Roy and Margaret Ward have run the village shop in Slaley for more than five decades.
A lifeline for those reliant on public transport, the shop is open seven days a week, with the stalwart owners only ever taking Christmas Day off.
But the future of Slaley’s only shop is now hanging in the balance.
Now 69 and 68 years old respectively, Roy and Margaret are keen to enjoy a well earned retirement.
Roy, whose parents owned the shop before him, has worked there for 52 years and Margaret is now in her 47th year behind the counter.
Five months ago, the shop was put on the market as a going concern, with a guide price of £250,000.
But with little interest shown in the premises, the couple may be forced to sell the shop as a residential property.
Margaret said: “We’re getting older; we’re past retirement age.
“Working seven days a week with no time off is getting harder.
“When the post office closed in 2009 we thought about selling then, but the post office closing was such a loss to to the community we thought we would hold on a bit longer.
“We want to enjoy our retirement, but we don’t want to leave the village without a shop.”
The couple are now working with Slaley Community Trust to explore options, including the possibility of community ownership of the shop.
A public meeting is to take place next month, to consider the future of the village shop and discuss potential ways forward.
Suggestions have already been made that alternative shopping facilities could be created within the Rose and Crown pub, in the Commemoration Hall or as a mobile service.
Establishing a group of volunteers to look at options, potential costs and operating models will also be considered.
Slaley resident Jean Elphick said: “Roy and Margaret are so dedicated, we can’t praise them enough. We want to support them and it would be nice to keep the shop because it’s one of the criteria for a sustainable village.
“Roy and Margaret will be a huge miss but they’re very much entitled to their retirement. They go above and beyond.”
The meeting will be held in Slaley Commemoration Hall at 7pm on Wednesday, August 3.
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