Eleni Joannou

Published: 10 August, 2012
by AMY SMITH
 

Another stone in the wall...
 

SIX members of The Zone youth club, Hilldrop Road, have been awarded certificates for their dry-stone wall building. The young people constructed a tribute to the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee outside the Hilldrop Community Centre.

John Holt of the Dry Stone Wall Association of Great Britain taught the group the disappearing traditional building technique, which is also sustainable as it doesn’t use cement.

The Zone’s head Elaine Clarke said, “This was an excellent piece of work where we all had to be focused, listen and co-operate with each other to obtain the best results.”
 

House call
 

ELENI Joannou is usually found behind the front desk at the Old Fire Station community centre in Holloway but she has “re-trained” as a bingo caller.

Ms Joannou oversees the bingo games at the centre in Mayton Street every Wednesday from 12-1pm.

The session of six games cost 50p and past prizes have included kitchen roll, hand cream, washing-up liquid, salad bowls and talcum powder.

“The prizes are basically anything slightly different from the pound shop, anything or everything really,” said Ms Joannou.
“It’s more of a social gathering. The ladies have taught me all the calls but I changed 88, two fat ladies. I check to see if there are any men and then just say ‘All the eights, 88, two fat men.’”
 

One Mass
 

ST Mellitus Church, Tollington Park, usually has two Sunday Morning Masses, but from September 2, parish priest Father David Ardagh-Walter is joining them together. Mass will now be heard at 10.30am.
 

Take note
 

THE Old Fire Station is also looking for a new singing teacher after volunteer Catherine Bramble had to leave.

The group currently meet every Tuesday, from 10.30-11.45am. Centre coordinator Eleni Joannou said: “Ideally, we would like someone who could lead the group towards a performance. Unfortunately we can’t pay someone at the moment but could change the date and time for anyone who could give up their
time and skill for a very eager group of singers.”
 

Gunge-ho!
 

THE Rev Andy Pakula is preparing himself for a new type of challenge – getting gunged next weekend.

The minister from New Unity church, Upper Street and Newington Green, has volunteered to be covered in multi-coloured goo at their Summer barbecue on Saturday, August 18. Whoever correctly guesses the number of sweets in four different jars will be given the opportunity to chuck a bucket of gunge at the Rev Pakula.

As well as a range of food on offer, there will also be a talent show, table-top sale, live music, egg and spoon race and face painting.