I was absolutely delighted when I was chosen to represent Canning Town North ward in 2014 as I was already very familiar with parts of it.

My sister and I travelled by bus from East Ham to Poplar and onto the Isle of Dogs to go to George Green’s School and it was our great treat, on a Friday afternoon, to stop off at Canning Town and have a little trawl around ‘Raffy’ – Rathbone Street market – we loved it.

Then, one day, a Franciscan Friar came to talk to us at school; we got on the same bus home, he got off at the Abbey Arms and said: ‘We have a great youth club at St Philip’s Church on a Sunday night – why don’t you come?’ And of course, I did… and, a few years later, was ordained!!

How strange that, in 1987, I gave the blessing at the Rathbone Street Songs of Praise on BBC1 television – the Bishop received a number of complaints, of course (because I’m not a man), but we had a wonderful day.

So, Canning Town North for me is usually a happy place to be with some truly lovely people.

There’s a real mix with folk who’ve lived there for generations and others who’ve just arrived, whether seeking a new life in a new country, or finding our housing and our excellent travel connections exactly what they needed for the next phase of their life.

There’s lots of new building in Canning Town which can be dirty and irritating but at least some of the newcomers come and join our community events, like the parties at Cody Dock – what a gem that is – do go and visit when we are able.

Inevitably, there are bad bits. People in Canning Town North sometimes feel left behind and forgotten in some of the more exciting and futuristic developments in Newham; Rathbone Street is still not bustling and the level of air pollution is shamefully high – but we work together to put those things right.

We know that the best things in life aren’t things, the best things in life are people – and the people in Canning Town are the best!

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