By Joe Rainer

newsdesk@croydonadvertiser.co.uk

When it comes to legs of lamb, shoulders of beef and pork bellies few people will know more than David Tann.

Because after over 40 years in the business, he is believed to be Croydon's longest serving butcher.

He now runs his own shop, D.C Tann, in Elmfield Road, Sanderstead, having started off at the age of 15 delivering meat on his bike.

"I had one of them bikes like what you see on the old movies when the sausages are hanging out of the basket and the dogs are running after them," he recalled nostalgically.

"I pedalled too quick, though, so the dogs could never catch me up."

After learning his trade he set up his own shop in 1986 - and has been providing top quality meat for his regulars ever since.

David knows exactly what most of his customers like to order - but will always get the odd unusual request.

"A few years ago I was asked to prepare a turkey for Christmas stuffed with all sorts," he recalled.

"The guy gave me a list and it had things like chicken, pheasant and bacon.

"It was huge. It must have taken him hours to cook."

Christmas is his busiest time of the year when he sells over 500 turkeys and more than 10,000 sausages.

And even celebrities have been partial to trying out his finest cuts.

David provided the meat for a recent episode of cult Channel 4 show Come Dine With Me, where former boyband star Dane Bowers played dinner host.

"He bought fillet steaks for the show - it was on a few weeks ago with Bobby Davro and Mo from EastEnders," he explained.

"When he came in I didn't know who he was but he's been in before.

"One of the guys I work with said that's 'Dane Bowers' and I said 'who's that'."

He never fails to recognise his regulars, however, and admits he "feels old" when he sees children who used to come in with their mums, coming in with children of their own.

The banter with customers is one of his favourite parts of the job.

He said: "One customer calls me Mr Jones because she doesn't like my real name, so I call her a new name every time I see her.

"I have always enjoyed the job, talking and joking with customers.

"It's nice when people bump in to me and immediately recognise me as the butcher."

Over the years supermarkets have come to have more of an impact on his business.

"The biggest enemy I have is time," he said. "People just go to the supermarkets and grab it all because it's there.

"Local butchers offer a better relationship with customers, though. I regularly help customers select cuts of meat to suit there occasion."

*Do you know someone who has been doing the same job in Croydon longer than David, who deserves recognition?

If so call the newsdesk on 020 8760 7606 or e-mail newsdesk@croydonadvertiser.co.uk