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Michelle Collins and Mayor Anna Berent switch the festive lights |
Sew good! Soap star’s hospital support
TWENTY years ago doctors at the Whittington Hospital saved former EastEnders actress Michelle Collins’s finger.
Now she is repaying the favour, after turning her guest appearance switching on the Archway Christmas lights into an opportunity to campaign to save the hospital’s accident and emergency department.
Ms Collins told the crowd: “It’s really, really cold. Thank you all so much for coming here. The Friends of the Whittington are here and I’m so grateful for the Whittington because they once sewed my finger on. Please don’t close down the A&E department.”
Ms Collins, who called herself “an Islington girl”, said her mother lives in the borough and that she went to school here.
Speaking to the Tribune after the switch-on, she said: “We’ve heard rumours they’re going to close it down. I really hope they don’t – where would people go?
“About 20 years ago I had my finger sewn on at the hospital. It got cut off in a door. It’s our local hospital, I’ve got a friend who’s a doctor here and I come here if I’ve got anything wrong with me.”
The Archway crowd enjoyed mince pies and steaming cups of mulled wine at the official start of the festive season outside the library for the annual Christmas lights switch-on.
Children from Hargrave Park and St Joseph’s primary schools joined in the festivities with home-made Christmas masks.
Friends of the Whittington sang carols and Finsbury’s pearly kings and Queens brought a touch of sparkle to the occasion.
Lib Dem leader Councillor Terry Stacy and Labour opposition leader Councillor Catherine West were also there to join the fun |
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