THERE were tearful goodbyes from some of its customers as Headley Down’s Alfred Whittle & Sons prepared to close its doors for the last time on Saturday, after 65 years of serving the household needs of villagers.

Once dubbed “the local Sainsbury’s”, the store’s trading days ended to a chorus of sad farewells from customers, whose parents and grandparents had also valued it as their local shop.

Serving behind the counter and, until last Wednesday, in the post office too, were family members of the man who founded what became a small shopping empire in Eddeys Lane.

The shop has provided not only meat, provisions and a postal service, but also a friendly place to visit, with one family member always present and making time for a chat or listening to a customer’s problem.

So it is not surprising that during Alfred Whittle & Sons’ last few days there have been some tearful goodbyes from customers, and tears also from the Whittle family - not least when the “closed” sign went up for the last time.

The huge success of the shop and the feeling of sadness in the village and beyond is a tribute to founder Alfred Whittle, who would have be truly proud of his family for making such a success of what started out as a small village shop.

For full story, see this week’s Bordon Herald.