Camden New Journal - by BEN MARDINALE Published: 28 June 2007
Pictured, from left: Christine Newell, Sheila Hibbert, Daniel Jourdan, Deng Akol and Cicely Corr
Historic King’s Cross building reopened
after £2m work
AN historic King’s Cross building, once home to a popular youth club in the area, reopened on Saturday.
The Tonbridge Boys’ Club in Cromer Street, which first opened its doors in 1920, was seen as a vital resource for underprivileged youth in the area.
But after a of lack of funding forced it to close in 2000, the building stood empty until the YMCA saw its potential and started fundraising. After raising nearly £2 million, a facelift on the site began last year to create a modern health and arts centre.
A plaque unveiled at Saturday’s launch celebrated a group of people who were nominated by friends and neighbours for their hard work in the community.
Winners included Sheila Hibbert, 75, who managed the Tonbridge Club with her husband Tom for nearly 40 years, and Christine Newell, 73, who volunteers for the police as a Special Constable. Deng Akol, 18, was commended for his work with young people, and for overcoming personal battles such as speech difficulties.