Maurice Reeves

Maurice Reeves

Working for the Swedish daily newspaper Göteborgs Posten (GP) I met 80-year old Maurice Reeves who’s furniture store ‘House of Reeves’ was burnt to the ground during the recent riots in Croydon, London.

The shop was set up by Maurice’s great-grandfather Edwin Reeves in 1867 and is now run by Maurice’s 2 sons who are the 5th generation to have run the business.The store had survived the great depression of the 30’s and World War II. As a young boy Muarice hid in the store’s cellar during the attacks by German V-1 flying bombs and V-2 rockets which destroyed most of central Croydon.

Standing amongst the ruins Maurice was impeccably dressed in a pin stripe suit. An English Gentleman.