Labour MP Emily Thornberry says Cally has a great community spirit

In an article for this week’s Islington Gazette, our Member of Parliament writes: “Earlier this month, I visited Caledonian Pharmacy for my winter flu vaccine. I was treated to a mental and physical health check, a lesson on the benefits of Vitamin D—and given a freshly baked Irish barm cake.

“For those of you who have had the pleasure of being served by James O’Brien at Sunflour Bakery, it will not surprise you that he caught wind of my visit and brought me a warm loaf.

“That everyday generosity is a classic Caledonian Road story.

“Many of you will know James O’Brien’s son, Paul, who is co-chair of Cally Traders alongside Neil, who runs Caledonian Pharmacy.

“The Cally Traders do a fantastic job representing the shopkeepers of Caledonian Road. They bring together Cally business leaders; promote local businesses with their ‘loCally’ loyalty card; and they run brilliant annual community events like the Cally Festival in Jul

“Only on the Cally are there Ethiopian hairdressers and organic shops, Chinese supermarkets and swanky bars and a restaurant representing just about every community in Islington. I tried to list all the cuisines represented on Cally Road – I gave up at about 10. Cally Road provides shops and services for everybody.

“Of course, the Cally has its challenges. Last year, I met with shopworkers at the Co-Op who shared with me the fear they faced at work every day due to the rise in organised shoplifting. We hear frequently about the terrible state of HMP Pentonville, and too many young lives have been lost or harmed by gangs in the area.

“But somehow, as King’s Cross has been redeveloped, as house prices have risen, as families have moved away from Central London, the Cally keeps going. And I truly believe that it always will.

“We owe that to our shopkeepers; community leaders; Councillors Hyde, O’Halloran and Convery; and to everyone who spends their money locally on the Cally Road. On the initiative of Islington Trades Union Council and our Cally councillors, the Tolpuddle Martyrs memorial on Copenhagen Street was recently restored.

“Depicting a march on Parliament which secured the release of trade unionists threatened with ‘transportation’, it was an important milestone in the trade union movement in Britain. That collective spirit that I see in the Cally community inspires me as your MP to fight for the rights of workers and small business owners alike, and as the new Labour government are doing nationally with our New Deal for Working People.

“So I encourage you all to go out, get your flu jab, and take advantage of the privilege we have of living near Cally Road.”