The Review - MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT by PETER GRUNER Published: 27 September 2007
Wally and Janet Burgess with El Molino owner John Naccimento
Couple’s dinner party politics
Husband and wife councillors Wally and Janet Burgess admit their culinary conversation is often consumed by political discussion, writes Peter Gruner
THERE is not much that goes on in the north of Islington that escapes Wally and Janet Burgess.
Whether it’s the planned redevelopment of rundown Archway or the plight of teenagers on the street, the couple are there, arguing and campaigning.
Wally, who has represented St George’s ward for almost 10 years, is famous for his biting sarcasm – always at the Lib Dems’ expense.
He recently derided the their decision to spend £3 million in council tax on environmental measures as “tilting at windmills”.
He is also a former Camden Alderman between 1970 and 1988.
Janet, elected for the second time to Junction ward last year, is respected for her tenacious attention to detail and her refusal to allow council officers to pull the wool at planning committees.
We met at their favourite restaurant, tapas bar El Molino in Holloway Road, a short walk from their home in Tufnell Park.
Like a lot of customers in concrete grey north London, they go there to remind themselves of sunny holidays in Spain.
The advantage of being husband and wife councillors is that they are able to discuss all issues without fear of boring the other. The disadvantages, of course, are that sometimes that’s all they do discuss. “We live and breathe politics,” said Janet. “It’s mainly what we talk about at the dining table. Our three sons were all brought up to take an interest in politics and the world around.”
The boys all went to Acland Burghley School and the Burgesses are both passionate supporters of comprehensive education.
Wally said: “Our kids are very political, although they’d all deny it. None of them wants to be a councillor, although the youngest did a politics degree. “He also ran a one-man campaign when he was 15 or 16 against the Nimbys who were against the new Arsenal Emirates Stadium.”
The couple met at a Labour party ward meeting in Ilford in 1971. Janet was doing research for MPs – she still does – and was chairwoman of the ward. Wally was, and is, an engineering research consultant.
Their sons are now aged 32, 28 and 24 and the family moved to Islington in 1988.
Wally is an active ward councillor with an interest in affordable housing or the lack of it in Islington. He’s pleased that the Government has started to put money into public housing.
Janet is concerned that the much-promised redevelopment of Archway doesn’t destroy the community around Junction Road and in particular the small shops.
As a mother of boys she is only too aware of the need for activities for teenagers in the wake of the incidents of knife and gun crime on the streets. “There is so little for teenagers these days,” she said. “I know police are frustrated about this as well because you can’t just forever keep moving kids on. “Teenagers need something to do. But not every young person wants to be herded into a youth club.”
In a wonderfully hospitable atmosphere, we enjoyed a mouth-watering selection of six tapas: prawns in garlic, bean and chorizo sausage stew, mushroom and spinach in cream, chicken in sauce, sardines, aubergines and Mediterranean vegetables. It was all complemented by a fantastic bottle of Rioja.
• El Molino, restaurant and tapas bar, 379 Holloway Road, N7. (opposite Marks and Spencer).
Tel: 020 7700 4312.
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