The Village Shop Today
Richard Hart

(Continued)
The most distressing incident was when we had an armed robbery just before Christmas three years ago. Three masked men burst into the shop with guns and pinned us to the floor while they ransacked the Post Office, making off with a considerable amount of cash and stamps. We were also saddened to lose our barn and garages through fire ­ the barn used to be a granary and also housed the old post office sorting office ­ a little part of local history gone. We have enjoyed our seven years here providing a service to the community, being involved in village activities like the Parish Council and the churches and getting to know some very nice people, but of course it has to be said that in order for the Village Shops to survive in our rural communities they need to be supported by locals. So often it has been said after a shop has had to close, "If only we had supported it more". USE IT OR LOSE IT ­ like the school and pub, the shop is an important centre of village life.

Joyce Fuller "behind the counter"