THREE GENERATIONS, 60 YEARS SERVICE AND STILL TRADING!

Published: 02 September 2011

Lichfield market trader Simon Davies has cause to celebrate this year as he and his forefathers have been trading on the Lichfield Friday market for the past 60 years and the Saturday market for 30 years!!

Simon's grandparents, Cyril and Charlotte Davies, started trading with two stalls in July 1951 selling brassware and continued with this line until 1956 when they increased to four stalls after changing their line to Ladies, Men's and Children's clothing, including underwear, socks and hats.

In 1972 Simons' father and mother, Alan and Joan Davies, were recruited into the family business following the death of Simon's grandfather. Then in 1979 Simon joined his parents and grandmother and in 1981 increased their market presence even further by trading on the Lichfield Saturday Market. All three generations continued to work alongside each other on both market days until the death of his grandmother in 1990 aged 86.

Simon and his parents continued to trade together on Fridays and Saturdays but reluctantly had to reduce to 2 stalls in 1994 after his mother became ill. Simon's father, Alan, retired when his wife Joan, Simon's mother, died in 2000, and to this day they both remain fondly remembered by many customers.

Simon, now a sole trader, continues to trade in ladies clothing on Fridays and Saturdays, having taken a big step upmarket in recent years by specialising in Italian and French designs, catering for those who appreciate "Something a little different."

The Mayor of Lichfield, Cllr Brian Bacon, was very proud to make a presentation to Simon Davies, on behalf of the City Council, on Friday 26 August thanking him, and his family, for their support of the Lichfield Markets over the last 60 years. The Mayor was accompanied by The Mayoress, Cllr Norma Bacon and Cllr Barry Diggle, Chairman of the Traders' Liaison Committee.

Simon, who has lived in Lichfield since 1998, said "It's been great to trade in Lichfield and be a part of "The Davies Dynasty" for all these years. I served someone recently whose parents bought their school uniforms from us 30 years ago!! Although many markets are suffering a drop in trade in these difficult times, Lichfield seems to have bucked the trend, proving popular with customers who value the high quality goods and service provided by the market traders in conjunction with Lichfield City Council. We offer a viable alternative to the faceless, characterless chain-store shopping experience."

Lichfield City Council's Markets' Officer, Rachel Clive, said "the Lichfield markets are very fortunate to have longstanding traders, such as Simon, still trading on the markets and the City Council is very proud and grateful for their dedication, commitment and long service".

"With the closure of several retail shops in Lichfield and the disappearance of many of the markets around the UK it is quite an achievement for the markets in Lichfield to be thriving and fully occupied. There is a wide variety of stalls on all of the general markets (Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) as well as the more unusual, hand and home made produce and crafts on the monthly Farmers' Market. The traders and producers have so much to offer the residents and visitors to Lichfield and therefore the support of the public is of prime importance in order for the markets to remain thriving and successful".