Soniya

I like to offer natural goodness to the people of Ridley Road, which I believe is nectar from the gods.

To be standing here as a working-class, single mum, running my own business, and holding my own, makes me feel proud. I’m pleased to stand up for myself, someone of mixed race, I think Ridley Road has helped me understand that heritage. My mum Concepta, is Italian and my dad Raphel, grew up in Antigua, but is originally from West Africa. They told me they used to come here and walk up and down together, holding hands, when I was in mum’s stomach. This road is part and parcel of my identity.

I now sell fresh fruit and vegetable juices on Ridley Road. I used to dream of lots of beautiful fruits in the sky and on the sea-bed floating past me and this inspired me to serve this nectar from the gods. I suppose it was a subconscious choice. Years ago, I did think of doing a shop assistant job but the guy who owned shop was so rude to me, I decided to open my own business and set up on my own in 2002. The juices I sell are immune boosters and I only use fresh fruit and veg. @sadiqkhan has commented that @honeyangeljuices is the best juice stall in London.

I’m here every day except Sunday. I wake up five at clock and get myself and the fruit ready at the door. At 5.50 I wake the kids up and tell them all to get dressed and have breakfast. I get to Ridley Road, set up my stall and then go back to the house to check on them and make sure they are all looked after. Once I know they are all okay, I am back here making juices. You have to buy the fruit and veg, set up the stall, make the juices, clean and serve customers and then pack it all up at the end of the day.

This is a tough job for a woman, but it has rewards, mainly from the people you meet and what you learn from them. I like talking to people and it’s the older Caribbean generations that seem to return to me here. They tell me about their lives and encourage me to keep on and what a good job I am doing. Some of them spend an hour or so with me. It’s more like a community space than just selling something. I’m a good listener, patient and I am interested in other people’s lives and what they’ve experienced. Their stories make me feel a lot stronger and give me hope for myself and my children. I enjoy chatting to all types of people and learning about their cultures and histories. People tell me I am a loving and caring person and that means a lot to me.

One of my daughters wants to come and work with me here on the stall and at first I was hesitant as it’s quite a male dominated space. However, unlike her sister who wants to be in the medical profession, she wants to support me. She wants to be street trader, just like her mum.