neigh- view has already been expressed. Help us keep our bourhoods as they walk and cycle. membership list up to date. Local people know their areas best Commonplace is excellent for Let us know if you are and Islington is asking for views on showing particular problems at changing your email how to make local areas more particular junctions and in particular address or if you would like people-friendly. The interactive roads. The creation of low traffic to add a friend or ‘Commonplace’ map (in the illus- neighbourhoods will certainly ease neighbour to our list tration above) gives you a chance some of these problems by closing to comment – directly onto the map cut-through routes in residential - on problem areas you are aware areas. But it cannot analyse of near your house, dangerous broader traffic flows and Islington junctions, excessive traffic and so Council will in due course need on. The map may be accessed at work on this too, to complement the https://location-specific insights which Please contact us at islingtonpeoplefriendlystreets.comm Commonplace is generating. [email protected] onplace.is/.

Issue 115 highburycommunity.org 2 Highbury Community Association July 2020 News in Unveiling an Islington Heritage plaque to mark the childhood home of Andrea brief… Levy, novelist and chronicler of the British Caribbean experience Highbury Community Association’s AGM was cancelled By SARAH POTTER keeping their heads down in British this year. In the circumstances, the society was often the dominant simplest thing is probably to Andrea Levy, best known for her response to their new life. The continue with the current committee prizewinning novel Small Island, second speaker, Baroness Lola until the next scheduled AGM in w a s c o m m e m o r a t e d a t h e r Young, who grew up in Islington 2021. Dates will be circulated in due childhood home in Highbury by an Council care in the centre opposite course. Islington Heritage plaque, unveiled Twyford House, and who is now a on March 14th this year by her cross-bench peer, focused on Highbury Community husband Bill Mayblin. The plaque Andrea Levy’s second novel, Never Association would like to thank is at Twyford Far from No-where. This portrays those of its members who have sent House in El- two sisters donations to help the Association wood Street, growing up in stay afloat. You can donate via the where she Islington and website lived with her finding their www.highburycommunity.org or by parents until way in British sending a cheque, payable to HCA, s h e w a s s o c i e t y a s to our treasurer John Egan at 68 eighteen. young people Elfort Road, London N5 1AZ. The plaque is of the second the outcome generation of Wireless festival. The annual of a petition British Wireless Music Festival in Finsbury to Islington Caribbean Park has been cancelled for this C o u n c i l b y migrants, an year. C o u n c i l l o r S u e L u k e s w h o experience she herself shared with represents Highbury East Ward, Andrea Levy and which contributed Singing for Highbury. Ivor Game, and the Highbury Community to their friendship. Local MP Jeremy the singer/songwriter locally Association. Richard Watts, Leader Corbyn spoke on the theme of resident for many years, has written of Islington Council and the Deputy protest for social justice, and how a song celebrating Highbury which Mayor of Islington welcomed Andrea Levy served this cause he asked us to publicise. You can invitees to a ceremony in which this through her writing. Finally, her listen to it here: https:// outstanding and proud novelist’s husband spoke of her childhood at www.youtube.com/watch? achievements were celebrated, Twyford House and her character v=G0XgnECeV_Y following her death in February as he knew it in her personal life. 2019. We now have a fitting local The Estorick Collection of At the ceremony, Sue Lukes, memorial to Andrea Levy, whose Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury spokesperson on migrants on the Highbury childhood formed what Square, London N1 2AN will be re- Council, spoke vividly of Andrea she saw as the discovery of her opening on 15th July with Levy’s first novel, Every Light in the past revealed in her writing. arrangements designed to ensure House Burnin, which draws on the safe visits in the context of life of her parents, the Windrush HCA would like to thank Islington COVID-19. generation. They resembled the Council and Bill Mayblin (Andrea’s first-generation migrants in Sue husband) for organising the Lukes’ own background, for whom unveiling. Coronavirus advice from Islington Council

The council is working closely with the NHS, Public Health England and local partners to control the spread of coronavirus, keep vital services running and to help those most in need. The council is working hard to keep Islington safe ‒ please do your bit to help save lives.

