Village celebrates first anniversay of community shop

There were free food tastings and a barbecue which enabled all the guests and customers to enjoy products stocked in the shop and the café.

Entertainment specially for the younger visitors included a coconut shy, splat the shopkeeper in stocks, face painting and the café’s outdoor table tennis table.

The leafy garden in front of the shop and café provided a stunning setting for the village community to congregate and celebrate the success of the community shop project.

Maureen Harniman was presented with a beautiful handmade wooden fruit bowl in thanks for all she did as finance officer on the board.

The bowl was made by Bob Janes from wood taken from an old pew in the deconsecrated church, which was transformed into the shop and café.

The event was concluded by a gathering of the volunteer workforce for a glass or two of champagne and a big ‘thank you’.

Don Nicholls, shop board member, said: “The day was the perfect opportunity for the shop manager and the board to show their appreciation and thanks for the wonderful support from customers and the considerable commitment of time and effort put in by the volunteers in the shop’s first year of trading.”

The lucky winner in the giant Toblerone raffle was a regular customer who lives directly opposite the shop and café.

The Hurst Green Community Shop and Cafe continues to evolve and the café is increasing its range of snacks and dishes within the unique converted church set back in the garden space.