Popular fishmonger retires from Dinnington market stall family held for 60 years

FISHMONGER John Thorndike took over the family market stall — 60 miles from home — and ended up with the catch of his life.

The 60-year-old’s late dad — also called John — had travelled from Grimsby to sell the seafood at Dinnington since the mid-1960s.

John junior remembers travelling to Dinnington for the Friday market as a child — and took on the family business before he was out of his teens.

He said: “Unfortunately, my dad died when he was 42. I took over the stall because my mother was left out on a limb.

“I left the merchant navy to take it on. It was a sentimental thing, really. I thought I would give it a go and just see what happened.

“After about four or five years, I knew it was for me. I’ve got a knack for meeting and greeting people — the gift of the gab.

“I love to talk and have a joke with the customers. That’s what has made it so hard to call it a day.”

The family’s near 60-year stint holding a stall at Dinnington will end next Friday (9), when John retires for health reasons.

It was while manning the market here that he met wife Michelle (61), a Dinnington girl whose maiden name was Sheldon.

“She worked on a veg stall,” said John. “She just happened to one day bring in some apple pie for the people she worked with.

“I asked for a piece and it just went from that. We had a night out and within six months we were married.”

John buys from fish auctions and carries out all filleting and preparation. It’s important to him to bid for the best — market customers are more discerning than online shoppers clicking a stock photo of fish.

“At the auction, if there’s something I like I go in for it early,” he said. “The big firms can hold back a bit, but I need that high quality because my customers judge with their eyes.

“On market day, my alarm goes off at 2.45am to get to the docks. We get to the market in Dinnington, have a bit of a tidy up and set the stall out ready for 6am.

“I have some regulars who come religiously at that time. The early birds also get the pick from the whole range that I’ve brought, whereas if you come at 11am I might only have a few bits of cod left.”

So how did the Dinnington connection begin?

John said: “At the docks, if there’s a market somewhere and there isn’t a fishmonger on it, then everyone knows about it!

“Back in the day, everybody used to come out and buy a bit of fresh fish. Young people tend not to do a lot of cooking.

“There’s been changes in Dinnington too. It’s a lovely community but it’s not quite the same as it used to be, although there’s a lot of redevelopment in the pipeline.

“We have superb customers who have made it a pleasure. We’d like to say a big thank you to all of them.

“It’s going to be emotional putting the stall out for the last time. It’s been fantastic.”

Regular customer Rachel Graham said: “It’s the end of an era for Dinnington market.

“My family have bought from the fishmongers since the 1970s. My mum used to get us sprats and if I was there I got a free prawns.

“John and Shell are lovely people. They’re kind and generous, always rounding their prices down an odd penny or throwing in the last bit of fish, and having the time to talk to customers.

“They have been a real asset to the Dinnington market and travel over every Friday, come rain or shine.”