The Golden Hour!

Its owner, 84-year-old Dennis Jackson, says hanging up his apron was very emotional. He opened Jackson’s Chippie on Market Street in Ilkeston town centre in 1961 and it closed in April

Dennis says the opening hours were extended on the last day of service with all of the proceeds going to Ilkeston Hospital. Some staff members even offered to work for free and Dennis contacted the hospital to tell them to send some nurses down to the event.

He says they hoped to raise two thousand pounds on the final day - double what was raised during a similar celebration 20 years ago to mark the shop’s 40th anniversary.

Dennis made the difficult decision to close a few weeks ago and since then the community has been showing how much it will miss him. “For 3 weeks it’s been manic!” says Dennis. “A really lovely customer, an elderly lady, who you wouldn’t think would wait an hour and 8 minutes for chips - did!”

Dennis began peeling potatoes when he was 20 in a different chip shop, and years later opened his own. The decision to close is age-related and because of rising costs and the current economic situation.

WE HAVE SUPPLIED INBUILT SUPERPAD SYSTEMS (TRIPLE FILTRATION) FOR FACTORY FITTING TO:

MARTYN EDWARDS

FRANK FORD

KIREMKO (KFE)

HENRY NUTTALL SCOTRANGE

EDEN RANGE

WE HAVE ALSO RETRO-FITTED BASKET FILTRATION AND SUPER PAD UNITS TO SHOP INSTALLED RANGES. PLEASE CALL FOR ADVICE ON YOUR RANGE

He describes his customers as “the best in the world” and says he has mixed feelings about retirement. “It’s exciting but also terrifying. Last week I woke up and thought what am I going to do in a week’s time when I’ve got no shop to go to”, he says. “It’s an unexplainable experience to live the life of a fish fryer for 62 years and not want to lose it, but I’m afraid that’s how it’s got to be.”

As well as his customers, Dennis’ staff say they are going to miss him. Vanessa Males was employed by Dennis for 24 years. “It’s been amazing. Dennis as a boss, well, there will never be a boss as nice as Dennis”, she says.

The 84-year-old said he had a lump in his throat when he served his last customer. Are you close to retirement? Email austen@chippychat.co.uk