A notable local landmark, St James’ Church, celebrates its 140th birthday next year.

Arlingtonia was graced by another royal visit in November, when HRH The Prince of Wales dropped by to learn about our community gardening achievements and meet some of our volunteers.

The work of the Arlington Association has been recognised by yet more awards, prizes, grants and bursaries.

It sometimes takes an effort of memory to realise just how much the Arlington Association volunteer gardeners have achieved in just over two years.

Five intrepid local Arlingtonians opened their gardens to the public in June as part of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS).

Our lead gardener Paul Thompson held a window box workshop in the community garden in May (right ), generously sharing his expert advice and offering us many useful tips on how best to plant and maintain a beautiful window box.

We welcome more and more visitors to the square every day but very few of them arrive accompanied by a Personal Protection Officer, an Assistant Private Secretary, the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Islington, the Master of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, the Deputy Mayor of Islington and a bunch of press photographers.

The 2014 Islington Proms season at St James’ in Prebend Street opens on Saturday March 29 with the Cantallini chamber choir (above) performing Fauré’s Requiem and music by Bach, Tallis, Messiaen and Tchaikovsky.

You don’t usually associate Arlingtonia with heavy metal music, but at least one practitioner of the dark art recently lived among us in Linton Street.

Those grim castellated entrances from the New North Road to St Paul Street, Rydon Street, Linton Street and Arlington Avenue are no more.