This year’s Cally Festival was another fantastic day for our community. On Sunday 6th July, over 10,000 people came to celebrate “The Cally” – a distinctive place with a strong sense of community and renewed optimism. Now into its 15th year, the Festival has become the largest community event in Islington.
We closed a stretch of Caledonian Road from Offord Rd to Cally Pool to accommodate the festival. We had 3 music stages, performance areas, numerous activities for children and young people, sports, arts and crafts and a large street market. This year, all the traders were local businesses from the Cally and nearby in Islington.
Local Councillors were there all day on a stall near Bridgeman Road meeting residents, listening, talking and spotlighting our campaign alongside BetKnowMore to stop betting shops and 24 hr slots shops on high streets like Cally.
Speaking on the main stage with local Cllrs, the Leader of Islington and MP Emily Thornberry, we had pride of place for this year’s Mayor of Islington, Cllr Jason Jackson. He said: “In a time of increasing division and conflict across the world, what we have in Cally is all about different people getting on, living together in harmony.”
The Caledonian Ward Councillors, Una O’Halloran, Sarah Hyde and Paul Convery, are the ‘custodians’ of the Festival.
Cally Councillor and Leader of the Council, Una O’ Halloran, said: “We are proud to ensure the Cally Festival happens every year and is run to an amazing standard by our production team and accountable body, Copenhagen Youth Project. In Cally we’re a community that’s pulling together. The Festival saw thousands of local people enjoying the best we have to offer in Cally.“
Cllr Sara Hyde added “A huge number of people and organisations contributed to this year’s Festival. I particularly want to thank the scores of volunteers who helped alongside the many Council staff from the highways, refuse, licensing, community development and local economy teams. We could not run the Festival without its production team of Joana, Russell and Simon led by Barry Causton, and the support of the accountable body, Copenhagen Youth Project. We are so lucky in Cally to have a wonderful community group, the Al-Asharaf Community Welfare Association, who cooked over 300 hot meals at the Jean Stokes Centre serving all the festival performers and volunteers. Sandwiches were also kindly provided by Sunflour Bakery.”
If you attended the Festival, please let the organisers know what you thought. This will help plan for the next year’s festival which will be held on Sunday 5th July 2026. There’s a simple online survey of just 9 questions that takes about 45 seconds to complete. It’s at: http://thecallyfestival.co.uk/survey
The Cally Festival is financially supported by Islington Council and other sponsors. Income and expenditure is published in the Festival’s most recent annual evaluation report.
Here’s a gallery of pictures showing the great diversity of culture, science, dance, play, food and exercise showcased by the Cally Festival (main credit: Susannah Fields and others).
Cally gets a big boost from pavement renewals
Pavements and side streets throughout Cally are being upgraded as part of the Cally Liveable Neighbourhood project. In Cally, ward Councillors have decided to make pavements and walking space the main priority of our “Liveable Neighbourhood” plan.
On the east side of the High Street we are already fixing a notorious section of pavement which has been collapsing for many years. Between Bridgeman Rd and Richmonmd Avenue, most of the pavement width is not actually public highway but is private land. New drainage has been installed and the public highway has been re-paved along with repairs to some sections of private land where necessary.
By 5th July, these works will be paused outside 312 Caledonian Rd and the work site vacated for the Cally Festival on 6th July. Most of the bollards which line the kerb have been kept (and repainted) because these prevent illegal parking on the wide pavement. Vehicle parking is the main reason why so many of the undercrofts have collapsed in recent years.
Work to properly pedestrianise Freeling Street at its Caledonian Rd junction has been underway for some weeks. The main construction work is almost finished (see below) and will complete just in time for the Cally Festival on 6th July. Some of the area has a temporary hardcore surface ahead of the Cally Festival. New bollards will then be positioned on Carnoustie Drive to make a safe walking route from Caledonian Rd, through Freeling Street into the Bemerton estate. Then, in late Summer, bushes and trees will be planted in the hardcore covered areas.
Construction work has also finished at the Pembroke Street entrance into Bingfield Park at Freeling Street (West)’s junction with Pembroke Street. There is now a widened pavement and an area ready for planting alongside the Crumbles Adventure Playground building (once known as Sparkplug). Bingfield Park has had a major upgrade in the past 18 months and is now very popular and busy with children and families.
The Cally Liveable Neighbourhood investment plan contains a number of other projects which will begin soon. See here for details of the other schemes in the area. These include complete redesign of the other three entrances into Bingfield Park; installing a cycle path from Caledonian Rd to York Way; and finally fully pedestrianising Tilloch Street and Story Street. The plan includes a possible traffic “filter” on Blundell Street but htis has been put on hold for a while; and turning York Way Gardens into a pleasant park with better facilities for businesses operating there.
