Online memories group meet up for book launch
Facebook group set up in 2017 offers a chance to reminisce about life in Islington over the years
Friday, 25th April — By Ellie Hammonds
An image that features in Archway revisited – a trip down memory lane
IT started as a Facebook group where thousands told stories about their life in Islington over the years.
Now, 30 of those stories have been brought together in a new book that recounts the tales of ordinary people.
Contributors, who returned from as far away as Sheffield, gathered at the Archway Tavern on Saturday to celebrate the launch of Archway revisited – a trip down memory lane.
John Waters, who set up the original Facebook group in 2017, said the page had become a place for reflection and offered a chance to reminisce about an area that has experienced much change.
He said: “We have accumulated so many wonderful stories of times past and it was suggested that such memories should be collated for posterity and so the seeds were planted.
“We collated many stories and put them together in a book.”
Mr Waters, who edited the book, told the Tribune how the Facebook page enabled people to reconnect with each other, gaining more than eight thousand members.
“A lot of people have got back in touch with old friends and neighbours and quite a few people have written little stories and memories,” he said.
The book consists of 45 chapters with some stories dating back to the 1920s.Mr Waters said: “Some of the stories are amusing, some of them are very sad, they vary a lot.
John Waters
“But it’s great that people seem to think it’s a good idea to keep these memories alive.”
He added: “I think everyone on the site certainly appreciatess and want to read about the past and how it was.
“They all think, rightly or wrongly, that those were the better days, and I think that’s important.
“It’s history, and children today need to be reminded about how things were.”
