After the London Riots

After his furniture store went up in flames during the London riots, 80-year-old Maurice Reeve came out of retirement to lead his family business through the crisis, and he also set out to find out how a town he had always thought so safe, could descend into arson and looting.

Maurice explains "I never thought in a million years my shop, which had stood for 145 years, would be brought to the ground. I felt helpless, sad and physically sick. Afterwards I was interviewed by TV crews from around the world and said on the news that even Shakespeare could not put into words just how awful I felt. I was totally unaware what was going on in Croydon that night. It was my wedding anniversary and I was up in London at the National Gallery with my wife and we had a lovely meal out. I came back and put the television on and in the next second there was my building on fire. Those memories are etched in my mind. It was cruel really. They didn't steal anything. It was wanton destruction".