Starting the summer with art and fun

How we’re strengthening our relationship with Ambler Primary School

You would think that launching a brand new website and opening a new branch in Crouch End would be enough for one year, but not at Anthony Pepe. We have just passed the halfway point of 2017, and we’re not slowing down!

As the school year came to an end we worked on one final community project with our friends at Ambler Primary School in Islington. The Summer Fair was fast approaching, so as part of an end of term competition we gave the pupils at the school the chance to have their artwork showcased on our ‘For Sale’ boards to promote the school’s annual fair. Each board advertised the fair whilst also raising money for the Ambler Primary School and Children’s Centre.

The competition entries flooded in, and there was only one man for the job of judging the artwork: Sales Manager, Tim Gray. He took his role very seriously as he chose the winners of 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place. During the DREAMS morning assembly, Ciara, Bilal, and Zachery were recognised in front of the whole school, and later their artwork would pop up around their home on our For Sale and To Let boards in North London.

On Saturday 8^th July, as the sun shone in Islington, the local community came out to support their local school. This year the Summer Fair took on a carnival theme to celebrate Ambler’s recent ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted ranking, with vibrant gazebos, colourful bunting, fruit-topped hats, and the rhythms of the excellent steel pan band.

The fair was officially opened by Islington’s Mayor, Councillor Una O’Halloran, who said, “Ambler School is a shining example of how a wonderfully diverse community working together, sharing together, and learning together is Stronger Together.” Other notable visitors included the Gunnersaurus, and Thane Prince, judge on BBC2’s Big Allotment Challenge, who judged the inaugural Ambler Bake-Off competition – won by Jade Talbot with her Ultimate Rainbow Cake conceived in honour of Pride + Celebration.

Among the five runners-up were biscuits in the shape of fidget spinners, and a cake in the shape of an owl. Local pottery outfit Claytime offered the children the chance to ‘make or break’ – shape a pot on the wheel, or lob balls at old crockery for a smashing time. A ukulele workshop was provided by Strings Club, and a vibrant lightsaber demonstration from Silver Sabres. During the fair, traditional carnival games were played, including a popular coconut shy, a buzz wire game, a timed playground challenge, and a treasure hunt in the forest area.

Right Way Sports organised ball challenges in the recently renovated Arsenal Foundation football cage. The Metropolitan Police provided a bicycle marking service (and policeman hats and riot gear for dressing up!), while Wheelytots demonstrated their capacious cargo bikes. While on the subject of wheels, as Summer Fair sponsors Anthony Pepe provided a Smoothie Bike, which saw thirsty children cycling for their nutritious healthy fruit smoothies.

Community spirit didn’t end there though; parents and carers generously gave up their time to provide face painting, henna, a disco, biscuit decorating, and many other stalls, which were all enjoyed by the pupils and their friends and family. Local charity the Toy Project also had a stall to raise money, with donations going towards projects such as the new nursery for Grenfell Tower.

It’s hard to imagine how all of this fun was crammed into one day, but what a day it was. This year’s Ambler Primary School Summer Fair was their best yet, and we at Anthony Pepe are proud to be an ongoing sponsor of such a kind and caring school in our beloved community.

You can talk to your local branch to see how we can help you buy, sell, rent, or let your property in North London. Don’t forget to take advantage of our Sales for Schools Scheme, and you too can support your local school by selling your home with Anthony Pepe. We can’t wait to see what the rest of 2017 has in store for us and our community.