Cally Councillor Paul Convery says “The Cally Liveable Neighbourhood has taken a lot of thinking and listening through public consultations and we’ve come up with improvements that will make Cally safer and easier to walk. When we asked residents what they thought, a large majority said ‘fix the pavements’ and we agreed. The scheme finally properly pedestrianises the three “stub” streets off Cally Rd, will take cyclists off pavements and really make Bingfield Park a landmark place especially for children and families. There will be more projects in the pipeline too as we bring new public and private investment into the neighbourhood.”
The “Zen Bus” comes to Cally on 12th May
The Zen Project is bringing its big yellow bus to Cally on Monday 12th May. The visit of the Zen Bus coincides with the start of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025. The Zen Project helps communities with improved mental wellbeing at a time when so many places have experienced a general worsening of stress and anxiety.
The Bus will be on Carnoustie Drive (outside Bemerton Children’s Centre and the Jean Stokes Community Centre) from 9am to 4pm on Monday 12th May. The bus is visiting Cally with the help of developer Delancey, the company that will soon begin constructing a science and technology centre on York Way.
Cllr Paul Convery says: “Zen Bus sounds a bit zany but this is a serious business. Cost of living pressures continue to cause stress to so many people and we’re all still recovering from the aftermath of the Covid global pandemic. The Zen Bus is just one of many new initiatives underway and planned in Cally to help people de-stress, help us with more positive outlook and ease anxieties. The Zen Project is one of many groups helping with simple tips and techniques to support our mental wellbeing.”
The Zen Project is a social enterprise, offering a range of wellbeing event services and mental health support. They are on a mission to offer a mobile sanctuary, bringing the benefits of our Zen Sessions (a range of simple activities to improve mental health. See their Instagram pages here.
Parks in Cally will continue to be securely locked at night
Islington Council has announced it will continue to securely lock parks and gardens at night. Following public consultation, Councillors have dropped a risky plan that would have left parks unlocked throughout the night.
Of the parks and open spaces in our neighbourhood, the following were on the list to be left unlocked: Caledonian Park, Grimaldi Park, Thornhill Bridge Garden and Thornhill Crescent.
The decision means that, each evening, there will continue to be a security sweep and locking of these parks.
The Council had consulted on a plan to stop locking parks every evening and leave them open all night. Over 1,700 people responded to the consultation, and the overwhelming majority said no.
Cllr Paul Convery comments: “The Council has had to find £14 million of savings this year to make our budget balance. But the parks proposal represented less than 1% of that £14 million package. It was a high risk, high impact proposal that saved very little money. Decisions in Islington are made by Councillors and we have decided the saving must be found elsewhere in the budget. This was always a risky proposal and we wanted to check what residents thought. We listened to what 1,700 people said.”
Islington has 122 parks and gardens of which 92 have gates which can be locked. In 2015 the Council decided to keep 50 of these parks locked at night. All of these will now continue to be locked.
Jean’s Café: a new community-run cafe opens in the heart of Cally
Two hundred Cally residents, community partners and volunteers attended the opening (and first servings) at a new community cafe in the heart of the Cally. With a newly refurbished kitchen, Jean’s Café is at the busy Jean Stokes Community Centre on the Bemerton estate. Local chefs prepare tasty, nutritious midday meals each Friday at very low cost thanks to surplus ingredients donated by local businesses and supermarkets.
A wide range of other activities are also planned including a sustainable eating schools programme, community growing scheme, food re-distribution and training for local chefs. The aim is to provide access to healthy and affordable meals, reduce food waste and tackle local food inequality.
Attending the event were the three Caledonian ward Councillors: Una O’Halloran (Leader of the Council), Sara Hyde and Paul Convery. Speaking at the launch, Paul said “we are so pleased to bring-back a community lunch facility to the Cally serving great meals to many of our community who have low incomes and sometime struggle to get a decent dinner. The Council is helping to financially support Jean’s Cafe and has made a sizeable investment to provide a top quality, industry-standard kitchen at the community centre. We’re in the heart of a working class neighbourhood that has a proud tradition of helping each other out. Despite some hard times, we’re a community that’s pulling together. Like the centre itself, Jean’s cafe is named in memory of Jean Stokes, one of the Cally’s first community heroes who did so much for the neighbourhood. At the launch event we were honoured to have members of Jean’s family present.“
Jean’s Café opened on Friday 21st February with food prepared by a team of local residents led by Community Chef, Vaida Filmanaviciute, and volunteers from Al-Asharaf Community Welfare Association led by Mana Abbas. The organisational work setting up the Cafe and its launch was undertaken by Council staff including Hannah Brook and Marie Morgan-Lloyd who lead on community development in the Cally, and Florrie Cole who works with businesses in the Cally. The cafe is also supported by the Manor Gardens Centre with Elliot Farnsworth as project manager.
