Melksham woman reunited with sign from her grandfather’s iconic town centre shop

A Melksham woman has been reunited with a sign from her grandfather’s iconic Melksham shop, based in the town centre in the 1950s and 60s.

Marianne Staniforth has been given the sign for Sawyers, which was her grandfather’s fruit, vegetable and sweet shop located in the precinct in the town centre. The shop, which is now Haine & Smith Opticians, stood next to the former picture house.

“Lots of people will remember the shop,” says Marianne. “It was quite iconic in Melksham and I am sure many residents have lovely memories.”

When a family friend bought Marianne’s late father’s house, they found the sign being used as a shelf in the pantry.

“When it was my parents’ house, I always knew the shelf in the pantry had writing on it, but I didn’t know what it said. I never really looked,” explained Marianne, who lives in Beanacre and whose family has lived in and around Melksham for 300 years.

“I’ve always grown up with the family who own the Nortree Motor Company, and one day I received a photo from Daniel, who bought the house, showing me that they had found the sign in the pantry. I just couldn’t believe it. I asked if I could have it and he very kindly gave it to me. It is in such good condition and looks just as it must have looked in the shop.

“I think the sign was probably in the window of the shop. I also remember that in the window there was a huge white polar bear because the shop sold Fox’s Glacier Mints. It was a mechanical bear that moved.”

Marianne’s grandfather was called Albert, but known locally as Big Len. Her grandmother was called Mary and known locally as Patricia. “I never knew why they were called that,” said Marianne.

“I have such wonderful memories of the shop. My grandmother used to pick me up from school at St Michael’s and we would go into the shop and out the back where the sweets were; she usually had some Turkish Delight for me.

“When it was the carnival, they used to put scaffolding on the outside of the shop and let us climb up and watch the procession coming down the street. It was fantastic – we were the same height as the stilt walkers. The carnival was always amazing.”

Along with groceries, the shop would also make wreaths for funerals and other occasions. “My father worked with my grandfather for a time, and one day I saw him come home with a wreath, but I never saw him make one. He would work with Dennis Bewley, the undertaker, to provide the wreaths.

“I have such happy memories and am sorry the years have gone by so fast. Those were the days; I hope someone in Melksham still remembers my grandparents’ shop.”