Last reviewed: 12.4.2011 - 11.12am
Rob Smith
Rob, 61, from Little Wakering in Essex, has been a flusher for 19 years.
Job: Field operations specialist, aka "chief flusher".
"I love being a flusher because no two days are alike, which always presents new challenges, and because of the great camaraderie among the guys."
Marital status: Married to Jan for 35 years with three children and five grand-children
Football team: Southend under-9s ("my grandson plays for them")
Previous job: Tunneller / miner
Hobbies: Fishing, sailing, anything involving water
Musical influences: Black Sabbath and Slade
Danny Brackley
Danny, 25, from East Tilbury in Essex, has been a flusher for four years.
Job: Trunk sewer inspector, aka "flusher".
"There's a sense of adventure to being a flusher, ducking and diving out of all those historic tunnels. I'm also really into the architecture down there. The brickwork is stunning."
Marital status: Engaged to Melanie
Football team: Arsenal
Previous job: Maintenance operative
Hobbies: Sleeping and drinking
Musical influence: David Guetta and Akon
Gary Bell
Gary, 38, from Balsildon in Essex, has been a flusher for four years.
Job: Trunk sewer technician, aka "flusher".
"My favourite thing about being a flusher is getting down and dirty."
Marital status: Engaged to Yoyo
Football team: West Ham
Previous job: Slaughterman
Hobbies: Drinking beer
Musical influence: Oasis and Eminem
Keith Young
Keith, 60, from Hampstead in Northwest London, has been a flusher for 33 years.
Job: Trunk sewer technician, aka "flusher".
"Being a flusher is not your typical job. No two days are the same. It's kept me fed and clothed all these years. I'll be sorry to leave when I retire."
Martial status: Married to Marj with one daughter and two grand children
Football team: Chelsea
Previous job: Carpenter
Hobbies: Drinking beer and swimming
Musical influence: Elvis
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Martin Wall
Martin, 47, from Chelmsford in Essex, has been a flusher for 26 years.
Job: Supervisor, aka "senior flusher".
"It's a great challenge being a flusher. Every day is different and it's a nice to provide a service to the public."
Marital status: Engaged to Trish, with six children, four girls and two boys
Football team: Chelsea
Hobbies: Karaoke, especially Elvis songs, and travelling, especially to Elvis-related places like Gracelands
Musical influence: Surprise, surprise... Elvis
Dave Dennis
Dave, 35, from East Ham, London, has been a flusher for six years.
Job: Field operations manager, aka "senior flusher".
"I love the variety that this job brings, as well as the history - we're working in London's great Victorian sewers designed by the legendary Sir Joseph Bazalgette in the 1800s."
Marital status: Girlfriend Martina, two little boys aged two and four
Football team: West Ham
Hobbies: Playing rugby - anywhere in the front row - for Eton Manor RFC
Musical influence: Madonna
Gary Langridge
Gary, 25, from East Tilbury in Essex, has been a flusher for three years.
Job: Trunk sewer technician, aka, "flusher".
"I love the variety of this job, including getting the chance to sing in the sewers."
Football team: Tottenham Hotspur
Marital status: Girlfriend Kylie
Hobbies: Boxing (middle-weight) and gym
Musical influence: Wagner (the Brazilian one)
Tony Newstead
Tony, 53, from Islington in north London, has been a flusher for 32 years.
Job: Trunk sewer technician, aka "senior flusher".
"I love this job because I love bricks, especially Victorian ones. And I also love peace and quiet - London's one of the world's busiest cities but it doesn't matter where you are in the sewers, it's always completely quiet."
Marital status: Married to Rebecca
Football team: Arsenal
Previous job: Hospital porter
Hobbies: "The occasional sherry and following the missus while she goes shopping."
Musical influence: Latin dance music
