100 years on the High Street
- By Elaine Bird
- 04 September 2021
- Hunstanton
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A 1951 split windscreen Bedford Van was on display at Hunstanton's Spinney on Saturday.
Electrical retailer Hughes is celebrating 100 years of trading on England’s High Streets by touring the country with a renovated 1950s delivery van and a mini exhibition of 1950s appliances.
Saturday (4th September) was the Hunstanton store’s turn to host the roadshow and as the High Street opened for business Mark Page and Nigel Jeavons were setting up the exhibition on the Spinney.
Mark Page in the driving seat with Nigel Jeavons
Creating great interest was the 1951 split windscreen Bedford van, surprisingly it was a left hand drive model and it is thought it was manufactured for the French market.
Before the store moved to Hunstanton High Street in 1994, the business (formerly Wheelers) occupied the premises that is now Keelie’s.
Aled Partin is the third member of the team at Hunstanton and he’s been with the company 11 years, this added to Mark’s 44 years and Nigel’s 36, makes a massive 91 years retailing experience!
Hunstanton branch has a reputation for taking on tough challenges and raising money for charities. Five years ago the team cycled just shy of 500 miles raising £5000 for the Air Ambulance and three years ago a walk for Dementia Care along the Peddars Way raised £3000.
Nigel, who is organising the next event, said: “Our next challenge is to cycle around the company’s furthest branches so starting on Monday 6th June 2022 we will ride from the furthest north and west branch in Preston, Lancashire to Rayleigh in Essex and we will finish in Lowestoft.
“The whole route is about 450 miles and we will finish on Friday 10th June - and as it isn’t as far as our previous ride we’ve decided to cycle through the Peak District to add a few hills!”
This 2022 challenge is in aid of the Benjamin Foundation, a charity that helps children, young people and families in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Coincidentally, the finish of the 2022 challenge is also where Frank Hughes founded the business in 1921 after serving on the western front throughout the First World War.