Dennis in Islington is 61-70 and is Flower trader.
Having worked at Covent Gardens Flower Market for 48 years, Dennis is a bit of an institution. At 65, he has been everything from a night porter to a floor manager at the market; he lives and breathes flowers. Up from the crack of dawn selling to florists all over the world, Dennis has hundreds of clients, he even did the flowers for Princess Diana’s funeral. We meet Dennis in the midst of the Valentine’s day rush.
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Film Maker: Rachel Wang
Questions & Answers
- What's your first memory of London? The memory that stands out is, when I was about four or five, my Dad took me down to the fruit market. I saw them unloading the lorries. All I wanted to do after that day was work in a market.
- What do you miss when you're away from London? I'm not away from London that much. If I get two weeks holiday, that's a lot. I wouldn't really miss anything. I like to go away, lie on a beach and chill out somwhere. Get the thong out and just rest!
- What's your favourite neighbourhood? Drury Lane, Covent Garden. I live in Islington now. But I love the "old" Covent Garden. I love the atmosphere. I feel like I belong.
- What's your favourite building? The Tower of London. It's one of the oldest buildings in London.
- What's your ideal day out in London? Sometimes I take a trip along the river. Or going for Sunday lunch, on a nice summers day.
- What's your ideal night out in London? I don't get many nights out. I usually like going for a nice meal out with my wife. Fredericks in Islington, we got married there; so it brings bad some nice memories.
- What's your most hated building? Bow Street police station. I was banged up there a few times, for being drunk and disorderly. That was in my younger days.
- What's the best view in London? Driving over Waterloo Bridge in the morning. You don't get a much better view than that anywhere and I recommend it to everyone.
- What's your favourite open space? Highbury Fields. I used to live near there and take my dog for a walk. Hamspstead Heath is lovely as well.
- What's been your most memorable night out in London? I got hit by a tube train in 1989. It was when Arsenal won the league at Liverpool. I don't know why, but I was walking along the track, at Westminster station. I broke my back, my leg...apart from that I was alright. I don't know why I was there; I was pissed. It was a good night! I woke up in the hospital and didn't belive my wife when she told me what happened. The train was a right off. I wouldn't recommend anybody to try it. We won the league as well!
- How would you like to spend your ideal day off in London? I'd stay in bed. We work crazy hours here, about sixty hours a week, so a long lay in would be nice.
- Where would you take someone visiting from out of town? I used to take my wife's parents, they were from Leeds, on a tour of London in my car. We would see all the sites. They seemed to enjoy it and I only charged then ten pounds each. I used to take them to the tower. I used to lock my mother-in-law in there!
- What's the worst journey you've had to make in London? Probably when I got hit by the train. I only travelled about a hundred yards, but I wouldn't take that trip again.
- What's your personal London landmark? Probably back at Waterloo. That view is incredible. You can see the Eye, Big Ben, Festival Hall. That view is London.
- Who's your favourite fictional Londoner? Sherlock Holmes.
- What's your favourite London film, book or documentary? Jack the Ripper.
- If you could travel to any time period in London, past or future, where would you go? I've got a thing for the ninteen-thirties. I read a lot of books set during the time period and I'd like to go there, maybe if I was reborn.
- For you, who is the ultimate Londoner? Delboy.