Sir John Tusa champions Islington's small shops

Published: 3rd June, 2011

SIR John Tusa, former TV presenter and Barbican administrator, spoke out this week in support of Islington’s wide variety of precious small shops.

Sir John, whose poem “Why I love Canonbury” was featured in this newspaper in April, said the borough was blessed with a cornucopia of specialist traders. 

But he warned: “We will lose our wonderful small shops unless we all start to make more use of them.”

Travelling around Britain made him only too aware of how lucky shoppers are in Islington to have such a variety of local corner shops. “Everywhere you go in this country you see new shopping centres dying with boredom. They’ve become chain-store clichés and look the same whether they are in the City of London or somewhere up north.”

He welcomed David Cameron’s decision to appoint TV shopping expert Mary Portas to come up with a scheme to revitalise our shopping districts.

“But really there’s no mystery too it,” he added. “We must keep and support our small shops, which means keeping rent and rates low and not killing our shops off with draconian parking schemes. 

“I wonder how many local authorities are aware of these things.

“I also wonder whether local councils appreciate the benefit of small shops to the community in terms of social cohesion and sense of wellbeing.”

Sir John, who has lived “extremely happily” in Canonbury  for 10 years, is photographed with his local news agent Minesh Amin, whose shop Shriji gets a mention in his poem.

In the poem he also sings the praises of his local hairdresser Shelley Bourn at Mirela Hair studio “who gives up 

10 minutes of her time to clean up my virtually hairless dome”.

Sir John was inspired to write the poem to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the local Canonbury Society. 

But he also wanted to promote the area’s small shops.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t give everyone a mention,” he said. “There are just too many.

“For example, we’re terribly lucky with all the shops in Essex Road. I’d like to give a mention to a particularly wonderful trio: Steve Hatts the fishmonger, greengrocer Market Garden, and Elliot the butcher.

“Cross Street also has personality and character and has a particularly magnificent parade of shops.”

Why I Love Canonbury

I like looking down and along the gardens of Alwyne Place and Willow Bridge Roads.
The grand old trees of Canonbury Park are a wonderful backdrop to our secluded backyard.
I like New River Walk with its unflappable heron; not long ago it stooped to snap up a minnow just six feet from me.
I like Jack Lambert (veteran committee member) in his waders clearing the water of green algae.
I like the Shriji families in their corner shop, the best of local citizens and neighbours, strong supporters of England except – rightly – when India is involved.
I like Shelley in Mirela Hair Studio who gives up 10 minutes of her time to clean up my virtually hairless dome.
I like the cheek of the fox who strolls across our balcony and scales our walls leaving his muddy claw marks behind.
I like the contrast between Essex Road (Lower Street) and Upper Street. The former is real London – try Raab’s the bakers staffed by and serving real Islington people; the latter is cosmopolitan London – graced by Euphorium calling itself a traditional English baker but staffed entirely by Poles.
I love the huge magnolia tree in the west side of Canonbury Square; when it blossoms, spring is here.
I love the wedding groups who use the square for glamorous wedding pictures.
I like the classic London illogic that puts numbers 1-7 Canonbury Place in a cul de sac and then defeats taxi drivers by putting the rest of us separated by Canonbury Academy around the corner.
I like the grandeur of certain houses, the quiet domestic convenience of most.
I love the Victoria Line. When I return to the bustle of Highbury and Islington station, I am coming home.
Sir John Tusa

Excellence at your service

A SUPERB pub, an excellent vet, a famous heritage builder, a good optician and perhaps one of the most famous purveyors of vinyl records in the land are all to found be in Canonbury.

The House is an award-winning pub which is part the group responsible for Mayfair’s The Only Running Footman bar. It boasts an excellent restaurant and a pleasant courtyard made for a relaxing evening. At 63-69 Canonbury Road, N1. Tel: 020 7354 8143. blair@thehouseislington.com www.thehouseislington.com

Haggle Vinyl close to Essex Road station is one of Britain’s top independent record shops. It stocks more than 20,000 secondhand discs in all genres from acid to opera, progressive rock to flamenco and salsa. At 114 Essex Road, N1. Tel: 020 7704 3101. www.haggle.freeserve.co.uk

Goddard Veterinary Group, part of a branch of clinics, prides itself on the care and wellbeing of pets and a good service to owners. Staff are carefully selected for their professionalism. At 87 Grosvenor Avenue, N5. Tel: 020 7354 4621. www.goddardvetgroup.co.uk

Henry Hardy has been in the heritage building business for 150 years. They specialise in restoring old and historic buildings to their former glory. At 54, Canonbury Road, N1. Tel: 020 7226 2823, www.henryhardy.co.uk

A View Opticians specialise in a personal service with no pressure on buying glasses.
They are located at 203 Upper Street N1. Tel: 020 7359 6868. islington@aview.co.uk www.aview.co.uk