I met Paul Spiers - Beckenham road sweeper to celebrity

“I’m on my way to meet one of the most famous faces in south east London,” I thought as I set off to see Paul, whose rise to fame began with a simple holiday to Portugal.

The 63-year-old became the subject of a heart-warming community effort led by Lisa Knight, manager of John Woods & Co.

Residents and businesses rallied to send Paul on his long-awaited birthday trip.

Although his work contract prevented him from accepting the funds directly, the travel company On the Beach stepped in, organising a special competition to ensure Paul got the holiday he deserved.

When we caught up, Paul reflected on how his life has changed since his return to Beckenham: “People still stop me to ask how my holiday went,” he said.

He added: “Even a well-known actor came up to me—his wife had seen all the stories about me. Everyone’s always so friendly.”

Paul’s friendship with Lisa blossomed after she spearheaded the fundraiser, with overwhelming support from the community.

“I often bump into Lisa as I work along the street where her office is, and we chat whenever we can,” Paul added.

In August, Paul flew from Gatwick Airport to Faro, where he was whisked away to the Monica Isabel Beach Club—the same hotel he visited for his 60th birthday.

Paul Spiers and his brother (Image: Paul Spiers)

He plans to create a scrapbook, documenting the media coverage of his adventure and highlighting memories of his holiday, including a thrilling boat ride where he saw dolphins.

Despite his recent fame, Paul remains committed to his work and has set a goal to save for another trip to Portugal.

He said: “I think it will take me about two years to save up. I’d love to go back with my brother.

“We’d stay in the same place, but maybe try self-catering this time.

(Image: Paul Spiers)

“The people in Portugal, especially at our hotel, were so friendly—I had such a wonderful experience.”

A Veolia spokesperson confirmed that while the company doesn’t allow staff to accept external funds or incentives, they would donate the raised amount to charity.

Paul’s holiday seemed unlikely until On the Beach launched a highly specific competition, with criteria that fit only him: The winner had to love Elvis, be aged 62-64, have the surname Spiers, be a street cleaner in Beckenham, and be beloved by the local community.

The News Shopper first broke the story about Paul, capturing the hearts of not only locals but also national and international audiences, including Washington, D.C.

Lisa Knight said: “The interest was surreal—not just from the press, but from people dropping by the office to congratulate us.

“We even had people from The Washington Post reach out.”

Paul, Lisa (right), and Tilly (left) - John D Woods & Co. (Image: Paul Spiers) Paul told the News Shopper he would always want to work in Beckenham: “My employers can move me to another location at any time, but I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.

“Also don’t think the residents would want me anywhere else,” he added.

After my chat with Paul, I embarked on a tour of some of Beckenham’s most stunning properties listed by John Woods & Co.

We began at Langley Park, an award-winning development featuring million-pound homes, including a gorgeous £2 million five-bedroom house on Limewood Close.

We then toured the park to admire even more properties, many inspired by the 19th-century Arts and Crafts movement.

To conclude the day, I took a stroll through Beckenham Place Park, enjoying the views of the grand lake and Georgian mansion before wandering down the charming high street, lined with unique restaurants and pubs.