Also attending the launch was the Council’s Chief Executive pictured here with Paul Convery, Sara Hyde and Una O’Halloran, Leader of the Council.
Jean’s Cafe is continuing to recruit volunteers who can prepare and cook food; welcome and serve; and help to continue organising surplus food donations. For further information contact elliot@manorgardenscentre.org
For more news and information, follow Jean’s Cafe on Instagram: jeans.cafe.cally or on Facebook: jeanscafe
Community pays its tribute to Jean Willson: a “remarkable woman in the field of learning disabilities advocacy”
More than a hundred people attended the funeral on Friday 10th January of Jean Willson, a renowned community activist who died in early December, aged 82. The service at St Lukes Church on Hillmarton Road was led by Rev Paul Adlington with friends, family and colleagues paying tribute to Jean’s exceptional life. Dozens also followed the service by online video stream.
Jean died asleep in her own bed after an evening out viewing the Christmas lights in London’s West End. Her husband Norman and daughter Tara had written that Jean “had been in hospital for a week late October but came out and was rallying round. Her wish was to pass away peacefully in her own bed in her own house. This she accomplished. Jean was a true organiser to the end. Her wishes were for a full and colourful service at St Lukes with all her family, friends and anyone that knew her.” Tara and Norman have also spoken movingly of the “wonderful help of St Lukes congregation, neighbours and friends” following Jean’s passing.
True to her famously colourful appearance and life outlook, her coffin was bright crimson. There will be a private cremation on Monday 13th January.
Former Islington Councillor, Carol O’Brien, spoke of Jean’s early struggles and campaigns as the mother of a severely disabled daughter, Victoria, who pre-deceased her by 14 years. Carol recalled Jean’s “infectious laugh, bright colours, her down to earth approach to life and her friendship”. She paid tribute to Tara and Norman who was “her rock and comfort”.
Dave Tomlinson, formerly a Minister at St Lukes, spoke warmly of Jean’s personality and her faith: “churches only thrive by action and Jean had that in spades; faith is ultimately about concern for others, she had goodness, passion and kindness and Jean had that ‘spiritual intelligence'”. Other speakers described her as a “formidable and fierce campaigner … always practical and well versed in tactics … feisty, articulate, always well informed, she was a crusader for change”.
Jean’s daughter, Tara, said: “mum was of humble working class origins in Islington, she had more chutzpah than anyone I’ve met, she was a prolific reader but her family couldn’t send her to university.” Jean became a qualified social worker but never moved from her roots and community. Born in Islington during the war, she lived on Cornelia Street and was proud to say she had never moved anywhere outside the same 300 yards in her whole life. Norman and Jean were a devoted couple who married in 1963.
She has been a prolific campaigner and writer, making films and speaking at conferences – giving a voice for many and improving the lives for children and people with learning disabilities. In 1995, she co-authored with Carol O’Brien and Pat Fitton “Home at Last” a book recounting the challenges of people living independently alongside 24 hr care and support. Her most recent work with NHS England, after the death of Victoria, was to improve the End-of-Life experience for those with learning disabilities.
Her community activism started in 1968. With support of other parents, Jean helped establish the Martin Luther King adventure playground which still flourishes today adjacent to Paradise Park and the Freightliners City Farm.
Jean was voted a Woman of the Year in 2010 and awarded an MBE the following year.
Tracy Seymour, acting CEO of Centre 404, has said that Jean was a “remarkable figure in the field of learning disabilities advocacy” having been the long-serving Chair and President of the organisation. Her journey with Centre 404 had spanned over five decades, during which she profoundly transformed the lives of countless individuals with learning disabilities and their families.
Tracey has recounted how Jean, in the 1970s as a young parent carer, sought support for her daughter, Victoria: “Her initial connection to the charity, borne out of her own challenges and experiences, marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to advocacy, fundraising and community building. Over the years, Jean became a cornerstone of Centre 404, serving in various roles as a volunteer, advocate, and campaigner, before ascending to the role of Chair and later President.” Jean stepped-down as president of Centre 404 in 2021 but continued to champion their vital work. Tracey says: “Jean leaves behind a legacy of hope, transformation, and enduring love for our community and beyond.”
