Haringey Civic Ctr 1958 | 2

Comment by Liz on June 6, 2020 at 11:27

Lovely mid-century building. 

Comment by Hugh on June 6, 2020 at 12:22

It is. 

I shot a virtual tour here last year (which I've yet to get round to even start processing). Do you see that little bubble on the roof, above the 4th floor. It's not as small as it looks in this photo. It's a caretaker's flat with incredible views in every direction. It looked like it hasn't been lived in for many many years, but I'd imagien many would give their eye-teeth.

Comment by Geraldine on March 10, 2023 at 13:40

Civic Centre?  Is it Hornsey Town Hall?

Comment by Richard Woods on March 10, 2023 at 16:37

And so it was that, for the years 1959 to 1964 yours truly spent much of one evening a month taking notes at the Hornsey Borough Council meetings. Our editor, the formidable Bertie White, had an impeccable Pitman shorthand note, taken verbatim in green ink! We were required to endeavour to match him, taking three minute spells like proper Hansard writers. Fortunately, since he reported debates virtually verbatim, he never stopped taking notes and could fill in where out grubby attempts failed. 

Back in the day, when only the council meeting could be reported and there were Aldermen (persons - there was a woman) who were chosen by elected councillors and sat I recall for six years instead of three, there was one loquacious Irishman, Alderman Muldoon who spoke at length in what we dubbed  scribble. Bertie would laboriously take him down verbatim and then translate. One day Bertie was unwell and I and another took the council. I it was who tried and failed to take Alderman Muldoon down. Later I did my best to transcribe my notes for publication.

The following Monday said Alderman presented himself in Bertie's office with his eye on me and glaring and with the words "Verra glad to see yer back Mr White..."

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