Evacuated resident vows to keep ‘close checks’ on Camden Council

It was 5.30am when I arrived at the leisure centre turned emergency hub in north London, and the very first person I saw was Shirley Phillips walking her dog Tilly.

I had first spoken to her a few hours earlier outside Taplow Tower. She was one of the first to leave after learning on Sky News that her block was being evacuated.

Having lived in the block for 49 years, it was clear she was central to this close community.

I shouted her name and she rushed over.

She told me she had spent the whole night sitting in a chair, was exhausted and did not know what was happening.

Shirley, 72, wears a gold ring on her left hand spelling out "Mum" and is clearly proud of her family.

Her children and grandchildren had come down overnight to support her – some of them had also been forced to leave their homes.

But despite having been up all night, it was clear Shirley was a tough cookie.

As soon as Camden Council leader Georgina Gould arrived at the centre, she steamed straight in and demanded answers on whether her beloved dog would be housed with her.

She wasn’t taking no for an answer.

The councillor was taken aback when Shirley asked whether she should be putting her dog to sleep.

It came as no surprise to me that her hotel room was sorted an hour later – including space for Tilly.

What was remarkable about Shirley was her ability to laugh during a clearly tough time.

She had been given a tag to wear around her neck when registering, which was bearing the number 20.

"That’s who I am," she joked.

As she headed off for some sleep, she said: "I don’t think they (Camden Council) are going to keep a close check on us…but I’m going to keep a close check on Camden, believe you me!"

I doubt this will be last time we – or Camden Council – hear from Shirley.

(c) Sky News 2017: Evacuated resident vows to keep ‘close checks’ on Camden Council