To find out more, visit https://www.islington.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/coronavirus- covid-19

Issue 115 highburycommunity.org 3 Highbury Community Association July 2020 Coronavirus experiences

By CATRIONA OLIPHANT, BETH (Islington Council website). To 19th MOIR, DIANE BURRIDGE, DAVID June there were 150 deaths, of BRAINE, SUE SEARLE, SAIRA which 7-8% were deaths at home, around 23% were deaths in care BANO, CAROLINE RUSSELL homes and the rest (69%) were with GILL SHEPHERD deaths in hospital. If you want to check on numbers of deaths in the whole country, in Coronavirus losses in Highbury and Islington Islington or right around this area, this link has everything you need: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ uk-51768274

COVID-19: A big thank-you to the food shops regional veg-box delivery services Many shops, restaurants and other etc as well as some other excellent businesses had to shut in the area local shops. during the lockdown, of course, but (www.transitionhighbury.org.uk) we were very grateful to food stores, which were able to remain COVID-19: Living with lockdown open and went to great lengths to About the lockdown period itself, protect staff and customers. Many almost everyone has positive shops began local delivery services, stories to tell. We all enjoyed the such White’s the greengrocers at improvement in air quality, the blue 150 Blackstock Road (07970 skies the reduction in noise and the 509333). ‘Seasons and Blossoms’ birdsong. The emptiness of the the greengrocer and health food streets was a joy for walkers and shop at 92 Highbury Park offering a cyclists of all ages. A pair of red delivery service within one mile of kites were even seen over Finsbury It was a big shock for Highbury the shop (phone an order to 020 Park and Canonbury – a when we heard, back in early May 7159 4867). The Stroud Green spectacular bird, common in that Danny Michelson of ‘La Farmer’s Market developed a London in Shakespeare’s day, but Fromagerie’ at Highbury barn had shared website very rare here nowadays (reported died of coronavirus. His and his wife (www.themarketbarrow.com) for all in NextdoorHighbury). Patricia’s first little ‘cheese cave’ (on its farmers and users and began the other side of the road, the last Saturday local deliveries as well. shop before Highbury Fields), ‘Nourished Commun- acquired in 1992, was a revelation. ities’ (www.nourishedcommunities.c The business grew and Danny om) sell local produce that was became a spirited campaigner for once destined for farmers mar-kets the Highbury barn shops, eventually and restaurants, and will deliver chairing the Traders’ Association. locally once a week on Sundays. He will be much missed. Other sad Local shops which had al-ways Red kite deaths were that of one of the delivered, such as Godfrey’s the founders of the Park Theatre at butcher’s (https://www.godfreys.co) Finsbury Park, Jeremy Bond, and of and Bourne’s the fishmonger People commented that lockdown Wally Burgess, a one-time Islington (www.bournesfish.com) of course generated a tremendously strong councillor. continued to do so, and some sense of community. Shopkeepers shops began kind informal personal and customers greeted one another But in general COVID-19 has hit deliveries to shielding or elderly through their masks, glad to see Islington less hard than many other customers. Several pharmacies that each was well. ‘Clap for carers’ parts of London. As of 26th June the offered this service (De Peare’s at created warmth and solidarity borough has the lowest rate of Highbury Barn, Hornsey Road among neighbours - and some cases of any borough in London at P h a r m a c y ) a s d i d L o n d i s . laughter at the pots, pans, whistles only 226 per 100,000 people Transition Highbury list national or and didgeridoos being played.

Issue 115 highburycommunity.org 4 Highbury Community Association July 2020 Coronavirus experiences, continued

charity looking after people of any age who are self-isolating. (https:// northlondoncares.org.uk/) They have been a lifeline to us and everyone who is a member’.

Other charities have made a difference too. ‘Wizzie-Wizzie’, (www.wizziewizzie.org) a coding club for 8 to 14-year-olds meeting in Elizabeth House, has donated over 60 computers to families and individuals in need of support during the Covid-19 crisis. They have also donated computers to a local primary school.

COVID-19: some positive longer- term outcomes Finally, though travel to central London remains challenging, some positive changes to the way in which we use our local streets is coming about as a result of Covid-19. The London Mayor and the Government are giving money for councils to make three transport interventions: pop-up bike lanes,

Photo: Courtesy of Julian MorganPhoto: Courtesy of Julian space for social distancing on Some children chalked ‘Welcome’ shopping streets, and low traffic and ‘I love the park’ at the entrance neighbourhoods to prevent local to Gillespie park. A ‘happiness tree’ streets from being used as rat runs. was set up in Monsell Road outside The aim is to enable everyone to the ‘Deepdale’ block of flats by walk or cycle for local journeys and three residents. It is decorated with to leave limited road space for message-discs saying ‘Stay safe’, disabled drivers, deliveries, buses ‘NHS’, ‘Peace’, ‘Be happy’ and so and emergency services.

on, and there are blank discs available for any passer-by to add their own message. One of our members wrote: ‘the lockdown for my mum (96) and me has been a surprisingly positive experience. I have had time to talk to and have ‘socially-distanced’ meetings with friends I haven’t spoken to in five years. Mum and I have connected to people through Highbury Barn with Zoom get-togethers organised by pavement widened the fabulous North London Cares, a

Issue 115 highburycommunity.org 5 Highbury Community Association July 2020 Residents call for action on Blackstock Road disturbances

