1980s to 2020

1985

Bernie Grant is the first-ever black elected leader of a local authority in Europe.

Image of Bernie Grant photographed when he was elected leader.

Grant served for a decade as a local councillor for Haringey Council, of which he was elected Leader in 1985.

The exact date he was elected is cited as 30 April 1985. He was Leader until 1987 when he was elected MP for Tottenham.

Town twinning of London Borough of Haringey with the parish of Clarendon in Jamaica.

Marking the town twinning of London Borough of Haringey with the parish of Clarendon in Jamaica. Councillor Andreas Mikkides shakes hands with the mayor of Clarendon, holding the official town twinning certificates.

1986

Gay rights activists – Positive Images campaign in support of Haringey's gay and lesbian community.

The Lesbian and Gay Rights Demonstration outside the Civic Centre on 30 October 1986.

LGBT campaigning stepped up this year after the Positive Images group was formed.

The Positive Images group was at the Lesbian and Gay Rights campaign outside the Haringey Civic Centre in October 1986. They were protesting against the implementation of Section 28, which banned local authorities from 'intentionally publishing homosexual publications with the intention of promoting homosexuality'.

Labour then won control of Haringey Council, with lesbian and gay equality part of the manifesto. The council’s Lesbian and Gay Unit was launched – the first of its kind in the country – to highlight the rights of LGBT people to council staff. Pioneering campaigner Femi Otitoju was part of the unit, which is now part of our equalities team.

A book called Jenny lives with Eric and Martin, which told the story of a girl living with her dad and his partner, was available to school children in Haringey. A group of local parents complained – sparking protests on the streets of Wood Green, for and against gay rights.

Then in 1987 Positive Images and Haringey Black Action organised the first UK demonstration ‘Smash the Backlash’ to highlight the stories of black lesbians and gay men. The demo went from Duckett’s Common to Bruce Castle Park via the Roundway in Tottenham. 3,500 people took part.

An Extraordinary Council Meeting on Education October 1986, led by Bernie Grant.

1988

Bruce Kent – peace campaigner, leader of CND and a Haringey resident – at the borough’s declaration of being a nuclear free zone, and the start of Bruce's 'One World Walk' of 1,000 miles. Bruce walked from Warsaw to Brussels in the summer of 1988. His sweatshirt was made for the walk (he still has it!).

Promo photo for Bruce’s 'One World Walk' of 1000 miles with Bernie Grant left, Sharon Grant second right and Bruce Kent right with other councillors.

1988

Raising the flag to Nelson Mandela with Mayor Cllr Andreas Mikkides 1986.

Did you know?

Haringey Civic Centre has been used for film and TV sets including season 3 of the Crown doubling up as The Middlesex Hospital and the Guardian offices in a 13-hour film shoot.

1990

Haringey Council challenges racism with a month of focus in March.

Haringey Anti-Apartheid Movement and support for Nelson Mandela.

The launch of the Haringey Challenges Racism Month in March 1990. The event took place at the Civic Centre, Wood Green. The photograph shows the platform with the mayor, Councillor Fred Knight, speaking. Tottenham MP Bernie Grant is second from the left.

Did you know?

The Listing Statement of the Building says: “It reflects the important influence of Scandinavian architecture in early post-war England and adopts its subtle qualities to achieve the sense of openness and modernity which define the aspirations of the post-war civic centre as a type."