Nilgun Canver - A local Champion

Nilgun Canver was a well-known and loved, local figure to many in Harringay, who will be sorely missed. Before passing away at age 59 in August 2017 after a short illness, Nilgun led an exemplary life as a Green Lanes champion. Originally from Adana in southeastern Turkey, she came to the UK as a student in the 1970s before adopting Britain as her home. Nilgun dedicated sixteen years of her life to Harringay, served as a Councillor for St Ann’s ward and several cabinet roles between 1998 and 2014.

She was instrumental in tackling crime and grime locally after the tragic incident of 2002, in which a violent altercation involving gangs battling on Green Lanes, left one dead and many injured. Nilgun set up and chaired the Green Lanes Strategy Group (GLSG), an ambitious undertaking, to bring together key stakeholders and external agencies to tackle serious antisocial issues. It took the group almost two years to clean up Harringay.

“Nilgun will be sorely missed”

The group continued to work together, resulting in many firsts! The GLSG piloted a timed refuse collection on Green Lanes before rolling it out in the rest of Haringey. Additional tree planting and flower baskets soon followed in 2005/6. The group also tidied up the railway bridge, turning it into a gateway using banners, and delivered the first Green Lanes Food Festival by 2009.

By 2011, the group was awarded £2m regeneration funding by The Mayor of London, delivered a second Food Festival and the first winter Festival in 2011, with a large 70ft Christmas tree, light projection onto the Salisbury façade, ice skating and a movie bus. Regeneration projects improved the street scape, shop fronts, gateway and feature lighting. Green Lanes wouldn’t be where it is today without local champions like Nilgun.

Nilgun also made herself known internationally, founding the Labour Friends of Turkey Group, and was an active member of her party in European politics.

The Gardens Residents Association paid tribute to her by raising funds and planting a tree in her honour on the corner of Stanhope and Essex Gardens N4.

Nilgun is survived by her only son Burak.