Jean herself wrote a very moving account of her first encounters with Centre 404 and her role in the journey which has established it as an anchor Islington institution for people with learning disabilities. Her story was recognised in a 2008 documentary which highlighted the positive achievements of disabled people.
Daughter, Tara, says that her mum wrote an autobiography through a University of the Third Age creative writing class and the family hopes to publish it soon. That will be an inspiring read.
Can we help Xmas single “Guiding Star” reach Number One in the charts?
The Cally-based Stuart Low Trust (SLT) has a new Christmas single and music video out on release. The charity connects and supports people to improve mental health and wellbeing. The single was written by Jay Serrao aka ‘Whiskey General’ and Adam Wilson who work with SLT and are local residents. The music and video features the SLT Community Choir and Autism Hub with staff from the Jean Stokes Community Centre.
The single is an original composition and tells a story of finding hope and strength amidst life’s darkest moments – with the message “You are not alone”.
Watch the video here on YouTube or listen here on Spotify.
“Guiding Star” was recorded at Universal Music Studios and mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. The music video tells a moving story through our lead actor and local poet Bill Dury, who has experienced his own mental health struggles. In the video, he starts in despairing isolation, but finds a place of joy singing ‘Guiding Star’ in the charity’s Choir.
This Christmas campaign is a great story of community spirit involving local residents, charity service users, creative professionals and the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art in Islington. Jay Serrao is a Gulf War refugee and Adam Wilson lives with Parkinson’s and they have both faced significant personal struggles. They have written Guiding Star to uplift others who are facing mental health challenges.
Cllr Sara Hyde says: “The Stuart Low Trust is an inspiring local community-based organisation in our neighbourhood. This Christmas single and campaign supports anyone facing isolation and, or struggling with their mental health, at what can be a difficult and triggering time of year for many of us. Let’s all help their great Christmas single become the festive Number One in the charts this year!”
The SLT Chief Executive Mark Gillham says: “Guiding Star is more than a charity Christmas single – it’s a call to action. We can’t achieve the ambitious goals of our campaign without wide public support, to raise the profile of SLT’s cause, and attract hundreds of new supporters and our goal to raise £10,000 in vital funds to continue our charitable activities.”
Cally Liveable Neighbourhood gets the go-ahead
Long awaited improvements to the neighbourhood’s roads, pavements and parks have been unveiled after a comprehensive public consultation. Top priority in the plan is a programme of pavement repairs concentrating on the high street and especially the notorious section between Bridgeman Road and Richmond Avenue.
The plan will properly pedestrianise Tilloch Street and Freeling Street; and close Story Street to traffic to create safe market trader pitches. All the pedestrianised areas will get new seating, planting and lighting. Details of the Plan can be read here.
Cally councillors have been determined to have a Liveable Neighbourhood that makes pavements safer especially for children and older people and will give our high street a boost. The plan will encourage walking and cycling through the heart of the Cally – better connecting the neighbourhood with Kings Cross.
And it will provide the next phase in our plans to make Bingfield Park a landmark facility for children and families in the Cally. A dedicated cycle route will run from Caledonian Road aroudn the north side of Bingfield Park to Randall’s Rd. This will provide a better cycle facility and take two-wheelers off the pavements.
The plan will improve pedestrian safety around Robert Blair primary school and the Boston and Nailour estates: stopping rat-run traffic that cuts-through Frederica Street to Blundell Street. East-west vehicle movements won’t be locked-out however. Brewery Road will remain “unfiltered” and businesses that use vehicles intensively will still be able to access their sites.
The plan will also finally fix one of the neighbourhood’s eyesores – the mini-park at the corner of York Way and Copenhagen Street. This will be completely rebuilt with a sneaky traffic cut-through removed so that the businesses facing onto the park will benefit from an amenity space that matches the quality on the Camden side of York Way.
Work on The Cally Liveable Neighbourhood will begin in Spring 2025 with further improvements planned through to early 2026.
Cllr Paul Convery says: “The Cally Liveable Neighbourhood will bring much needed improvements to boost the high street, parks and pavements by making walking and cycling easier and safer. The Cally Liveable Neighbourhood isn’t an ‘LTN’. There is just one road ‘filter’ on Blundell Street which runs parallel to Brewery Road. And this will be introduced on a trial basis.”
