Fond farewell to shops owners

IT IS the end of an era for one West Chiltington shop as the owners move onto pastures new.

After running Cherilyn in Haglands Lane, for the past 22 years, Steven and Lynda Denham have decided to retire.

Rumours have been circulating for a number of years that they were going to sell up, but when they finally announced their plans many customers were still surprised.

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“We started looking at how we could retire more than nine years ago and put together a five year plan to make it possible.

“We took on the Post Office, extended the shop enabling the business to grow,” said Steven. “Also as we all know as one gets older every thing gets more challenging.”

Cherilyn has been an active part of the community for many years and both Lynda and Steven told the County Times they will miss getting involved in village life, especially the Brownies and the Village Fete.

Steven said: “West Chiltington has been kind to us, and from what our customers have said over our final week we have been good for the village.”

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After a move to Wiltshire the couple aim to travel to Australia and New Zealand.

As much as they will miss the village and ‘the customers and staff that make each day worthwhile’, they have said they won’t miss the early mornings.

Steven added: “In the 22 years we have owned Cherilyn we have sold more than 400,000 copies of the County Times.”

The new owner of the business is Vim Odedra, and his son Ken and nephew BJ will manage the shop and Post Office.

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