David is the Captain of the only free ferry service in London; the Woolwich Ferry. Despite making the same short journey, from the north to the south of the river thames and back again, he never gets bored as "no two journeys are the same". The camaraderie between his crew always provides entertainment, but also the tide, the cars, the people all differ on each journey, and from his viewpoint he gets to see everything. David is from a family of people who have worked on the Thames and although his Father's suffered a severe accident it hasn't put him or his son off continuing to work on the river.
1000 LONDONERS
This film is part of 1000 Londoners, a five-year digital project which aims to create a digital portrait of a city through 1000 of the people who identify themselves with it. The profile contains a 3 minute film that gives an insight into the life of the Londoner, as well as their personal photos of London and some answers to crucial questions about their views on London life. Over the course of the project we aim to reveal as many facets of the capital as possible, seeing city life from 1000 points of view.
1000londoners.com
youtube.com/1000londoners
facebook.com/1000londoners
Twitter @1000_londoners
1000 Londoners is produced by South London based film production company and social enterprise, Chocolate Films. The filmmakers from Chocolate Films will be both
producing the films and providing opportunities to young people and community groups to make their own short documentaries, which will contribute to the 1000 films. Visit chocolatefilms.com
Transcript:
Everybody I meet says to me 'You must get bored, you must get absolutely bored going from North to South, South to North' I never get bored of it. No two trips are the same. I'm just easing the vessel into the terminal, nice and easy, trying not to bump along the side. The guys say we like to do it without cracking an egg. Some of us do it, some of us don't. I would have cracked a box full with that one! I play a lot of golf. I'm quite a sociable guy, and, when I'm out, if ever they see me they ask me what I do for a living. Everybody's interested in the job I'm doing, what I'm up to. Yeah, I love it. I'm very proud. You get to see all the vessels that go by, get to see some beautiful vessels. In the reach at the moment, we've got some tall ships - that's a rare sight. Obviously, looking down, I get to see all the cars, some nice cars that come on the vessel. Also you get some amorous couples. They don't think to look up and see me, you can look over some times and you might see a little bit of kissing and cuddling and canoodling, and that's quite funny sometimes. I've been a bit wicked in the past and if I see a couple having a little kiss and a cuddle I often get on the phone and call my crew mates, and tell them that the couple in a certain car need some advice and direction. It's a little bit wicked I know but I do enjoy doing that. My Dad worked on the tug, they were responsible for towing the rubbish out of London and the company he worked for put a modification on the tug which the crew of the tug, including my Dad, didn't want because they felt it was dangerous. They put a bar over the top of the towing hook. Well the day my Dad was on there, the rope slipped and it trapped my Dad's hand. Every bone in his hand it shattered. He broke his arm obviously and he was never the same after that. Part of the river where the accident happened is a place called Walbrook Dock. Every time I pass there I can't help looking over and thinking yeah that's where my dad's end of life really started, if I'm honest. I still miss him. People still talk about him. He was a bit of a character, my Dad. I like to think that I've got a bit of his sense of humour, bless him. There we are, I've cracked another egg, side egg!
