Page 14 – Peak Advertiser 16th September 2013
SKIDMORES OF BAKEWELL – The Shop That Time Forgot
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This feature first appeared in the Peak Advertiser during 2006 and is now revived as a tribute to the late Michael Skidmore, who with his younger brother Graham gave sterling service to the Bakewell area.
Spending an hour with the Skidmore brothers is a lesson in how to hold on to the affections and loyalty of a place like Bakewell. Where else would you see a 93year-old customer get a
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warm hug along with her groceries? Who else delivers orders by bike? And where on earth am I going to get my damsons this year? For this is the end of an era for Skidmores of Matlock Street, the oldest greengrocery business in town, maybe even in the Peak. Michael and his younger brother Graham, aged 75 and 68 respectively, are taking late retirement, a wrench for them and a sad loss to Bakewell. Local growers will be looking for new outlets for their homegrown fruit and veg, flowers, nuts and fresh herbs – not the expensive wispy stems packed in supermarket plastic but thick leafy bunches of parsley and mint to buy by the handful about now, just the job for chopping and freezing. Poultry keepers will be relocating the output of their hens and bantams, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl and quail. Few people can now remember Skidmores’ first shop on the opposite side of Matlock Street, next door to the late lamented Royal Oak. The double-fronted shop was opened in 1919 by
25-year-old John Skidmore ‘Fruiterer & fishmonger, Licensed dealer in game’. John had been invalided out of the First World War after being wounded and interned in a prisoner-ofwar camp, though for a time listed as missing. Until he bought a small van some years later, John delivered orders to local villages on a bike with a handlebar basket. His business now had a growing family to support. Son Michael was born over the original shop; Graham was born in the front bedroom above today’s premises, to where the family moved in the late 1930s. This building was previously Hodgkinson’s tea-rooms. The years following the move belonged to an era of gas lighting, shillings and pence, pounds and ounces weighed out on trusty nonelectronic scales, and twodigit telephone numbers: Skidmores was simply Bakewell 67. Tragically, in 1946 John died suddenly inside his shop of a heart attack. His widow continued to run the business, soon to be joined by their sons. Old-fashioned service This was the beginning of
almost 60 years behind the counter for Michael and Graham, whose oldfashioned service and disdain for modernisation have added a unique tableau to the Bakewell scene. The shop which time forgot has attracted the attention of dozens of newspapers and magazines. Visitors send back letters and photographs from around the world. One recent message refers to a photograph of Skidmores shop spotted on the wall of a waiting room – in New York! The brothers laugh at a
letter from a Cornishman who must have seen their display of rabbits and game hanging outside the shop – an old tradition now banned. The writer was over-run by rabbits and saw a business opportunity but needed advice on skinning them, also asking whether it was safe to eat rabbit if myxomatosis was about. From another envelope comes a letter of thanks dated 1961 and signed Mabel Pickles. Mabel will be remembered by those over a certain age as the wife of Wilfred Pickles, who that year brought his radio show ‘Have a Go’ to Bakewell. Cliff Richard once popped into the shop to say what a wonderful place it was. Alan Bates was another famous customer, while celebrated figures including Sir John Betjeman and Peter Shaeffer were introduced by one loyal and titled customer living just a few miles away. Now, though, the brothers have decided to call it a day; they are just waiting till the time feels right. But before the summer is out, Graham will be free to take endless walks with his beloved labrador ... Michael is leaving his options open. What is absolutely certain is that for the first time in their lives neither of them will be growing fruit & veg. Michael admits to the shocking confession that he never, ever eats any fruit. His little brother, though, is going to miss the grapes! Many, many readers will join us in thanking them for their long years of service and to wish them both a healthy and happy retirement. Julie Bunting Readers with memories of their wonderful shop will join us in extending our sympathies and best wishes to Graham.
STUNNING SECRET GARDENS OF BAKEWELL
Sandwich Board Man, Neil Spaven sterling job and said it was a pleasure to meet so many lovely people. Many complimentary remarks about the gorgeous range of plants and interesting garden designs were made by visitors during and following the event. The Bakewell Oxfam Supporters’ Group would like to say a special thank you to all those who generously opened their gardens for the afternoon. The group is also grateful to the many volunteers who helped at the garden entrances and with the refreshments to make the day such a huge success. The total proceeds from the event came to £3340, all of which will be sent to aid the work of Oxfam. Anyone who is interested in joining the Bakewell Oxfam Group, please phone Angela Bird 01629 813087.
Hundreds of people turned out in Bakewell to enjoy the sixteen beautiful gardens opened on Sunday 25 August in aid of Oxfam. There was a wonderful festive atmosphere along the garden trail which took visitors into areas of Bakewell usually unseen by the general public. The weather was kind. It was a bright, warm day and all the gardens looked splendid. Refreshments including a wide variety of delicious homemade cakes were available at the Town Hall. They were extremely popular and busy throughout the afternoon, boosting the amount raised for Oxfam. Although the majority of folk walked along the trail, the Community bus was a great help for some in ferrying them between the gardens. The driver did a