This week 30 years ago: ‘Scenes of devastation’ in Islington after Great Storm of 1987
Islington Gazette: October 23, 1987 - Credit: Archant
The falling leaves of autumn became falling trees in the Great Storm of 1987.
Islington woke up to “scenes of devastation” reminiscent of the Blitz, the Gazette reported.
One Barnsbury homeowner was wondering what to do with the corpse of the 200-year-old tree in his back garden.
Only an “act of God” saved passers by from injury in the Cally as debris flew off Blessed Sacrament Church in Copenhagen Street.
Meanwhile, Islington Council was facing a cash crisis – with talk of rent rises of a fiver a week (£13 in today’s terms).
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The opposition Social Democrats claimed it was because of the Labour council’s “bucket shopping”.
The town hall leader, Cllr Margaret Hodge, was forced to defend her decision to allow controversial “interest swap” arrangements to avoid cuts before the end of the financial year.
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She accused the government of “blatant interference” in the money markets.
