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17 Londoners with amazing jobs we’ve met this year
From tube drivers to beekeepers, here are some of the fascinating Londoners we’ve quizzed over the past 12 months
Been keeping up with our regular ‘Things You Only Know’ series in our free Time Out London magazine or online? Then you’ll know that this city is filled to the brim with people who have fascinating jobs. Some of them keep London running from day to day; others are unusual roles that you might not expect to find in the capital. From a tube driver and an air pollution expert to a sex shop manager and the ravenmaster at the Tower of London, here are some of the fascinating Londoners we’ve chatted to this year.
My London Story: Londoners with fascinating jobs
1. The tube driver with 20 years’ experience under her belt
If you think driving a train is straightforward, think again. Lara Balogun has been driving up and down the Jubilee line for two decades and helps keep the tube running like clockwork.
2. The photographer who snaps pictures of the royals for a living
Tim Rooke has travelled all over the world taking pictures of the royal family, including the Queen and Princess Diana.
3. The charity fundraiser stopping Londoners in the street
Persuading busy people to stop, chat and donate to a good cause isn’t the easiest of jobs, but Enda Muldoon takes it all in his stride.
4. The Border Force dog handler and her specially trained pooch
Spending every day with a dog would be a dream job for many, but Victoria Martin is hard at work detecting firearms at Gatwick with her spaniel Teddy.
5. The pollution monitor keeping an eye on our exposure to bad air
Gary Fuller studies the air pollution in the capital and the worrying impact it’s having on the lifespan of the average Londoner.
6. The midwife helping homeless pregnant women have their babies
Memuna Sowe delivers the babies of homeless women and asylum seekers, who are often too fearful to approach authorities.
7. The grown-up ball pit manager keeping us feeling young
Running London’s biggest adult ball pit, Wenny Armstrong has the job we could’ve only dreamed of when we were children.
8. The support worker helping victims of crime and terror attacks
After a major incident, support worker Daniel Bygrave plays a vital role helping victims through the trauma of experiencing an attack.
9. The traffic light controller keeping London’s roads moving
By adding seconds to green lights and heading out to stare at traffic signals, Katy O’Sullivan stops the road network grinding to a halt.
10. The McDonald’s manager serving hungry Londoners
Heading up a central London branch of Maccy D’s, Roberta Maciuleviciute has no shortage of stories about the people who step through the fast food chain’s doors.
11. The ravenmaster looking after the Tower of London’s famous birds
Chris Skaife has devoted his life to the ravens that call the Tower of London home.
12. The diver fishing bombs out of the Thames
Diving into the murky waters of the river, Alex Bonato helps keep the city safe by disposing of old bombs and mines.
13. The lollipop lady helping London kids cross the road safely
Helping children across the road in Stoke Newington, Donna Thorpe has become a beloved pillar of the local community.
14. The actress terrifying people for a living
Working at the London Dungeon, Carmen Flynn can often be found covered in blood, sweat and buboes, giving audiences a fright.
15. The beekeeper tending to his hives in the middle of the city
Looking after a bee colony in Bermondsey, Dale Gibson says that cities are sanctuaries for our bumbling friends.
16. The prison officer supporting incarcerated Londoners
Working in HMP Pentonville, Officer Byfield-Johnson aims to make sure prisoners are ready to face the world when they’re released.
17. The shop manager surrounded by sex every day
As the manager of a Soho sex shop, Ian Squibb notes that the job isn’t quite as much of a turn-on as you might expect.