By DIANE BURRIDGE •Squabbles turn into heated •Increase the targeting of drug arguments and then physical dealers and other criminals After three police officers were fights. The police say they don’t •Review the CCTV coverage injured in a fight in Blackstock have enough staff and that they and quality in the area Road in May, local residents and are doing their best. •Identify and take action on businesses have called on those premises believed to be police to do more to stop street The boroughs of Islington, contributing to the issues drug dealing and other anti- Hackney and Haringey have •U n d e r t a k e c o m m u n i t y social behaviour. Residents recently agreed a Blackstock engagement with those groups have told us: Road Improvement Plan, as part gathering and those affected, of the Finsbury Park Strategy including setting up an Algerian • It’s frustrating to watch these which will: Community Network people being arrested, but then •Conduct an Environmental •Explore how voluntary and see them back on the streets the Visual Audit and follow up community groups in the area next day. There are groups of actions can help - for example: reporting young men obstructing the •Re-allocate motorcycle bays to anti-social behaviour, and being pavement, harassing people and support moped delivery drivers involved in Police Ward Panels causing perpetual disturbances. •Utilise section 106 money and •The smell of drugs in front of other funding streams to invest The Highbury Community the library and college is in this area Association will press local persistent, and we have to •Use the Blackstock Road councillors for updates on the expose our children to this on P o l i c e b a s e f o r t h e progress of these action plans, Neighbourhood Police Team the way home from school. and continue to attend relevant meetings.

Issue 115 highburycommunity.org 6 Highbury Community Association July 2020 Islington’s biodiversity action plan 2020-25

By DIANE BURRIDGE at about seven per year, despite 6.Traffic Management Schemes- many HCA requests: so we are are there any plans to green these, Islington Council is consulting on a actually losing, not increasing tree as many countries do? Biodiversity Action Plan 2020 to cover. There seems to be no pro- 2025, asking for responses by 31 active work going on to attract extra As always, it is easy to have July 2020. Four key areas for funding for trees (and when an HCA policies and targets – but they are action are: the built environment, member offered to pay for a tree, worthless unless implemented. designated sites, parks and urban we were told that it would cost If you wish to respond to this green spaces, and access to £500!). document, the deadline is 31 July nature. The link between 2020: https://www.islington.gov.uk/ biodiversity, health and social well- 3.Maintenance of street trees - too consultations/2020/biodiversity- being is highlighted, recognising many trees die in their first year for action-plan that the natural environment lack of watering. provides a wide range of ecosystem Contractors’ work services. The Council aims for the should be monitored borough to be net-zero carbon by more. 2030, building on the Islington Transport Strategy (2019-2041) and 4.Play areas – All the Air Quality Strategy new developments (2019-2023). should have ’kickabout’/play In the borough there are three areas for young statutory Local Nature Reserves people and children. (Gillespie Park, Barnsbury Wood Housing at the new and the Parkland Walk) and 64 Arsenal Stadium Sites of Importance for Nature and City North Highbury Fields, Summer 2019 Conservation (SINC), as well as developments make three sites of Metropolitan completely Importance (Gillespie Park, the inadequate Parkland Walk and the Regent’s provision for this. Canal). 5.Rainwater - We Highbury Community Association need to encourage responded to the Plan with some people not to clear and measurable action points. concrete over their It also noted the following: front gardens. The Council should 1.Barbecues - allowing these in our encourage people precious green spaces contradicts to use permeable too many sections of the document, surfaces such including the Air Quality Strategy gravel or pierced and those highlighting the paving stones. Highbury Fields, May 2020 importance of green spaces for our health. Advertise in HCA News 2.Street Trees - it is admirable that there is a target to increase tree We have no advertisements in this edition of the newsletter, but canopy from 25% to 30% by 2050. expect to have them again from the next edition. But over 40 trees have been lost locally (in the area bordered by The HCA charges a very reasonable £50 per advert for three Drayton Park, Aubert Park, issues, and £20 per advert for a single issue. We will include one charity advert per edition free of charge. Blackstock Road and Seven Sisters Road) in the past few years. There is only the money to replace these Email [email protected] for details

Issue 115 highburycommunity.org 7 Highbury Community Association July 2020 Book review: ’Homeward Bound’ by Richard Smith

