Comments on: John Olney, Donovan Brothers Ltd

By: Tony Hogwood

Tony Hogwood — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 10:36:51 +0000

Great to see this as I worked for Donovan’s in Spitalfields Flower Market from 1984 until 1989 as a salesman with John Ney, a great time it was and met a lot of great characters including John Olney our boss.

By: Colin Dennison

Colin Dennison — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 13:36:05 +0000

Myself and my cousins purchased our 10x10s regularly from Crispin st in Spitalfields. I remember yourself, my Cousin was Harry Lawrence from Stepney he worked with a man with one leg named hoppy ginger. I also worked under the arches in Brick lane with Ginger and Johny Bidder on Sunday mornings.Another trader was always at the top of brick lane nr bethnal green rd he was George Fuller.My friend Michael Bruce thinks he went to school with you in Bellingham.Great family and history, also dealt with you in old Covent Garden with the Fletcher family Bert, Vic, and Kieth from Wokingham.

By: John Donovan

John Donovan — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 15:02:21 +0000

How great to come across this amazing story and more so the pictures, I have been doing my Donovans Family Tree for many years,Most of my family ended up in Cwmbran south wales, But the Intresting fact, when my ggg grand father came from Dublin he and his parents stayed in the east end around 1840, but as yet have no information as to where they lived or stayed with, My ggg grand father was a paul Donovan, and his mother Catherine Donovan. I would love a picture of the shop front to add to my Tree…….Brilliant story, thankyou so much for sharing

By: Sam Roberts

Sam Roberts — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:54:44 +0000

Where did you find those archival photos of the old shopfronts? Would love to use one on a new ghostsigns tour that I’m developing which will pass the sign on Crispin Street.

By: Martin Donovan

Martin Donovan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:42:37 +0000

Hi Donovans
I was just hunting around the internet and bizarrely came across you, wonder how far back we go, if atall

I have been spending some time in East Africa some of there fraught & veg is fantastic particular pineapples from Uganda are to die for
so much better then anything in Europe

Question –

Is there a market for the product ?

Can I get in to the wholesale market ?

Would you be interested in Shifting the product ?

Im just putting out feelers at the moment so any thoughts or advise would be helpful

Manny Thanks
Martin Donovan