Pensioner robbed by conmen 'detectives'

By Anh Nguyen

A PENSIONER was left feeling ‘sick’ after she was robbed by two people posing as police officers.
The pair made off with a money belt after gaining entry into the elderly woman’s flat by pretending to be plain clothed police detectiveÅs investigating a violent robbery in the block of flats off Canonbury Road.
Jennifer Bynes, 66, who walks with a stick, was returning from grocery shopping on Upper Street when she saw the man and woman waiting outside the communal entrance to her flat.
The young woman offered to carry Mrs Bynes’ shopping into her flat, insisting that they needed to speak to her husband.
“They got themselves in by saying that an old lady living in these flats had been assaulted and robbed,” said Mrs Bynes.
“They said they were making certain that everyone was safe because this old lady had been put into hospital and because the thief was a locksmith, they feared he would come back. They were trying to find out what things I had that was of value.”
Mrs Bynes told the fraudsters that her credit cards were in the money belt she wore around her waist, which also contained her keys and £12.
She said: “I only realized anything was wrong when they snatched the purse and ran out the back, through the garden.”
Although neither Mrs Bynes nor her husband Dennis, 67, who suffers from motor neurone disease which means he has no use of his arms, were hurt, they were both upset after the incident.
“I felt shaken and a bit sick, but didn’t want Dennis to see,” said Mrs Bynes. “He felt shaken and a bit sick too but he didn’t want me to see."
The incident is the second time Mrs Bynes has been robbed since moving into the area ten months ago.

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Betsey Trotwood serves pub grub

By Anh Nguyen

A PUB that hosted well-known acts, such as Coldplay and the Magic Numbers before they became famous, will begin selling food this month.

The new owners of Betsey Trotwood, an established music venue for unsigned bands, have renovated and expanded the kitchen facilities so that they can provide lunch and dinner menus.

Scott Baker, owner and chef, said: “At the moment, we have bar snacks, but we want to make good, homemade pub food available.”

Mr Baker, 34, and his business partner Richard Cobbing, 39, took over the pub three months ago, and describe it as “London’s coziest” music venue. Although the music side of the business attracts regular customers, they felt there was still opportunity to bring in more people by making food.

“It will be good for the business because we only have music events in the evening, so having food will attract more customers at lunch time,” explained Mr Baker.

Niall Spooner-Harvey, a regular at the Betsey Trotwood, said: “Every time my mates play there, they always have to leave halfway through the night and get food. So hopefully this should put a stop to that and make them stick around for a few more drinks.”

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Council spends £3,000 on “pointless” video

By Anh Nguyen

ISLINGTON Council has spent £3,000 on making a presentation video for this week’s executive meeting at the Town Hall.

The council showed the video, which illustrated its plans to improve services for disabled people in the borough, to an audience of less than 50 council employees and residents.

Councillor John Gilbert, executive member for health and audit, introduced the video, saying that the new format “makes a change from me talking with a powerpoint presentation.”

The video showed images taken from the consultation days that the council held with local disability groups in early September. The scenes were interspersed with people praising the council for their plans to introduce better services for disabled people, which includes appointing a Disability Access Officer.

Residents in the audience, however, were not impressed with the presentation.

Jenny Williams, an Islington resident and carer, said: “I can’t believe the council wasted so much money on making the pointless video. They should be spending the money on actually doing something to improve services for disabled people.”

At first, the council said that the video would only be shown at the meeting, but when an opposition queried the cost of the video, it said they would make the video more widely available.

Councillor Lucy Watt, deputy leader of the council, said: “The DVD was commissioned because it presents positive images of disabled people and the Disability Equality Scheme is an example of good practice in involving disabled people in consultation.

“There are plans to use it at the Disability Equality Scheme launch next month, and we will use it internally and make it available externally for training purposes.”

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Irishman sets up sushi stall on Exmouth Market

By Anh Nguyen

A SUSHI stall with a difference opened up on Exmouth Market this week. Derry Nairn is not your average sushi chef. He is Irish - and a vegetarian.

So how did does a 24-year-old man from Wicklow, Ireland get involved with selling Japanese food in Clerkenwell?

“I studied history and politics at University College Dublin, and I spent my third year abroad, in Japan. To earn money, I worked in the kitchen of a restaurant where the mama-san [Japanese female manager] of the hotel taught me how to make sushi.”

That was two years ago, and nowMr Nairn lives in Finsbury Park after he left Ireland to follow girlfriend Alex Calder, who was study in London. She also helps out on the stall, which he runs on Fridays and Saturdays.

Although business is slow because of the cold weather, Mr Nairn is still optimistic about the business.

“The response has been very good. A Japanese man said he really liked the fish and the miso soup. Though I might try making some tempura for next week, which is fried vegetables and stuff, so it’s warmer.”

Being a vegetarian, Mr Nairn does not eat fish. He quickly taught himself how to make sushi with fish, however, when he decided to set up the stall.

“I just learn from cookbooks. It’s very easy really.”

No matter how easy it is, it takes a long time for Mr Nairn to prepare for each day at the market.

“On a typical day, I get up at four or five in the morning. I make sushi for four hours. I then pack 40 boxes of sushi and make two trips to set up the stall. Then I sell sushi for six hours.”

Although he enjoys making and selling sushi, he is not sure if he wants to do it for the rest of his life.

“I’d like to be the new Jamie Oliver, and I’m planning to set up at Broadway market too.”

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Optician focuses mind on New York Marathon

By Anh Nguyen

AN OPTICIAN from Highgate will be taking part in a record-breaking marathon in New York on 5th November, for a charity close to his late wife’s heart.

Andrew Keech, 43, whose wife Christina died last year of bone cancer, will be running the marathon for Mind, a UK mental health charity where Mrs Keech used to work as branch secretary.

“I come from a family of good runners,” he said. “I wanted to focus my mind, and I believe that running is good mind therapy. I’m raising money for Mind because my wife used to work there as a branch secretary.”

The marathon’s course will start at Staten Island and finish in Central Park. Last year, 36,856 people from all over the world crossed the finish line.

This year, Mr Keech will be one of over 3,000 runners from the UK competing in largest marathon in history. It will be his first marathon, but his nine to five job as an optician at MYeyes in Clerkenwell does not stop him from training.

“I run 75km a week, soon to reach 80km. I run at least four times a week, either after work or in the morning at weekends,” he explained.

Mind provided Mr Keech with diet and training programmes to prepare for the marathon, and said it was grateful to him for helping them raise money.

John McCollum, head of events at Mind, said: “An example of how the money raised by Andrew may be used could be to expand Mind’s Infoline, which offers vital confidential help on a range of mental health issues to thousands of callers every year.”

Kerk Davies, the company director of Myeyes, is confident that Mr Keech will complete the course.

“I’m full of admiration for him. It’s a very worthy cause. I hope he does it in the time he wants without injuring himself. I’m sure he’ll complete the journey.”

Anyone who wants to sponsor Mr Keech can donate online at: www.justgiving.co.uk/andykeech

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