Carole in Greenwich is 51-60 and is a Life Coach.
Carole was inspired from an early age to look after her neighbours and to be kind to others. She now works as a life coach where she helps people to achieve their life goals, offers them advice within the world of work and helps them realise their amazing qualities. Her favourite moments are when she sees women believing in themselves.
Film Maker: Katya Kozary, Ruth Gardiner
Questions & Answers
- What's your first memory of London? My first truly “London” memory is being driven up to the West End to see the Christmas Lights - that would have been in the 1960s - all us kids squeezed into my cousin’s Rover. I always think of that song “Downtown” by Petula Clark when I think of that memory.
- What do you miss when you're away from London? To be honest - I’m not really away from London for long enough periods to miss it - but if I were I think I’d miss the sheer variety of the place.
- What's your favourite neighbourhood? I love the South Bank - I love the buzz up there, always so much going on, the fact that it’s so accessible - so much stuff is free - its an amazing public space.
- What's your favourite building? I love the “Walkie Talkie” - it looks like how I imagined buildings of the future would look when I was a kid growing up and I adore the Sky Garden.
- What's your ideal day out in London? A trip on the cable car, the Thames Clipper up to town then a long walk by the river stopping off in a nice pub by the river for lunch.
- What's your ideal night out in London? A nice meal or drinks with old friends. Time to talk and perhaps a walk through London back to the the Station to top it off.
- What's your most hated building? I’ve never liked the Barbican - I find it cold, dark and dismal.
- What's the best view in London? The top of the Shard without a doubt. The first time I went up I was almost in tears at how beautiful the view of the Thames was.
- What's your favourite open space? I love all of the Royal Parks but the view from the observatory hill in Greenwich Park is something special - so Greenwich Park gets my vote.
- What's the most interesting shop? Not one shop - I’m a big fan of Charity Shops. I’m one of those people who can scan the rails quickly to pick out bargains - I love that you never know what you’re going to find :)
- What's your favourite place to hang out? The Royal Festival Hall - It’s the perfect place to meet friends and hang out - there’s always a place to sit and chat - in fact I even Coach up there sometimes. It’s an amazing public space - the building is so light and airy there’s often free music, lots of great places to eat & drink and exhibitions.The Royal Festival Hall - It’s the perfect place to meet friends and hang out - there’s always a place to sit and chat - in fact I even Coach up there sometimes. It’s an amazing public space - the building is so light and airy there’s often free music, lots of great places to eat & drink and exhibitions.
- What's been your most memorable night out in London? St Patrick’s night 1985 - we went to see The Pogues in a smallish Venue in Hammersmith. Not only were the Pogues great - Elvis Costello spontaneously took to the stage & Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) was in the audience. It felt so cool being young in London.
- How would you like to spend your ideal day off in London? A lot of pottering around and maybe one nice highlight - lunch with a friend, an exhibition, film or a walk.
- Where would you take someone visiting from out of town? It would feature cable car, boat on the river and a trip up the Shard. Then perhaps a nice walk through St James, Green & Hyde Parks.
- What's the worst journey you've had to make in London? Several years ago I tore my calf muscle and I was on crutches for 2 weeks. I’d only been back to work for a couple of days when it snowed and of course all the transport came to a standstill - I had to walk from Catford to home - over 3 miles in the snow with a sore leg, slipping around - awful!!
- What's your personal London landmark? The Bermondsey and Rotherhithe stretch of the Thames. Where I was brought up and where my family lived and worked. The Wharves, Cherry Garden Pier, The Angel & the Mayflower. So much significance in my life for so many reasons.
- Who's your favourite fictional Londoner? Ebenezer Scrooge: I love his transformation of character and the journeys he is taken on (& takes us on) by the Ghosts. We get to see so much of the time.
- What's your favourite London film, book or documentary? I love all of Sarah Waters’ London books - all beautifully written, atmospheric gripping with incredible characters. My favourite though is the “Night Watch” - a gem of a book set in London during the Second World War - I almost chose Kay Langrish the main character as my favourite fictional Londoner.
- If you could travel to any time period in London, past or future, where would you go? One of the times that the Thames froze over. This gives me a window of a few hundred years and I don’t really mind when just so long as there’s a Frost Fair. I’ve seen 19th Century illustrations which show drinking, dancing and gambling on the frozen Thames so maybe I should go for that!
- For you, who is the ultimate Londoner? Although I love the iconic Pearly King & Queen roles and they are the first thing that comes to mind - I don’t think there’s any one person who is the Ultimate Londoner. For me being a Londoner is all about being part of the mix of people and I like that no one person can encompass that.