John in Merton is 61-70 and is retired.
John, leader of the South London Revival Scooter Club, is born and bred London, from spending his twenties and thirties hanging out down the Kings Road on his scooter to still being a scooter enthusiast today, however opting for the more quiet life in Mitcham. But his passion for two wheels doesn’t stop there; his Vespa PX200 takes him to all the revival meet ups and ride outs; from London to Brighton, Southend and beyond! On the day of the shoot, it was John’s 65th birthday, a first for a 1000 Londoner’s shoot! We are the mods!
Film Maker: Alessandra Cocksedge
Questions & Answers
- What's your first memory of London? I went to the Tower of London on a school trip and I remember the Beefeaters.
- What do you miss when you're away from London? I'm fed up with London, I've had London for 50 years! But really, everything is there, if you want something you can get it! Where I live, out in the sticks, everything closes at 5pm, but in London there is that buzz.
- What's your favourite neighbourhood? Kensington. I used to work there for 25 years until we moved to Shepherds Bush last year. I live Kensington. Lots of famous people live there, Simon Cowell & Richard Branson all have houses there. It is an attractive place to live if you can afford it. I did also used to do a lot of my shopping around Petticoat Lane market in the east end.
- What's your favourite building? The Shard, it's got to be!
- What's your ideal day out in London? Going on a cruise down the river on an open top boat, especially when it is sunny. Last time I did that was a long time ago, there was a disco on a boat that was all day and went into the evening. They were playing country rock music - The Eagles!
- What's your ideal night out in London? Probably going to see a good film then going out for a nice meal after. Thats a treat.
- What's your most hated building? The Walkie Talkie building, it is an ugly shape, don't like it at all.
- What's your favourite open space? Hyde Park, definitely. Theres the Serpentine and in the summer it is just lovely. When I worked in Kensington I used to walk there in the summer and eat my lunch.
- What's your favourite bar, pub or restaurant? It's not there anymore but my favourite bar was the Greyhound on Fulham Palace Road. I saw Thin Lizzy there before they were famous! Loads of big bands used to play there.
- What's your favourite place to hang out? The Kings Road. There is an American Diner there which we go to quite often, I can't remember what it is called but it does good burgers and milkshakes.
- What's been your most memorable night out in London? I saw the Eagles play at Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank before they were big. I took my 8-track tape deck and they signed it! They even said "Oh I haven't seen one of these in ages!" which shows how long ago that was.
- How would you like to spend your ideal day off in London? Round the museums, I like the museum's. The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum.
- Where would you take someone visiting from out of town? The Waxworks on Marylebone Road - Madame Tussauds. I used to go passed there all the time, the queues are always huge with the tourists.
- What's the worst journey you've had to make in London? I know it is a little further our, but once on the M25 there was an accident and to get from Kensington to home took me 4 hours. It was ok though as the radio turns into a TV so we watched Coronation Street!
- Who's your favourite fictional Londoner? Sherlock Holmes got to be. There used to be a shop on Baker Street, then it turned into a Beatles shop. Not sure what it is now.
- What's your favourite London film, book or documentary? The Bank Job. It is based on a true story, about a bank robbery that took place in the West End. They got into the vaults and found some things to do with the Royal Family - some kinky things. The bank is still there today. I highly recommend it!
- If you could travel to any time period in London, past or future, where would you go? I would go back to the '70s and hang around the Kings Road as I used to do. I don't drink but we would go to the bar, have a coke and just hang around.
- For you, who is the ultimate Londoner? It has to be Boris!