DR. ASHLEY HICKSON-LOVENCE
Author • Poet
Hackney-bred Dr. Ashley Hickson-Lovence is an award-winning author with deep loyalty to his roots. Masterfully using literature as a dynamic snapshot into the shifting faces, ever-changing landscapes and the diverse and deeply intimate stories of Hackney.
Image Credit: Anna Davidson
Dr Ashley Hickson-Lovence was born in Hackney and grew up in a single-parent, working-class household in East London, with strong memories of travelling between Hoxton and Highbury.
Ashley made his literary debut with The 392. Set over a tense 36 minutes on a London bus route between Hoxton and Highbury, the novel acts as a microcosm of contemporary East London, exploring Hackney’s multicultural voices and experiences through themes of gentrification, race and identity. The novel was later adapted for stage and performed at Brixton House in 2025.
Why Hackney Matters
Dr Hickson-Lovence describes himself as “proudly Hackney born and raised”. “My grandmother lived in the borough for decades, my mum still does, so it’s somewhere my family has been connected to through a lot of change.”
“A lot of my work is interested in place, community and the people whose stories do not always get centred,” he explains. For Dr Hickson-Lovence, being included on the Legacy Steps alongside other Black writers and creatives connected to Hackney is “a complete honour” and part of a wider responsibility “to lower the ladder for the next generation of local readers and writers.”
Did You Know?
The 392 uses a fictional bus route that doesn’t exist. TfL has buses 391 and 393, but not 392.