By GILL SHEPHERD old dog, if he has someone to keep boyfriend are offered a major an eye on him. musical break, we learn why Richard Smith, a retired producer of It becomes clear that George was George’s ambitions were thwarted, documentaries and commercials once a serious musician - playing in and an unexpected secure future and a Highbury resident, published sessions with some of the rock opens up for him and his record his first novel this year. This greats whose records he keeps – collection. immensely likeable and readable but had never reached break- The characters are vivid and the book contains themes that must through. Slowly he begins to plot holds you tight. The book is ring true for many British families. A engage with Tara and her boyfriend laced through with musical ref- 79-year-old Londoner, newly a whose musical tastes are very erences which you will get widower and unused to looking after different from his. He plays them effortlessly if, like George and the himself, is on the brink of being some of ‘his’ music and listens to author you are a ‘60s kid now in frogmarched into an old people’s theirs especially when he discovers your 70s. But many of them are home by his daughter’s irritable that Tara sings beautifully. such classics that you will know husband. The possessions of a A late-in-the-day – and unbelievably them anyway whatever your age. lifetime, including a massive vinyl dodgy-sounding - offer to make a Richard Smith has organised a collection, at risk of being got rid of recording and relive those earlier complete playlist of all the music so that the house can be sold. dreams creates a drama which referred to in the novel, which can A stay of execution presents itself in turns the family inside out. Who is be found via his blog, or directly on t h e f o r m o f G e o r g e ’ s gradually stealing the more valuable Spotify. granddaughter, about to start items from George’s record https://richardsmithwrites.com/ university in London. Tara needs collection? Who even knows which 2020/01/24/the-music-of-the-book/ somewhere to stay. George can are the valuable items? In a tour- https://open.spotify.com/playlist/ remain in his own home, with his de-force dénouement, Tara and her 4iU4vEwuGFmegaSyJ9cwSZ

Issue 115 highburycommunity.org 8 Highbury Community Association July 2020 Book review: ’Tribes, how the need to belong can make or break the good society’ by David Lammy MP

By SARAH POTTER

David Lammy, born at the Whittington Hospital in Islington and now M.P. for Tottenham, explores what he identifies as the ‘new tribalism’ in his book. The tribes he identifies are formed by white extremism, fundamentalist religion, populist nationalism, urban gangs and warring factions in mainstream politics. He sees the roots of this divisive tribalism as growing from the decline of local groups and organisations, the rise of precarious employment, growing isolation and social media which foster polarised opinions. He lays out a route-map towards a civic society in which ‘tribal’ forms of belonging give way to communities, and to devolved nations with a common purpose.

For Lammy, restoring trust and cohesion in local neighbourhoods will involve restoring the massive cuts to local services which once assembly for England to define provided housing, education, youth English values and make policy services, transport and training, recommendations, creating a reversing the growing control of balance with the parliaments of central government and restoring Scotland, Northern Ireland and more local government autonomy. Wales.

But also, he argues, a cultural Lammy’s book is vividly written from change is needed to create his own experience of community in ‘communities that bring people his British Caribbean family together’ to halt the decline in social background, and then his education mixing. Thus, spaces are needed at the King’s Cathedral School in where activities can go on like Peterborough where he learnt his evening education and new Englishness in a provincial setting. technology learning, singing groups, His sense of the importance of board-game evenings, food people’s local communities and the assemblies, language classes. ways in which people ‘are weaving Another idea is local constitutional social bonds in tough conventions where citizens decide circumstances’ is admirable. But what the values and aims should be there is much work ahead if a real for their particular area. At a higher shift to the empowering of local level, Lammy proposes that a new communities for the common good civic Britain should have a citizens’ is to occur.

Issue 115 highburycommunity.org 9 Highbury Community Association July 2020 Help us keep our membership list up children, unsurprisingly (Daily Mirror 26th May). to date. Let us know if you are changing your email address or if you In our own area, the food bank that used to be run by the Trussell Trust would like to add a friend or at the Roundhouse has had to neighbour to our list close, even though it was receiving a fast-growing number of referrals of people on Universal Credit even Please contact us at [email protected] before Covid-19 it. Two alternative food banks now exist and are ready HCA News | Issue 115 | July 2020 to receive our gifts: Saint Joan of © HCA 2020 | Editor: Gill Shepherd | Published by the HCA Arc church at the top of Aubert Park (in the church porch) and one in the Sobell Leisure Centre. Those in Use of foodbanks during lockdown need locally have been referred on increases by 325% to one or other of these. If you find physically purchasing Food banks saw demand soar by which showed that 67% are now and donating food items difficult, up to 325% during the lockdown. dependent as a result of corona- there is an easier way. The Trussell Some of the hardest hit cities virus, or underlying health and Trust welcomes one-off donations include London, Bristol, Bourne- disability issues. Some had lost and direct debit payments and the mouth and Sheffield. The Trussell their job or were facing eviction, and money is used entirely to buy Trust (the main supplier of Food 20% were over the age of 70. At appropriate items to stock food Banks in the UK) collected data least half of those affected are banks with. www.trusselltrust.org.

Issue 115 highburycommunity.org 10