Villagers in Peasedown St John said a sad farewell to two popular, local businesses last week, who between them have clocked up 41 years of trading in the community.
Brian Millard retired last Saturday after 33 years as Peasedown St John’s only
specialist fresh meat butcher. The village’s B&NES Councillors, Karen Walker and Sarah Bevan, visited Brian to present him with an engraved glass plaque.
Cllr Karen Walker said: “Brian will be sorely missed. He has been a friendly face on the high street for many years.
“I remember when he first opened his doors in 1984, because it was the same year my oldest son was born, and for a number of years we lived in one of the houses opposite his business. It’s hard to believe that 33 years have now been and gone.
“To mark his retirement we arranged for a glass plaque to be engraved with his name, the number of years he’s been trading, and a thank you message from the community.”
The week also saw Jo Light, owner of the Coffee Hut in Peasedown St John, brew her last coffee on Friday, 24th February having decided to hand the reigns over to new owners.
Jo and her family have run the Coffee Hut in Peasedown for the past eight years, where it has firmly become a part of the community.
Coffee Hut regulars and friends of Jo’s, Sarah, Mandi and Jackie, are among those that will miss her. They said: “This is a fantastic place, Jo has really helped the
community by creating this nice, family environment. Every community needs a
coffee shop and Peasedown St John had never had one. We come in every day and it is a good place to come before and after dropping the kids off at school or to bring them during the holidays.”
Another regular, Sue, added: “I’m really going to miss Jo, the Coffee Hut really gives you a feel of community spirit.”
The hut has become a hub of the community with many groups using it as a meeting space, as well as families and residents. Many regulars visit every day and have made lifelong friends with other villagers.
Jo said: “Running a coffee shop was always something I wanted to do and I’ve met so many wonderful people over the past eight years. I feel like its time for me to hang up my apron and spend more time with my family.
“I would like to say thank you to everyone for all their support and all the friendships I’ve made here will continue. I had always hoped the shop would help bring the community together, but it has done so much better than I expected.”
The Coffee Hut will be reopening under new management in the next few weeks and will have a similar set-up; something that was important to Jo, having established a family-run business. She said: “I’ve done my best to find someone who will keep the community spirit alive, and I’m sure I’ll be popping in with friends for a coffee!”
Cllr Sarah Bevan added: “It’s been a fantastic place to meet people, relax and take a break from the daily routine since it opened in 2009. Jo’s service to the community
included hosting the regular Neighbourhood Police Beat Surgeries – a facility which I hope the new proprietors will continue as part of their community offer. We would like to wish Jo and her family the very best for the future.”