Greenwich Market celebrated 25 years of trading for the art and crafts market on Friday.
Visitors to the market enjoyed free food tasters, craft demonstrations and live music, including a string quartet from Trinity Music College and a performance by kids from the James Wolfe school.
To mark the anniversary, a new clock was unveiled with help from local MP, Nick Raynsford, out-going Mayor of Greenwich, Cllr McCarthy, and director of the Greenwich Hospital Estate, Martin Sands (pictured above). The four-sided station-style clock, which hangs a rafter in the middle of the market, was made by local clockmaker, Les Grayson.
After pulling the cord to unveil the new clock, Nick Raynsford spoke to Greenwich.co.uk:
Greenwich Market is one of the great attractions in Greenwich, and over the years it’s evolved and changed. Two hundred years ago it was very different to what it has become in the last twenty-five years where it’s been an arts and crafts market and recently we’ve added in the food as well. Greenwich Market will go on evolving and changing but it’s a fundamentally important part of the attraction of Greenwich and I, along with everyone else, are determined to see a vibrant market continuing here.
Firstly Mr Raynsford, can you please get your facts right. You are our MP, have pontificated many times on your vision for the market, yet you conveniently forget that there have been food traders in the market for over eight years – hardly recent is it?
Secondly Mr Raynsford ,do you think that your buddies at Greenwich Hospital are seriously going to allow the food court to continue in its present form after the development which you have used your immense power and privilege to endorse? The vibrant, slightly chaotic but characterful experience these stalls provide is going to be replaced by a sterile, prissy environment.
Thirdly Mr Raynsford, please don’t fool yourself that the traders enjoy your presence in the market. Most don’t know who you are,but those that do understand that you stand for the coming disruption, if not anihilation of their businesses.
Yes Nick, we are all keen to see a vibrant market continue here. As opposed to a hotel and smaller, gentrified market. Good to see director of Greenwich Hospital was there too despite his role as most unpopular man in Greenwich