It Happened in Clissold Park is a collection of heart-warming intertwining stories about ordinary people, and is the only work of fiction to be set in this well-loved London park. These hyper-local stories will resonate with residents of Stoke Newington, Hackney, Highbury and the surrounding areas. It was published on the 28th June 2024.

Locality is a real focus for author Hugh Todd, who collaborated with local artist Dave Buonaguidi aka Real Hackney Dave, for the cover art. Dave’s signature screen prints on original maps were the perfect imagery for Hugh’s story which is rooted in its location.

Hugh hosted a talk at Stokey LitFest ‘The coolest literary festival of the summer’ – Authonomy, on 9th June, where he talked about the inspiration behind his debut novel.

“If you want to laugh, cry or understand humanity a little more, you really ought to buy this lovely, bite-sized book.”

– Peter Souter, screenwriter Married, Single, Other

Clissold Park in North London boasts football pitches, ponds, woods, a playground, and even a deer park. But it also harbours urban cowgirls, secret love affairs, buried fortunes, match-making beagles, sentient trees … and a strong whiff of magic.

Told over the course of a year, twelve stories intertwine to form a vibrant tapestry of modern London life. Meet laid-back Lloyd the park-keeper and his fussy side-kick Rob, star-crossed sweethearts Josh and Essen, feisty horse-lover Abimbola, and the 97 ghosts who party every Halloween with Lord Clissold…

It Happened in Clissold Park will warm your cockles, open your eyes, and rekindle your wonder at the people and places we take for granted every day.