The owner of an Ilkeston fish and chip shop that has been serving customers for more than 60 years says closing the business has been a "very emotional ride." Dennis Jackson, 84, recently announced that his beloved Jackson's Chippie on Market Street was coming to an end due to his advancing years and the increasing costs of running the business.
The final day of service on Saturday (April 8) saw customers queueing around the block to enjoy Dennis' fish and chips for the final time. The lunchtime service usually begins at 11am and finishes at 2pm but, as the clock got nearer to 3pm, Dennis and his staff were still serving hungry customers.
Speaking as the final day of Jackson's Chippie drew to a close, Dennis said: "I've had a fantastic time over the last 62 years, I don't know where the time has gone, apart from the fact that I've had three children. It's been eye-watering seeing all of the people who have been in here today.
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"Over the years your regular customers develop into friends but I've told everyone that they won't be losing their friendship with me. I'm not disappearing off the planet and, in a couple of weeks when I've calmed down a bit, I'll no doubt be seeing them in Tesco.
"All our takings today are going to the Ilkeston Community Hospital, we did the same 20 years ago and raised £1,000, so this time we're hoping to reach £2,000. I'm trying to keep light hearted today, but it has been a very emotional ride."
Nottinghamshire Live reported last month on the history of Jackson's Chippie, which famously included customers being offered shark in the 1970s so they could "get their own back" following the release of Jaws in cinemas. The closure of Jackson's Chippie has also drawn nationwide attention, with Dennis recently appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain.
But among those in the queue on Saturday were people who didn't know Dennis as a celebrity, but as a life-long friend. Six sisters who once lived next door to Dennis' fish and chip shop came together for his last day.
Chrissie, Susan, Lilian, Angie, Linda and Sylvia lived with their two brothers, mother and father and were known as the Draper family. Now aged between 71 and 58, they shared fond memories of living next to the chip shop, with the family having left their home next to the shop around 58 years ago.
Chrissie said: "He was great to live next to and he was very good to my mum after my dad died. We live all over now but we're still relatively close and so we all wanted to come and see Dennis today."
Susan added: "When I heard he was closing I thought, it's about time. Not for Ilkeston, but it's good that he can now retire."
Someone who made an extra special trip for Dennis' final day of trading was Lesley Ray, 64, who started working for Dennis in 1974 until she started university in 1981. She now lives in Italy but flew back to see the final closure of Jackson's Chippie.
She said: "Dennis was fantastic to work for. I now teach translation and interpretation at university in Italy but my roots are here with Dennis. He maintained excellent standards and you'd have been sacked on the spot if you were caught eating chips or anything like that. He doesn't know I'm coming today, but I had to."
Saffron Martin, 28, from Ilkeston, came for Dennis' last day with her daughter Bonnie Thomson, 4. She said: "We've been here loads over the years and it's much better than other chippies - I don't really go anywhere else for fish and chips.
"I was sat in my back yard today and I saw the clock get to 12.30 and just knew we had to come down. I've got a big order to get today, including his chicken curry which he's become quite well known for."
Mike and Julie Ellis, both in their 60s, came from Belper and both previously lived and worked in Ilkeston. Julie Ellis said: "I used to go to the school nearby, which has now been turned into housing, so I regularly used to sneak out here at lunch." Mike Ellis said: "I was delighted when I heard this was closing, not for Ilkeston but for Dennis.
"He's well past the retirement age and he's served the community incredibly well over all these years. There's more to life than frying fish and chips, so he deserves to enjoy himself."
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