Cllr Rowena Champion who represents the adjacent Barnsbury ward and is Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment adds: “The Cally Liveable Neighbourhood will transform this important part of the borough, creating green, accessible spaces that bring people together. These plans are a response to local aspirations for more welcoming public spaces, and we’re committed to making sure residents can enjoy a safer, more connected area, and that local businesses are supported to thrive.”
Early on Saturday morning, the Cally welcomed Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds MP, to mark Small Business Saturday spotlighting Islington’s great small business community. The Secretary of State spent 2 hours visiting some of Cally’s great independent businesses. He was joined by our local MP, Emily Thornberry, Council Leader Una O’Halloran along with her other two Caledonian Ward Councillors Sara Hyde and Paul Convery. The Secretary of State got excellent insights into the challenges and ambitions of the small businesses that are the heart of our high street.
First stop was Sunflour Bakery at 263 Caledonian Road for 7.30am live TV and radio interviews before visiting 3 other great local firms. Sunflour is a family business which opened in the Cally 11 years ago and is run by Paul O’Brien and Gabriela Cristea. Paul is chair of the Cally Traders Association, a businesses-led group which the Council supports through the Cally Local Economy team. Sunflour is a bakery, cafe and corporate caterer who also supply other local cafes and restaurants daily.
Next call was to So Fab London, a locally owned and well-established salon at 163 Caledonian Road. So Fab is run by Eleni Lasheen, born and raised in Islington, and a keen advocate for supporting the beauty industry. This visit was followed by a trip across the road to Kibco Coffee at 170 Caledonian Road. Owned and managed by Freh Shibru and Kibrom Teklehaymano, this cafe offers outstanding sustainably sourced coffee roasted on site.
Finally, the Secretary of State visited a larger business, Super Laundry which operates from several units on the Roman Way light industrial estate. The firm is owned and run by Bill Ray and Laz Dallas who, over 15 years, have built a substantial commercial laundry employing scores of people across several sites. The business has pioneered innovative cleaning technologies to achieve low environmental impact and is about to become self-sufficient in electricity use.
Cllr Una O’Halloran says: “We were delighted to welcome the Secretary of State this morning. I share his commitment to a Labour Government creating better conditions for small businesses to thrive. Jonathan Reynolds chose to visit Islington and the Cally because we actively support our Borough economy and focus on 5 priority neighbourhoods within Islington. The Cally high street is overwhelmingly small independent traders with fewer than 10 employees, reflecting the neighbourhood’s diversity. We have about 150 retail businesses on the high street which has a predominantly local customer base. National chain multiple have been discouraged in order to help these independent businesses. However the high street has experienced many stresses particularly after the Covid pandemic. Low footfall, changing consumer habits and intense cost pressures present many difficulties for our small businesses. Alongside the Cally Traders Association, the Council is working to promote and support these businesses and to attract new custom.”
Labour holds Council seat in Junction Ward by-election
Labour has won another Council by-election with James Potts becoming the new Councillor for Junction Ward in north Islington. Cally Councillor and Leader of the Council, Una O’Halloran welcomed James to the Town Hall after the votes were counted and his by-election victory was officially announced.
There were 7 candidates standing in the by-election which was triggered after the former Leader Kaya Comer-Schwartz stepped down to become the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime at City Hall.
Despite a relatively low turnout, Labour’s candidate won by 235 votes – achieving a 12 pt vote share lead over the next placed (independent) candidate. The Green Party came third, the Lib Dems 4th and a rather hapless Tory candidate trailed-in 5th place with just 6% of the vote.
| Labour | 785 | 40% |
| Independent | 550 | 28% |
| Green | 219 | 11% |
| Lib Dem | 156 | 8% |
| Tory | 113 | 6% |
| Independent | 97 | 5% |
| SPGB | 22 | 1% |
Cllr Una O’Halloran said at the declaration: “I’m so excited that James has won. He was an excellent candidate and will be a diligent and hard working Councillor. He campaigned really hard to become elected and he’ll do well on the Council. The result was a great signal for the future. Labour is on your side, Junction voters have put their trust in us, and I hope all Islington voters will do so in May 2026.”
Ahead of polling day, the second-placed candidate had predicted a win after being endorsed by Islington North’s independent MP, Jeremy Corbyn. However it was clear that many of Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters were unhappy with his nascent political party and its candidate running against Islington Labour. Many have asked Jeremy and his associates “exactly what is Islington Council doing that you disagree with?”. One was quoted saying “of course Jeremy has a beef with Labour nationally but that doesn’t mean he should run candidates against our Labour Council”.
Labour Councillors representing the Cally neighbourhood in Islington 