Richard Knapton, who works as part of Derby City Council’s Streetpride team, has received a Here for Derby award after years of helping to keep the city centre clean, welcoming and safe.
The 37-year-old, who is responsible for areas across Derby city centre, often works six days a week picking up litter, weeding flower beds, removing chewing gum from pavements and tackling some of the less pleasant jobs that help keep Derby looking its best.
Richard, a dad-of-four who lives on Friar Gate, said he feels proud every time he looks around the streets of Derby.
“I feel very proud when I look around the streets of Derby because I know how long I have spent keeping them clean,” he said.
“This is my dream job and I love it. You have to be proud of where you live — and I am. I walk out of my flat on Friar Gate and start picking up litter on my way to meet the team.
“If I’ve got my uniform on, I’m ready to work and want to get Derby clean and tidy.”
Richard previously wanted to become a firefighter before realising he was scared of heights. He went on to try bricklaying, shop fitting and working on the bins before joining Derby City Council’s street cleansing team.
Now, seven years into the role, he says he still loves getting stuck into the dirtiest jobs.
“The dirtier the project, the happier I am,” he laughed. “I can get stuck in and make a difference to the street I am working on.”
As part of his recognition, Richard was invited to St James’s Palace, where he met King Charles and Queen Camilla at a special reception celebrating local and regional government employees.
“Now that place was clean,” Richard said. “I had a good look at the palace and it was spotless.
“It was so fantastic and I loved meeting King Charles. It was a day I will never forget, and I felt really proud to do the job I do and be recognised for it.
“King Charles asked me about Derby, and we chatted about why the city is a great place to live.”
Richard is part of a small team that works across Derby city centre, covering areas from Derby Train Station to Derby Cathedral.
The Streetpride team also works alongside Derbyshire Constabulary, PCSOs and Public Protection Officers, and supports businesses within the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement Districts.
Richard said he is always busy, but that is exactly how he likes it.
“I can walk thousands of miles around Derby every day and I love using my picker and filling bags up,” he said.
“My favourite part of the job is operating our fantastic green machine sweeper. She’s one amazing lady. You want to see how fast she can pick up leaves from Friar Gate or London Road. She makes our job easy when we need to sweep up huge areas.”
For Richard, keeping Derby clean is more than just a job. He says he takes huge pride in the city and wants visitors and residents to see Derby at its best.
“It can be frustrating when you have worked in an area of Derby and return a short while later to find it littered again, but I just get to work,” he said.
“I put on my gloves and get cracking. I am at my happiest when I’m working on a really dirty project — like cleaning up chicken curry that people throw down for the birds at The Spot or working with the PCSOs collecting drug needles or knives.
“I’ve been to other cities and nowhere is as clean as Derby. We all care so much about the areas we work on, and we want to serve our city.
“When people tell us that the planters look nice or the streets are clean, I feel a huge amount of pride.
“Give me my litter picker, my scraper or my shovel and I am ready to work for as long as I am needed.
“I patrol my patch with pride and ensure that everything is how it should be. If there’s a problem — I deal with it.”
Brad Worley, BID Manager for Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement Districts, said Richard was a huge support to businesses across the city.
“Richard is a huge support to us and our businesses across the city, and we would like to thank him for the work he does in Derby,” he said.
“Without our Streetpride team, Derby would not look as tidy and as clean as it does. We know how hard they all work and I know Richard and his colleagues genuinely do care about this city.
“It makes me extremely pleased to hear that he was presented with an award and got to meet The King. On behalf of everyone at the BID office, and all the businesses, we wish him all the best and congratulate him on this award.”
Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Parks and Leisure, said: “Richard is a shining example of the pride and dedication our Streetpride teams bring to Derby every single day.
“His commitment to going the extra mile helps keep our city centre clean, welcoming and safe. We’re incredibly proud that his hard work has been recognised at the very highest level.”