Schoolchildren who escaped the fire which gutted the Highbury Leisure Centre were rewarded for their bravery with a meeting with the Mayor of Islington.
The children, in year 3 at Laycock Primary School, were having a swimming lesson when the fire broke out on September 25.
Teachers and centre staff ushered them to safety, but three hard-of-hearing children were unable to even collect their hearing aids as they fled the burning building.
Teaching assistant Gitti Heidari came with the class to meet Cllr Dave Poyser and his predecessor as mayor Cllr Una O’Halloran.
Mrs Heidari said: “They were so brave in the fire. Today’s lovely, it looks like they are having so much fun.”
Cllr Poyser told this newspaper: “I am very honoured to welcome these children and it’s a very special honour to be able to spend time with the children who are hard of hearing.”
He added he hoped he might have inspired one or two to become the councillors of the future.
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