Comments on: Charlie Caisey, Fishmonger

By: Wendy Anderson

Wendy Anderson — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 14:02:21 +0000

Just Googled your name Charlie, what a lovely read I’ve just had. I used to come into the shop B/Hill 35 years ago, on my way to cook in the city. How time flies, take care Wendy XX

By: Tony Conoley

Tony Conoley — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 19:51:35 +0000

Hi Charlie
So pleased you are still about , next time I am in the UK I am going to track you down,
Best Regards. Tony
Ex pearls fish restaurant, Queens road, Buckhurst Hill

By: Trevor Prince

Trevor Prince — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 10:42:39 +0000

Thanks for this insight. I’m just starting a photo essay based around my local fishmonger, a third generation family business. I would like to cite this work as a reference in my project.

By: Herb Kane

Herb Kane — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 08:19:00 +0000

My grandfather Jack Kahansky known in Billingsgate as “jack no 3” used to transport, in the 30’s, fish from the London Docks to Billingsgate on Horse drawn wagons. I can remember him talking about many of the Fish Merchants named in the Article. In those days Fish was transported in wooden Boxes with crude metal hinges to secure the lids, thy either held 7 stone (98lb) or 5 stone (78lb). My grandfather deserted from the Russian Imperial army and escaped to England he could not get regular work as if caught by the Authorities he would have been sent back to Russia and executed for Desertion. Consequently being a man of enormous physical strength he used to take up challenges in the Boxing Booths to last a round with one of their pro’s which he invariably did. Or taking up strong man challenges in the Music Halls, he eventually achieved British citizenship. They dont make them like him
these days.

By: Denise McKay

Denise McKay — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 11:47:02 +0000

I am trying to locate my Uncle (Name unknown) who was married to my Aunt Edna McKay Born 1926), all I know is she was married to a Chief Buyer for Billingsgate. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated

By: Penny

Penny — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 12:27:24 +0000

Thankyou Gentle Author,

am watching the television, in Esperance, Western Australia. A story about a fishmonger from Billingsgate, working in New York. I thought: “I bet ‘spitalfieldslife’ will have something on that fish market” and sure enough even a picture of the man – Roger Barton.
What fun, makes it such a small world. Thankyou for your blog, which I happened apon a few years ago and dip into now and then.

Penny

By: Tony Conoley

Tony Conoley — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 18:50:52 +0000

We opened a fish restaurant in Buckhurst hill in the 80/90s and dealt with Charlie and the boys,called Pearls in queens road, Charlie was a brilliant guy to do business with ,lovely to hear he is still doing his bit for the fish business.
Best regards to the boys at KC in LOUGHTON. Tony Conoley

By: Sonia Murray

Sonia Murray — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 13:56:48 +0000

A great story – thank you! It’s a shame that Billingsgate market is being closed down. What right does government have to destroy the market and put honest men out of work?

By: Cherub

Cherub — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:21:32 +0000

Another lovely story about honest hard work.

By: Roger Stowell

Roger Stowell — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 10:29:55 +0000

I was totally engrossed in Charlie’s life which he recounted in extraordinary detail. The pictures make a very neat essay illustrating Billingsgate life. I was a food photographer in London from 1968 to 2001, when we moved to France, and I never visited Billingsgate. The little mention of throwing the offcuts to the seals was a fine touch.