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Islington Tribune - 23rd May 2019
A POPULAR street bookseller was found dead just days after he had arranged to meet his adult daughter for the first time since she was a child. John Henderson, 47, was discovered in Black Path – a lane running alongside the West Hampstead Thameslink station – in the early hours of Sunday morning.
As a shrine grew on the railway bridge where he ran an open-air book stall, his 18-year-old daughter revealed how she had made contact with him. Rosie Henderson-McGirr said: “I went into care when I was younger and we didn’t have much contact. Growing up I had a lot of anger, a lot of mixed feelings. I never saw him as someone who was trying to fix his life. I was told that he couldn’t help himself so he couldn’t help me.”
She added: “He had had a difficult upbringing himself. It may have caused him to drink and be a drug user. But I never got the chance to speak to him about that. I don’t know why he called himself Spider.”
People in the area said the “Spider” nickname related to tattoos on Mr Henderson’s left cheek and right hand. The father-of-three sold books – donated by passers-by and nearby residents – from a plot in West End Lane for 20 years. His favourite companion had been a three-legged Staffie dog, Sugar, who was recognised with a plaque outside the station last August.
Ms Henderson-McGirr said: “It wasn’t until recently that I was in contact with my mum and she put his ear to the phone. We spoke, just a short conversation. We said we loved each other and he wanted to see me, and we decided to meet. That was such a big decision for me to make, it was just Wednesday last week.”
Born in Clydebank, near Glasgow, Scotland, Mr Henderson moved to London 30 years ago and was known to have a drink and drug problem. Although Mr Henderson spent most of his time in West End Lane, near West Hampstead station, he had for a long time had a flat in Kilburn.
Ms Henderson-McGirr said: “I couldn’t understand it, as a child. There was a frustration that, if you’ve got a flat, why couldn’t you find a job, an actual job and live an ordinary life. A lot of other people who know him are questioning about that. But he never wanted to change it. He was happy doing that.”
She grew up with a brother, Steven, in care, although recently discovered she had another half-brother, John. He had got in touch out of the blue on Facebook, saying: “Hi – I’m your brother.”
Ms Henderson-McGirr and Steven are official ambassadors for the charity Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness, which works with people affected by alcohol intake during pregnancy. FASD covers a range of disabilities on the brain and body of people exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. It can affect motor skills, physical health, learning, memory, attention, emotional regulation, and social skills.
Ms Henderson-McGirr said: “People think it’s OK to have a couple of drinks during pregnancy. The charity gives information and support to children who are diagnosed with it.”
http://camdennewjournal.com/article/west-end-lane-bookseller-john-henderson-found-dead
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/ham-high-letters-may-23-2019-1-6065826