End of an era for Cranage village shop

His only worry from then on will be switching his body clock to get up in the morning later than his usual 5am.

"We have always opened the shop at 6.30am, and for years I was up at 4am when we delivered newspapers,” said Alan.

“But when I retire I will struggle to stay in bed in the mornings.

"I can see I will be taking the dogs for a walk at 5am, and I guess I will have to change my body clock."

Alan, 72, bought Boundary Store, which sits on the Cranage-Allostock border on the A50, when it was little more than a wooden hut and built it into a thriving business.

As well as the shop, Alan, who is a member of Goostrey's Blackhurst family, who formerly owned milk rounds throughout the area, ran his own milk round serving the surrounding villages and took over

his brother David's business when he died 18 years ago and his brother, Peter's when he retired.

The original shop Alan took over 40 years ago

He also launched Boundary Park Sheds next to the shop and developed the large nearby lake as a water park, which is popular with anglers and attracts scores of swimmers.

Alan no longer delivers newspapers or milk after Knutsford-based Sheldons Dairy took over that side of the business, but now he feels the time has come to retire.

The shop is to close, and with its adjoining cottage sold as a house, but Alan and his wife Ruth are not leaving the area, and have planning permission to build a bungalow on land at the lakeside.

His decision to retire and close the business saddened many of his regulars in Cranage, Allostock, Peover and Goostrey, as well as customers who use the A50 between Holmes Chapel and Knutsford.

"People will miss the shop ,and some have said they don't know what they will do without us," said Alan.

"I will miss the contact with customers, but I have a young family and want to have more time with them as well as having time to go out and travel with Ruth."