Meet Jean and Sidney

ISHA celebrates its 90th anniversary this year, and to mark it we've caught up with some of our residents, staff and partners who've been a part of the ISHA story. Introducing long-term residents Jean and Sidney.

Jean became an ISHA resident when she was just 19 months old when she and her family moved to an ISHA property.

Her father was away in the army during the Second World War, and her mother sadly passed away. Her aunt and uncle took her and her older brother in, and the family were relocated to a four-bed in Islington. Jean fondly remembers how the spare room became a play area for local children, many of whom still live in the same neighbourhood today.

Jean recalls children using the car park as a playground, the locals organising a coronation party for Queen Elizabeth II, and fun evenings on bonfire night celebrating with other families on the estate. 

Jean met Sidney at the Strava Ballroom Club in Canonbury, where Sidney played drums.

Once they got engaged, they moved just over the road from Jean’s childhood home to another ISHA property.

“We thought about moving when we got engaged, but I wanted to stay in Islington. There’s something going on all the time; if I left the house at three in the morning, I’d still see plenty of people out. I’ve always had a view of the church, and it’s the church I was married in, where my children were christened, and where my daughter got married. It’s a serene spot in a very busy area.” 

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