THE Fairhazel Housing Co-operative recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a summer garden party that featured live music and a group photograph that included some of its original founding members.

The party, held on the green between Canfield Gardens, Compayne Gardens and Fairhazel Gardens, went on late into the night and boasted an array of home-cooked treats, a birthday cake and original music from two live bands. 

Stories were swapped about the formation of the Co-op, which took place in 1975 under progressive housing legislation, and how it went on to form 129 flats in 27 properties.

At the time, a group of residents living in privately-owned blocks came together and secured a loan from the government to buy the homes to run them as social housing for people on low pay or on Camden Council’s waiting list.