A London community has rallied around traders left devastated after fire ripped through their historic market place.
The blaze swept through the 800-year-old market in Kingston-upon-Thames on October 6, wiping out a number of the market stalls.
Eight people were evacuated as 25 firefighters tackled the fire in the early hours of the morning.
But the resilience, determination, and community spirit among locals have seen the historic market make a swift recovery, with traders back doing business within a fortnight, albeit out of temporary shipping containers.
Tim the Fish stands in front of Kingston Market, which was recently ravaged by a fire
The Standard
Tim Meads, known affectionately as Tim the Fish, recalled finding out that his 42-year-old stall was ablaze.
“It caused a lot of devastation,” he said, as he remembered “trying to salvage what [he] could and hoping just that no one was injured.”
Mr Meads estimated that the fire cost him around £27,000 in loss and damages.
He told The Standard, “This was my livelihood. It was everything to me.”
“It’s wiped me out. Absolutely wiped me out”, he added.
The fire ripped through Kingston Market in the early hours of October 6
Toni & Guy Kingston
Images emerged of the scene after the blaze, showing the burned trading stalls
JR
According to Mr Meads, the market was once “buzzing” with “happiness”, but the fire has taken its toll on the community and the traders.
‘It’s very sad to look around it. It’s had a big effect on the whole town,” he explained.
But in the face of adversity, the neighbourhood has rallied to rebuild what Mr Meads has described as “the heart” of Kingston.
A GoFundMe page set up by his wife has raised more than £14,000 for the fishmonger and his stall.
Speaking about his community, Mr Meads said: “There is love in this town,” adding that he felt “grateful” and “very blessed.”
He explained that he had seen many changes in the town as people turned to Deliveroo and food delivery services, but was hopeful that the market would “rebuild” if everyone “got back together”.
Mr Meads urged people to stop using supermarkets and to seek out independent traders like himself for their weekly shops.
Fish stalls at the outdoor market at Kingston-upon-Thames in 1956
Getty
Tim the Fish is a well-known name among residents like Simone Kay, who has been visiting his stall since she was a young girl
The Standard
Mr Meads, alongside other traders, has been set up in a temporary shipping container, while the permanent structures are under construction.
Kingston Market has held a special place in the hearts of many local people.
Simone Kay told the Standard that she had been coming to the market since she was young. It was then that she first met Mr Meads.
Since her youth, when there were well over 100 stalls, the market has slimmed down considerably. There are now around 28 permanent stalls, with traders opening their doors seven days a week from 10am to 5pm.
Locals can find everything from greengrocers selling fresh vegetables, to artisanal breads, and florists.