Nick Fenner of R French is retiring this month after 47 years in the Market, most of that time having been spent working for the cut flower specialist.

His initial response of “too long” to the stock ‘how long have you been working here?’ question won’t surprise too many people who know him!

Nick, from Brixton, added: “I started when I was a boy of 19 and I’ll be 66 on March 31^st. I was a trainee accountant with Charlie Knights in the fruit and vegetable market before I came to the flower market to work for W Moss – for a week – and then for Baker Duguid for a few years and I came to work here many years ago for Mr French’s father and then Mr French.

“I’ve been a night man since I came to work here, though I did do days for a while at Baker Duguid. I don’t really have any favourite memories; it’s paid the rent and I like it in the summer time because it’s cold in here, but I won’t really miss it,” Nick said. “I’m planning to take it easy in my retirement and get some sleep at the right time.”

R French’s Ricky Jenkins said: “Nick’s been a real stalwart – worked here for a long time. He’s here every single night, he’s always been very reliable and he will be missed.”