dave

I met Dave on the Walworth Road in South London. He was on his way home from a charity shop where he’d just bought some picture frames. Dave is 70. He was born locally and has lived in the area his entire life. I remarked that he looked very cool for a man of his age and asked if he used to be a Punk back in the day. Dave said ‘I’ve been the lot - Mod, Rocker, Punk and in the 70’s’, even a Hippy'. Dave worked most of his life as a mechanic - mainly motorbikes and especially Harley Davidsons. He told me that he has a thirty-year-old daughter who he is very close with. I asked about his wife - he said that her name was Virginia and that 27 years ago, they went on a dream holiday to Florida where she drowned in the sea. He said it was harrowing losing his young wife, especially on holiday and so far from home. He said that the insurance company paid for a private plane to fly her body back at a cost of £50,000. Dave said It was strange flying back home alone. 

Dave raised his daughter, who was just 3-years old at the time, by himself and said there isn’t a day that goes by when he doesn’t think about his wife. I’ve said previously that talking to people on the street has had quite a profound effect on me. It seems that the people that I’m drawn too with my camera always have something surprising to tell me. When I met Dave in Walworth Road, I certainly didn’t expect to hear such a moving story told with such dignity by a man who 5 minutes before, was a complete stranger to me.