Andrea Levy heritage plaque
- 03
- Mar
Islington Council has celebrated the life and work of author Andrea Levy by unveiling an Islington Heritage Plaque on her childhood home.
In a joy-filled ceremony at Twyford House on Elwood Street in Highbury, Andrea’s husband Bill Mayblin unveiled the plaque along with Islington Councillors and Baroness Lola Young, one of Andrea’s close friends.
Lots of people turned out for the plaque unveiling
Andrea Levy was born in Whittington Hospital in Islington in 1956. She grew up with her family in Twyford House on the Blackstock estate, and attended the prestigious Highbury Hill Grammar School (now Highbury Fields School).
A young Andrea Levy
After starting to write as a hobby in her early 30s, Andrea went on to produce some of the nation’s most celebrated and influential works exploring the lives and contributions of immigrants and working class people in the UK. Best known for her novels Small Island and The Long Song, Andrea’s work provides an insight into life in Britain from the perspective of the Windrush generation. Andrea died last year at 62, of cancer.
Bill Mayblin, Andrea’s husband, said: “If Andrea could have seen this plaque she would have been amazed, and maybe a little embarrassed even. As for me, I’m just so very proud that her achievements are recognised and celebrated in this corner of Islington that meant so much to her – and that featured so much in her work.”
The Islington Heritage Plaque was unveiled on Saturday, 14 March.
Some of Andrea's most celebrated works
- No Smoking Day 2021 3 March 2021
- Step Up to Social Work and make a difference to people’s lives. 16 February 2021
- New Highbury Pool set to make a splash 15 February 2021
- LGBT+ local history 14 February 2021
- Celebrating Islington apprentices in National Apprenticeship Week 9 February 2021
- Shereen’s apprenticeship story 8 February 2021