Antonia Drumm and Charlotte Putinas from the Amy Winehouse Foundation

AMY Winehouse fans from near and far flocked to Camden Town today (September 14) to celebrate what would have been the artist’s 40th birthday.

People left flowers, gifts and letters outside the Back to Black singer’s former home in Camden Square.

Tributes performances are due to  take place at several Camden venues tonight (Thursday). The Amy Winehouse Foundation gave out pink flowers in the market to fundraise for their charity that helps young people and those struggling with addiction.

Mother and daughter Michelle Nichols and Nicole Rathmill took the day off work and travelled from Manchester to celebrate their favourite artist at Poppies fish and chips restaurant where a tribute will play tonight.

Ms Nichols got a tattoo of Amy on her stomach on the musician’s birthday a few years ago.

Michelle Nichols with a bouquet for Amy

She said: “I just thought it’s her 40th. I needed to [come to Camden]. I just followed her. The film Amy, I loved watching that. I’ve had to get Back to Black twice because one scratched as I’ve played it that much in the car. I just wish that she could have carried on with her music.”

Ms Rathmill said: “As time goes on, you realise all the stuff that she could have done if she was still here. That’s the horrible part, she would have gone on to create so many more songs.”

Carol Ford and Becca Clayton-Perry who work on the train service from Leeds to King’s Cross visited Amy’s house on their break

Mark Lemieux from Canada said the singer had a “big presence” in the country. He said: “Her attitude, her talent. I’m a jazzer so what she brought to the jazz scene and how she was recognised and we love her in the jazz community.”

His partner Jackie Morin said: “I just love her voice. For a young 27 year old at the time. She had this very mature sounding voice and just such a great tone.”

Jackie Morin and Mark Lemieux 

DJ Bioux Hayes used to run a club night “Snakehips At The Monarch” with Amy at the now-closed Camden Monarch. He will be spinning seven inch records at the Hawley Arms tonight to celebrate his friend’s 40th.

But he told the New Journal that “people have no idea how furious her death still makes those that cared”.

He said: “Amy was a natural musician that had celebrity forced upon her. She died at the hands of every paparazzi snap and journalist cheap shot that was thrown at her. They made her hate herself and become what they had prophesied. They will never be forgiven.

“Many people have periods when they hate themselves, and to have the media telling everyone in the world she was a tragic drug addict made her become that. That wasn’t who she was before.

“But, I guess I should just say, every time I hear Amy’s music playing I feel sad that she didn’t make it to today.”

Antonia Drumm, who used to live in Camden and worked at the Ice Wharf, is a programme coordinator at the Amy Winehouse Foundation where she goes into schools and shares her story of growing up around addiction. She sees the impact the charity has on children every day, “ultimately, it’s Amy’s memory and legacy continued” she said.

“My mum was in recovery. So I have the perspective of what it was like to grow up as a young person with somebody who did struggle with addiction, but then I also talk about the problems I encountered as a teenager navigating the world of drugs and alcohol.

“I don’t like the feeling of getting drunk anymore. When I was younger, it used to be this amazing feeling where I could run away from problems whereas now I have healthier coping strategies. I really like who I am today.

“Sadly a lot of us didn’t get to meet Amy. But it’s amazing knowing that we’re doing work in her name.”

One woman who went to the Foundation’s rehab in Liverpool six years ago travelled down to Camden Town to pay her respects.

She said: “I owe the Foundation my life.”

Jane Winehouse, co-founder of the Foundation, said: “We’re really proud that so many people want to be in Camden for Amy’s birthday. So much good work is being done in her memory. And our foundation has helped thousands of young people. That’s really something to celebrate.”

All proceeds raised on the day have been donated directly to the foundation and matched by LabTech.