Page 6 - HGS Suburb News 149 - March 2022

S U B U R B Michael talks he gave at Joseph’s, the
former bookshop in Temple
Fortune. Though a lifelong disability
Shamash rights campaigner, Michael never
allowed himself to be defined by
his disability.
One of Michael’s passions
was with the Trabant car, the
1958 - 2021 signature vehicle of communist
East Germany. This fascination
led to a Radio 4 series of a car
journey he made with his old
Photo: Peter Hasenson NAOMI ANGELL school friend, Will Self, in a beat
up Trabant. The road trip started
Alec power, Alec’s father saw the writing M transport enthusiast and at BBC HQ in Portland Place
ichael Shamash, disability
ending at the Trabant factory in
rights campaigner,
on the wall. Alec recalled seeing
Zwickau in the former East
the stormtroopers marching in the
Hasenson neighbourhood and not under- Suburb resident died unexpectedly Germany. Will, at almost twice
at the age of 63, after a routine
Michael’s height, had to learn to
standing why his mother pulled
him inside, forbidding him to
watch the soldiers parading down operation on 23 September 2021. slow down to keep to Michael’s
pace. “Simply slowing down to
Although small in stature (3
the street. Not long after, the foot 6 inches in his cotton socks), accompany him began to teach
1927 - 2021 family moved to England, settling Michael had a very big personality me a little of the patience that
in Hendon Central, and Alec was
must be essential if you’re a
and presence in the lives of those
enrolled in the local school. He who knew him. A Suburb resident, disabled person trying to
didn’t speak a word of English Michael grew up in Winnington negotiate an abled world.” Will
PEOPLE
PETER HASENSON and this, coupled with the fact he Road and spent the last decade of recalls how Michael, who couldn’t
was German, meant he had to his life in Hampstead Way where he really sit on the passenger seat
general medical practitioner, fend off the bullies by showing lived with his partner Helen and only prop himself against it, never
an author, a steam train them the one magic trick he had their adored daughter Lydia who, uttered a word of complaint.
A and Pullman coach managed to master. The at only two, is already a feisty Michael was a font of wisdom
enthusiast, a collector of stamps, disappearing coin trick seemed to personality, taking after her dad. about the things that make living
an encyclopaedic knowledge of work and he was accepted. Michael attended University in the Suburb special. For those
the history of Dover harbour, an Shortly after settling in College School and read sociology who recall the Temple Fortune of
expert on the American Civil War, Hendon, war broke out and Alec and politics at Warwick University the 1970s, Michael loved to
a military historian, a lifelong and his mother were evacuated to before joining Camden Council as reminisce about the interior decor
diarist, an avid collector of post- the Lake District for the duration a social work assistant. Later he of Capriccio’s Italian restaurant,
cards and stationery, a keen of the war. Alec recalled wonderful completed an MA in criminology Lindy’s patisserie or the layout of
photographer, a cataloguer of post memories of happy schooldays at Middlesex University. Kendrick’s Toy Shop. Temple
boxes, a talented violinist. These filled with lessons, one inspiring At Camden Council Michael Fortune Waitrose’s long term
were just some of Alec’s passions. teacher and plenty of sports. was active in NALGO – the union employee, Jim Driscoll, recalls
Dr Benjamin Alexander (Alec) Alec was a dedicated student that later became Unison. A former Michael lighting the shop up with
Hasenson was born in 1927 on and on his return to London after colleague, Rory Heap, said “He his beaming smile and cheeky
16th December in Hamburg, the war, continued his studies always had the right things to say. sense of humour. Waitrose staff
Germany. When Hitler came to finally qualifying in Medicine at He could discuss disability in ways regularly wheeled Michael’s
the Royal Free Hospital Medical that didn’t make people feel shopping trolly home for him and
School in 1958. awkward. He had a huge impact when they heard of his death
His whole working life was on perceptions of disability.” Rory announced it to all staff and
spent serving the community of and Michael joined forces as shop customers in the shop that day.
Stoke Newington as a GP. stewards for the local branch of Michael cared deeply about his
In 1955 Alec was introduced NALGO, where Michael was surroundings and had little time
to Pat Phillips at a party. He was passionate about social justice for those in positions of power who
smitten. They married in 1957 and worked hard to represent the failed to contribute to making our
at Alyth Gardens synagogue, interests of Camden Council staff. neighbourhoods better for all of us.
eventually settling in the Suburb, For several years Michael Will Self describes Michael as
first in Blandford Close and then chaired the Restricted Growth a charismatic man – good-looking
in Linden Lea. There Alec and Pat Association and was a director of and a charmer – who deployed
enjoyed many years of Suburb the disability advocacy organisation, these characteristics to pave his
life, their four children attending Shaping Our Lives. Michael also way in an often hostile world.
local Suburb schools – Kerem lectured and wrote on disability at He was all of these things and
House Nursery then Brookland Middlesex and Bedford universities. so much more. He will be deeply
‘My favourite view of the Suburb’ Infant and Junior Schools. He will also be remembered for missed by Helen, Lydia and the
(Photo: Alec Hasenson) As a keen photographer, the entertaining and challenging rest of his family and many friends.
Alec took many thousands of
photographs of the Suburb and
We are very happy to come out to meet HGS events developing his black
you and your relatives to discuss our
services. and white photos himself in his
home dark room. Many of his
Please call us at any time for more photographs are being digitised
information about how we can help you.
and will eventually be uploaded
0208 064 0240 www.radfieldhomecare.co.uk onto the HGS Virtual Museum’s
camden@radfieldhomecare.co.uk
archives for everyone to enjoy.
The photographs make a wonderful
We are extremely proud to support visual record of how the Suburb
Outings & activities
older people in our community to has changed (or not) over the past
Household tasks live independently in their own homes. 50 years. Some were recently
Medication support Our team is passionate about circulated on the HGS List
Wellbeing delivering the highest standard of prompting many shared memories
care and will always go above and and stories between residents.
Dementia care
beyond to help our clients. Alec will always be remembered
Personal care
with huge respect and will be
missed greatly. As his children
recall he was one of those people
who always saw the good in
others. Family was the heart and
soul of his life. Long after Alec
became deaf and couldn’t hear
the lively Friday night and Sunday
lunch chatter around the dining
room table, he would sit and
smile at everyone, holding small
conversations with whoever was
sitting either side of him. Photo: a family friend
6 SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS