Irma Gomez fought to save community centres

TRIBUTES have been paid to “impressive and inspiring” local campaigner Irma Gomez, who passed away in late November, aged 87.

Friends and fellow activists spoke this week of the pensioner’s kindness, creativity, and fierce commitment to the causes she championed.

Ms Gomez, who lived in Highbury Hill, was featured countless times in the pages of the Tribune as she fought against the closure of community centres across the borough.

Jackie Noone, who was friends with her for a decade after meeting her at the Sotheby Singers Group, described her as a “wonderful character” who was “always looking after people, looking out for people”.

The pair spearheaded efforts to save the Sotheby Mews Day Centre in 2017, and Ms Noone recalled standing outside the Town Hall singing their protest song with new lyrics written to the tune of Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall.

Chanting “We don’t need no isolation, we don’t need no council control”, accompanied by drums and instruments, the group argued that the centre was a vital service for elderly people living in Islington.

“She was very impressive”, said Ms Noone,

“She was very against social injustice and we connected in that way. She took me along to the Islington Pensioners Forum, and she used to help to give me confidence in public speaking because I was quite shy. She was very, very glamorous, she was always out and about and looked like the Queen, perfectly dressed”.

Green Party councillor Caroline Russell, who spent many years campaigning alongside Ms Gomez, described her as a “force of nature”.

“She was always in the centre of things with a mic or megaphone in hand making the case for older people and joining in with music making”, said Cllr Russell.

The Highbury councillor recalled Ms Gomez turning up at her door with a bunch of flowers to check she was OK the day after being arrested for protesting the illegal prorogation of parliament.

“That was Irma – kind, thoughtful and energetic – it is a privilege to have known her and campaigned with her”, added Cllr Russell.

Before retirement, Ms Gomez taught braille for a blind association. Outside of her campaigning, she will be remembered by friends as a “good singer and a very good dancer”. She also took care of the garden at Sotheby Mews and her favourite flowers were roses.

Ms Noone recalled going on day trips with her in Islington, going to shops, and visiting the seaside in Southend.

By that time, Ms Gomez had spent more than four decades in London after she fled El Salvador around the time of the civil war. She returned to live there in her final years and spent time with her sisters.

Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn said: “I remember Irma as one of the wonderful people that fought a huge battle for justice and human rights in their own country, never gave up on that struggle, and came to this country and made a massive contribution by carrying on with those very same principles.”

He added: “She taught us that we can all make a huge difference to the lives of others if we have the determination to do so.”

Ms Gomez is survived by a daughter and two grandchildren.