During April, Ruddington was very surprised when the popular vegetable and fruit shop, known always as Thomas’s, suddenly closed down. The shock in the village was palpable. Other shops have shut down, but nothing has caused the reaction like this closure.
This was not just a shop, it was a meeting place. It was where you could pick up one apple or pounds’ worth. The older people could buy enough single items to make a healthy stew, with no waste – important in this day and age.
The second surprise was the ripple effect which spread to the East Midlands Today news programme, who interviewed locals on the effect that losing this shop had had.
Surprise number three was to be found in a full page article in the Nottingham Post extolling the joys of living in Ruddington, with sorrow expressed about the closure of THAT shop.
The fourth surprise in this village was initiative. But why should that surprise us? This is what village life is made of. Our initiative came from the local Post Office, who decided there was only one thing to do and that was to start selling vegetables. Loose vegetables, so that the stew could still be made, so that the elderly members of our community could see that someone was thinking of them.
We have heard nothing but good words from everyone for this, and we think the Patel family who run the Post Office should be given a huge vote of thanks. Whilst everyone else moaned and groaned, they did something about it. It might be on a small scale and we don’t know how it will grow, but they’ve planted a seed (a vegetable seed of course!) and have let the community know that this is what village life should be like, and indeed is, here in Ruddington.
Again, grateful thanks to the Patels from, Lorna, Pat, Judy and all members of the Wednesday Coffee Morning Club.
Lorna McCullough