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Islington Gazette •

Terror attack anniversary brings calls for action on Islamophobia

Makram Ali – a 51-year-old husband, father and grandfather – was murdered when terrorist Darren Osborne drove a van into worshippers outside the Muslim Welfare House in Seven Sisters Road on June 19, 2017.

His family, members of Islington Council and faith leaders gathered at Finsbury Park Mosque on Sunday [June 19], marking five years since the attack, in which 12 other people were injured.

Ruzina Akhtar, Makram’s daughter, told those at the service: “Our dad was first and foremost one...
South East Londoner •

Charity provides free drama sessions for older adults in sheltered housing

A charity in south east London is providing free drama sessions for older adults living in sheltered housing in an effort to reduce loneliness.


London Bubble Theatre holds its Tea Break Theatre sessions throughout the week in the lounges of sheltered housing and at its headquarters in Southwark. 


The classes, which are for people aged 55 and over, begin with the participants having a conversation over tea and biscuits before moving on to drama games and developing their acting skills.


L...
South West Londoner •

Streatham boxer Chris Bourke determined to make his 2022 punch perfect

Undefeated Streatham super bantamweight Chris Bourke wants to capture more belts in 2022, following a difficult year.
Injuries have meant Bourke, 10-0 in the professional ranks with six knockouts, has only been able to box once this year, outpointing James Beech Jr in July.
The WBC International Champion and Southern Area title holder was set to headline at York Hall on 12 November but had to withdraw after a positive COVID-19 test.
Bourke, 27, said: “It was gutting, especially with the ten days...
South West Londoner •

Innovating Industries - Episode 2: Restaurants

Have you ever wanted to know what goes on behind the scenes of some of the UK’s leading industries?
The Innovating Industries podcast explores exactly that, plunging into the troubles they face, their current achievements and finally their next steps.
In this three part series, we focus on three sectors that are trying to overcome their failings in sustainability, speaking to multiple professionals at the forefront as well as people with outside perspectives, to hear what’s changing and what t...

What is being done to get more women into chess?

The Women in Chess Foundation is a non-profit organisation set up last year after Women’s Grandmaster Jennifer Shahade and eight other female chess players accused Grandmaster Alejandro Ramirez of sexual assault. Ramirez is currently being investigated by the United States Chess Federation, the national governing body for chess in the US.
The Foundation aims to create a safer and more inclusive environment for women at chess tournaments, while promoting women's chess to furt...
South West Londoner •

Library usage in Wandsworth returning to pre-pandemic level

Library usage in Wandsworth is returning to its pre-pandemic level, data from a Freedom of Information request shows. 
In the first ten months of 2022, 1,151,178 items were borrowed from the south west London borough’s libraries, up from 747,524 in 2020 when Covid-19 swept the globe.
This number will rise to 1,381,413 if borrowing rates remain the same for the final two months of the year, a 21% increase from 2021.
The libraries are overseen by social enterprise Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) i...
North West Londoner •

Top five vegan restaurants in Islington

Islington’s trendy high streets are lined with vegan restaurants, providing everything from traditional Ethiopian cuisine to meat-free twists on your favourite classics.


To help you narrow down the options, here are the top five vegan eateries the borough has to offer. 


Whatever your dietary preferences, Tofu Vegan’s completely plant-based menu is sure to satisfy your Asian food cravings.


Located on busy Upper Street, they offer a range of hot dishes, dim sum and starters, taking pride...
Islington Gazette •

Islington marchers call for reform to UK voting system

They were among hundreds that marched in support of proportional representation on Saturday, June 11 as part of an event organised by campaign group Make Votes Matter.

The event, inspired by the Great Pilgrimage made by women’s suffrage campaigners in 1913, saw campaigners from all over the country walk along six different routes to converge in London.

Barry Edwards, an Islington resident who attended the protest, said: “My thanks to everyone who took part in the events across the countr...
Islington Gazette •

Legendary Clerkenwell hairdresser Fuat closes The Avenue after 50 years

Fuat Fuat, 50, closed The Avenue Hair Salon on May 24 after its lease expired and he was unable to negotiate a tenable rental agreement with the site’s landlord.

He had worked at the salon for more than 30 years, taking it over from his father Hassan.

Fuat said: “Closing The Avenue Hair Salon wasn’t an easy decision for me to make.

“It was hard to let the salon go because of its history and part of me felt like I was letting my family down but I know my dad would’ve told me that it’s...
North West Londoner •

Islington Labour leader happy with victory as Greens also make gains

Islington Labour leader Kaya Comer-Schwartz attributed her party’s ‘landslide victory’ to ‘hard work’ after it lost only three of 51 seats to retain a majority. 


Labour won seats in every ward of the borough apart from Highbury, which saw the Greens take a clean sweep.


Cllr Comer-Schwartz, who was re-elected to the Junction ward, took to the stage after her party’s win to thank voters. 


She said: “We have won a fourth landslide victory, something that has only happened in this borough o...