To all of us living in Chesterfield Donald Hollingwood is a familiar face and voice. Ayres fruit stall would simply not be the same place without him. We caught up with him as he served customers on the Friday Market.
Donald started work as a small boy of seven collecting wood (he won’t mind me telling you this) in 1946. This led to his job on the fruit stall where he distinctly remembers being told to "stand there and don't move" on his first day. No one can accuse him of not listening to that advice as he’s still there all these years later!
He's seen many changes on the market - notably the loss of transport through the centre of the town and the bus station at the bottom of the Market Place. This is one of the things which Donald reckons has had an impact on the market trade over the years. It's certainly declined, with over 100 people on a waiting list for casual stalls at one point. Now many regularly stand empty.
He remembers the price of oranges being a shilling a dozen when he started - that's 5p for 12 in today's money - he concedes they've gone up a bit since!
He'd be lost without the market life and fears his mind would go if he didn't come to work - the people he meets are the best bit of the job. On the stall in all weathers, it's a great life he says, and one which he thoroughly enjoys.
As one of the most recognisable and visible faces of the town long may he continue to do so.
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