Archive for December, 2008
29 December, 2008 at 7:31 pm
· Filed under Going green, Neighbourhood ·Tagged Barnard Park, Barnsbury, Bunhill, Bunhill Fields, Elthorne Park, parks
The Mayor of London has put forward extra funding for ten London parks, and it’s down to Londoners to vote for which ones we want to benefit. Islington has three parks on the list – but you only get one vote.
I’m voting for Barnard Park in Barnsbury. It was my local park when I lived on Hemingford Road. Created out a postwar bombsite, it’s home to football pitches, an under 5s group and the adventure playground as well as lots of greenspace. It’s also had problems with anti-social behaviour and vandalism. Local people have wanted to improve it for years, and the Council’s been working with community groups to come up with a masterplan – but it needs funding. Some money has come in from Thames Water, as compensation for their ring main works which saw some of the grass and paths relaid. There was also some income from the development of the old depot site alongside the park – a brownfield site used for housing. But now there’s a chance to get even more investment via this initiative. It’s a fantastic chance to fund the community plans, so well worth a vote.
Bunhill Fields in Finsbury is opposite the site where my Grandpa Ansell (dad’s dad) lived and worked. It’s a unique historic burial yard, attracting visitors from all over the world in pilgrimage to the graves of William Blake, John Bunyan and Daniel Defoe. They were all non-conformists, denied burial in consecrated churchyards, or preferring to be buried elsewhere. Bunhill Fields – a corruption of the word ‘bone hill’ – just outside the city of London boundary, was the ideal spot. Now it’s sandwiched between two historic chapels – Wesley’s Chapel on City Road and the Quaker Meeting House off Bunhill Row. It’s also a lovely oasis from the City bustle, and actually maintained by the Corporation of London.
At the other end of Islington is Elthorne Park at Archway. At one end of St John’s Way, it’s an island site and feels larger than it looks from the outside. In the middle of the park is the peace garden, dedicated to the memory of Nobel prize winner, Philip Noel-Baker. Appropriately, given Noel-Baker’s involvement in sport, Elthorne Park is also home to a boxing club, pitches and a trim trail. Earlier this year, the local councillors unveiled the improved pitch, but there’s more improvements that local people would like to see, including a new wildlife garden. That would fit well with the work of Sunnyside Gardens, an organic community garden just across the road.
Whichever you prefer, do vote for an Islington park! Full details on how to vote are here, and you have until 30 January to make your mind up…..
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28 December, 2008 at 3:35 pm
· Filed under Church & faith, Language ·Tagged Christmas, poetry, U A Fanthorpe
I led the prayers in church today and decided to open with this poem by U. A. Fanthorpe:
What the donkey saw
No room in the inn, of course,
And not that much in the stable
What with the shepherds, Magi, Mary,
Joseph, the heavenly host –
Not to mention the baby
Using our manger as a cot.
You couldn’t have squeezed another cherub in
For love or money.
Still, in spite of the overcrowding,
I did my best to make them feel wanted.
I could see the baby and I
Would be going places together.
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21 December, 2008 at 8:06 pm
· Filed under Campaigns ·Tagged ID cards, NO2ID
Today I hurried straight from church to join the local NO2ID team at our streetstall at the Angel. Despite the windy weather (never have ‘flyers’ been better named) and the lure of last minute Christmas shopping, we had a lot of interest from passers by. Perhaps unsurprising as the latest opinion polls show that opposition to ID cards is growing fast.
One of the arguments people give in favour of ID cards is that the innocent have nothing to fear. (Try telling that to Colin Stagg). The implication that big organisations, the government, the police or local councils never make mistakes strikes me as a little over-optimistic, to say the least.
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20 December, 2008 at 10:11 am
· Filed under Campaigns ·Tagged Christmas, Islington, Islington Council, recycling
Islington’s holiday refuse collection and recycling dates are available online.
The Council website also has details of how to get your Christmas tree recycled.
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19 December, 2008 at 10:11 am
· Filed under Campaigns ·Tagged NO2ID
Look out for the local NO2ID campaign stall near Angel tube on Sunday afternoon (21st Dec). I’ll be dropping by to support the local team.
And if you’re not out and about, you can still see the campaign video on YouTube.
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18 December, 2008 at 10:09 pm
· Filed under Neighbourhood ·Tagged Chesham
I was in Chesham for work yesterday and met up with my parents for lunch.
We walked through the pedestrianised town centre, past the midweek market stalls. We could hear music coming from the other end of the market, but because of the stalls and the Christmas shopping crowds, we couldn’t see where it was coming from. It sounded like some kind of folk music, but not familiar.
When we got to the far end of the market we saw them, between the war memorial and the coffee shop: a troupe of musicians dressed as native Americans – north Americans not ersatz Incas – complete with feather headresses and face paint, dancing and playing their pipes. The last thing we were expecting to see in Chesham.
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18 December, 2008 at 8:37 pm
· Filed under Campaigns ·Tagged Emily Thornberry, Heathrow
The headlines today include the news that 40 Labour MPs have signed the Early Day Motion tabled by Martin Salter MP, calling for a Commons vote on any third runway at Heathrow.
Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has already said he’s not planning to offer a vote, so it’s slightly rebellious to sign the EDM. But that shouldn’t deter MPs who really care about the environment, or have constituents affected by Heathrow expansion.
However one name you won’t find on the list is Islington South & Finsbury MP Emily Thornberry. It’s disappointing but not a surprise. After all, Ms Thornberry has a record of failing to back up her rhetoric with action – she failed to vote with rebels on post offices, council housing and a string of other issues where Islington interests were at stake.
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18 December, 2008 at 7:15 pm
· Filed under Family & friends ·Tagged Christmas, church, Islington, Percy, shopping
As the ad says, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.
The postman is bringing real post not just junkmail. Quiet houses are suddenly covered in festive lights – like 2 Rocliffe Street which is brightening its corner near the canal. So are Islington’s shopping streets, thanks to the Council: blue lights for a cool Yule.
The Christmas party season is in full swing. On Sunday night we celebrated after a happy carol service with drinks in the Crypt at St Mary’s. Last night was Islington Lib Dems mince pies & mulled wine do. And there’s still my work party to come. Will we make it to Christmas Day?
Richard wrestled his way home with the tree last weekend, and Percy has been getting used to this strange arrival in the living room. We have to wait until he’s stopped trying to climb the tree before we can decorate it….
There’s still some presents to buy, final cards to write, and holiday food to organise. Not to mention negotiating the logistics of who’s travelling where and when. But with a week to go, and a Ceremony of Carols on the radio, celebration is starting to take over from stress.
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18 December, 2008 at 12:10 pm
· Filed under Local history ·Tagged Clerkenwell, crackers
Did you know that Christmas crackers were developed in Clerkenwell?
Read more about Tom Smith of Goswell Road and his Christmas novelties here. His name still lives on in the company, who make crackers for the Royal family, among others.
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