John Iles

Published: 15 June, 2012
by AMY SMITH

Boys Brigade captain retires after decades

ON Saturday Alan Watts officially retired as captain of the 5th London Boys Brigade, a youth organisation with companies in 60 countries worldwide.

Mr Watts has been part of the group since joining as a boy in 1945. The highlights of his time include winning the King’s badge, being invited to watch the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 and “seeing the youngsters do what they are doing”.

Though Mr Watts plans to stay in touch with the 5th London, he is looking forward to having time to write a book on all the bizarre conversations overheard on public transport. Mr Watts is succeeded by Matthew Smith.

The Boy’s Brigade meet at Wesley’s Chapel in City Road on Tuesdays at 7.45-9.15pm (over 11s) and Fridays at 7-8.30pm (under 11s).

Party time for landlord stepping down

CONGRATULATIONS to Ron Cumber, 65, who after 35 years work as a resident caretaker at Hyde Village estate, Holloway, is looking forward to retirement.

His long service will be celebrated at a party today (Friday) at Goodinge Community Centre, North Road. Mr Cumber isn’t too sure what his colleagues have planned for the party.

He said: “It’s been kept as a secret. I’m a private person but it will be really nice to say farewell and thank you. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s been great to make so many friends.”

Mr Cumber is already thinking about finding a part time job. “My wife keeps hinting that the paintbrush is in the cupboard so anything that takes me away from decorating.” he jokes.

Mannequins get a regular dressing up

TWO clothed dummies have been standing outside Barbican Tailors in Whitecross Street for eight years. Because of the weather, their clothes have to be changed every couple of months.

Dennis Montana, manager of the Montana off-licence next door to the tailors has named the mannequins Eddie and John.

Auditions set to find Miss Ghana UK

THE Miss Ghana UK competition is 20 years old and is once again looking for women of Ghanaian origin to compete. Auditions will take place in KC Bar, 148 Holloway Road from 3.30-8.00pm on Sunday June 17 and Sunday June 24.

Organiser, Dennis Terrah explained that unlike most beauty pageants, they don’t stipulate dress size or height.

“We just want to be flexible, a plus-size model might bring something special that a smaller model couldn’t,” he says.

To enter, women must be over 18 and have prepared a three-minute speech on why they want to be an ambassador for young women in the UK.

Highbury chemists in wartime innovation

LOCAL history book, Discovering Our Village: Highbury People, Past and Present reveals that during the Second World War the Iles chemists in Highbury Barn made lipsticks using metal suppository moulds. Valerie Iles, 60, was the fourth generation of her family to run the chemists.

She said she can imagine her father John Iles (pictured above) creating make-up. “I can totally believe it, in those days pharmacists had those skills,” she said. “It was a different world.”

Now an academic in clinical leadership, Valerie believes that before the internet, the pharmacy was a hub for local information. “We saw ourselves as a service to the community,” she said.

• Contact Amy Smith with your neighbourhood news at asmith@islingtontribune.com