Newsroom
At 91 years old, John Panayis is showing no signs of slowing down. The dedicated fish and chip shop worker from Northampton has been in the food business for over six decades and continues to serve up delicious meals with enthusiasm.
Despite his age, John still hauls hefty 20kg bags of potatoes around the shop and works 30-hour weeks at Nick’s Plaice. He originally took over the chippy in 2009 at the age of 75 and later passed the business to his son, Nick, five years ago. However, retirement didn’t suit him. Finding himself restless at home, John returned to work, eager to be back behind the fryer.
Over the years, he’s served around half a million portions of chips and has no plans to stop anytime soon. "Retirement wasn’t for me," John admitted. "You can only mow the lawn so many times! I love being around people, and the work keeps my mind sharp. The customers are great, and I feel grateful for their support."
John credits his good health to a balanced lifestyle, a great home-cooked diet, and the occasional glass of wine. "I’ve hardly ever been sick, and I eat fish and chips at least twice a week—sometimes even for breakfast," he joked. "I always tell my family, if I came back in another life, I’d probably be a fish!"
His son, Nick, couldn’t be prouder. "He’s an inspiration to all of us," he said. "Customers love him, and he’s always been a fantastic cook. We’re lucky to have him here."
For now, John has no thoughts of stepping away from the fryer, proving that age is just a number when you’re passionate about what you do.
With information from the Northampton Chronicle & Echo.
