One Day in May 2000, 30th May to be precise, I woke around the normal time at 6 o'clock. The alarm goes off just in case hubby and I oversleep, but we rarely do. After 10 years of waking at that time to go to work, it becomes a habit. However, this day for me was to be a bit different and hopefully another milestone in our time at Broadway Stores.

We purchased the business of "Carriage Butchers and Stores" in July 1990. Hubby had recently left the RAF after 30 years service and we had always fancied running our own business. Having dismissed running a restaurant or having a pub (hubby was in Catering), we heard about the butcher's shop in the village being on the market, and decided to look at it.

July 9, 1990 was Day One for us, and a day we will never forget. I had previously worked in Banking, or secretarial, having a 10 year break to produce and start to bring up 3 boys. But those jobs were mainly sitting down, not standing behind a till all day. However, we survived and are still surviving, despite the ever-changing retail business.

For the first 18 months we leased the premises, but were then given the opportunity to purchase them. After much thought, we decided to go ahead, as we could see we would be able to put a flat above the shop. In time, the flat was completed: a big milestone passed.

Another project was to obtain a licence to sell alcohol, and once that was achieved, we had a complete refit to the shop.

Year on year, our turnover increased, partly due to the fact that Peter and Ann Chubb at the Post Office nearby gradually stopped selling cigarettes, bread, ice creams, milk and then sweets, and we said all we wanted next was the Post Office business itself. It would fit nicely into our office.

And so it was that, on 30th May, I was interviewed at the Main Colchester Post Office, by the Retail Network Manager and another gentleman, for the position of Subpostmaster of Glemsford. Some 3 months earlier, we had to submit our Official Application Form, sending in an enormous amount of paperwork they required.

After 1 1/4 hours, the interview ended and I was told I would be advised the next day if I had been successful. However, at about 4. 30 p.m., I was telephoned with the news that the position was mine.

We've been keeping this news very quiet at the moment, but I don't suppose it will be long before it starts leaking out, especially once we start making the alterations. I wonder if this will cause "quite a stir" as it did in 1887 when the Post office was moved from Egremont Street to Fair Green.

In Mr Deeks' book of "Glorious Glemsford" is a picture of Snell's Tobacconist and Sweet Shop, Fair Green. That is now our store, which has seen many changes since then.