Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER Published: 12 September 2008
Anthony Fowler on the Help the Aged stand at the Archway Festival
‘Neglected’ spot becomes a traffic island paradise for the day with festival
A RAIN-SOAKED traffic island became an oasis of food and fun on Saturday for the first ever Archway Festival. The normally near-deserted concrete island, opposite Archway Tube station, reverberated with Mexican and jazz music as residents turned out to savour the specialist herbs and food stalls or take part in fun activities.
There were lots of delicious homemade and professional bread and cake stalls along with fruits and vegetables.
Children were particularly well catered for as they enjoyed various crafts stalls where they were able to create their own works of art.
The event was opened by Islington’s mayor, Stefan Kasprzyk, who lives a stone’s throw away in nearby St John’s Way, and Greater London Authority member, Jennette Arnold.
Kate Calvert, chairwoman of the Better Archway Forum, said: “People seemed to have a good time and the event proved just what could be achieved at a somewhat neglected part of the borough.”