Rose gardener Gary

Made by SElect18 Films, Gary is a rose gardener for the Royal Parks in Greenwich. He has no favourite rose in particular and believes they should all be treated and cared for the same. Gary is very appreciative of life and feels that his job gives him great satisfaction.


1000 LONDONERS

This film is part of 1000 Londoners, a five-year digital project which aims to create a digital portrait of a city through 1000 of the people who identify themselves with it. The profile contains a 3 minute film that gives an insight into the life of the Londoner, as well as their personal photos of London and some answers to crucial questions about their views on London life. Over the course of the project we aim to reveal as many facets of the capital as possible, seeing city life from 1000 points of view.

www.1000londoners.com
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www.facebook.com/1000londoners
Twitter: @1000_londoners

1000 Londoners is produced by South London based film production company and social enterprise, Chocolate Films. The filmmakers from Chocolate Films will be both producing the films and providing opportunities to young people and community groups to make their own short documentaries, which will contribute to the 1000 films. Visit www.chocolatefilms.com

Transcript:

My name's Gary, Gary Hudson. I'm a London boy. And um, I work here in the Royal Parks of Greenwich. I look after and maintain the rose beds for the Royal Parks. That consists of everything, weeding them, making sure the plants are watered, fed, everything in their everyday aspect. Up until the end of October or November. 'Cause a rose takes an awful lot of looking after. Look at my office. I mean: who's got this? I like history. And I was big on the legends of Rome because I'm tactical myself. You know what I mean. The size of the rose garden. By rights, it should need. It should need four to five gardeners. It's only got one, 'cause I'm tactical. People from the observatory on a nice, hot summer's day they come with their lunch. And they like to sit down, read a book, chill out. I don't actually have a favourite. They are all cared for the same. There is no favourite. It's like saying: what's your favourite child? There is no favourite. I love 'em all. I care about people. I care about life. I care about the plants. I care. So that's why I do this work. I've got everything. I've got a nice home. I've got a good job. I earn money. And I don't suffer jealousy. Just wish everybody well and you're fine. I haven't got a doctor. There's nothing wrong with me. So why would I need one? A lot of people have lived in this area all of their life. When they die, they like to be buried here. So when they come up and say hello to their nan, their husband, their wife. They're looking at a weed free bed, a nice healthy plant. That gives me great satisfaction.
And when I put my head on my pillow by night I sleep. I will always be here until I can no longer cope. You know, as I get older. I can no longer twist, turn, or my back gets bad. Then you have to stand down. And then you stand down and you make room for the young.