Has there ever been a year more deserving of a cracking community Yuletide celebration?

Has there ever been a year more deserving of a cracking community Yuletide celebration?

It’s finished at last. The new Packington Estate, four years late in completion, was finally officially opened in September, exactly 12 years since work began.

We are pleased to announce we now have a Happy To Chat bench in Arlington Square. The idea came from Allison Owen-Jones in Cardiff, who noticed an elderly man sitting alone on a bench in a busy city centre park, ignored by passers-by.

The West End of London may have been in Christmas shopping mode since mid- September but the wise men and women of Arlingtonia know that the season of goodwill only truly begins with our annual Christmas Fair in the Square.

The annual Angel Canal Festival takes place on Sunday 1 September 11am–5pm.

Roll up, roll up! It’s nearly time for the annual Summer Fete in Arlington Square.

The newly formed Friends of Union Square Gardens enjoyed their first volunteer gardening day in early March.

This year’s Islington Proms will provide the usual mix of topquality music – and more besides.

After the uncannily warm February days and the spring’s glorious show of snowdrops and camellias in the square, plus the obligatory host of daffodils, it’s hard to remember the chilly end to last year and our very merry Christmas Fair.

Showbiz comes to our local church in December when Richard Curtis and some of the stars of Four Weddings and a Funeral will be filming the 2019 Comic Relief TV appeal at St James’, Prebend Street.

Be proud. Be very proud. It’s official. Arlington Square is now recognised as the Best Small Public Square in London.

Be proud. Be very proud. It’s official. Arlington Square is now recognised as the BestSmall Public Square in London.

We’re no closer to discovering why Arlington Square is so-called (see back issues of The Arlingtonian since about 1976) but while looking at old maps for clues, we’ve discovered an interesting fact.

Troubled cop DI Harry Clayton hurtles out of an Arlington Square house towards the camera, pursued by a barefoot female.

This year’s Islington Proms have a distinctly international flavour.

Another Christmas season, another jolly Fair in the Square.

Our research into why our Square is called Arlington continues. The latest possible clue came from a neighbour who was a pupil at Highbury Hill School for Girls, now Highbury Fields School.

Our gardening plans for spring include planting plenty of snowdrops and mini daffodils in Arlington Square’s rejuvenated circular beds.

It’s awards season – and once again the Arlington Association has a lovely list of reasons to celebrate.