Fruit And Veg Man’s Final Goodbye At North Street Market

Published on: 28 Feb, 2014
Updated on: 28 Feb, 2014

By Maria Rayner

Fruit and veg man Richard Kendall made his last visit to North Street Market as a stallholder today (Friday, February 28) following his enforced retirement.

Richard Kendall (seen right), with Emma, Harri and Charlie.

The trader, who has worked on the market for over 40 years, decided to step aside following the massive storm that hit Guildford a fortnight ago.

Richard said: “I was thinking of retiring in April but the wind destroyed my old handmade wooden stall. I made it with a friend out of 4 by 2 and it was snapped like twigs. I’ve burnt the wood and taken the canvas to the recycling centre.”

Richard has seen a great deal of bad weather in his years as a trader including snow which fell until it was thigh deep by the end of the day and the Great Storm of 1987.

“I’m very sad. Not very happy at all. I’ve come today to say goodbye to every one because I didn’t want to just disappear without saying something to my regular Friday customers.”

Richard Kendall says goodbye to some of his customers.

Several times during our conversation people interrupted to talk to Richard, many of whom had read of his retirement in a previous story on The Guildford Dragon NEWS.

Richard, whose daughter Emma and her husband David Findlay also run fruit and veg markets, hopes that the council will let his family take over the pitch at the top of North Street, a few metres from where they usually trade on a Friday and Saturday.

Emma said: “We hope Unique Fruit can move here as it suits us well. We offer a self-selection service so it’s good to have the open access at the sides. I’ve worked with dad since I was 11 and about 80% of customers are regulars.”

Keeping the family tradition going: the Unique Fruit (and veg) stall at the North Street Market in Guildford.

Son-in-law David said: “We’re proud of what we do. It’s a family business and my sons Harri and Charlie also work with us. When the storm hit a few weekends ago we had put extra weights at the the base of the stalls and sheeted them down but the wind went under and mashed them together – you couldn’t tell how many stalls there were afterwards.”

Richard doesn’t know what he will do with all his extra time. He said: “I’ve worked on the market since I was 10. My wife walks the dog and I don’t really have any hobbies. I can always help Emma, especially when she runs the stall at Royal Holloway University; it’s such a beautiful location. But life is out there if you take the trouble to look.”

Judging by the numbers queuing to shake Richard’s hand he will be missed at the market.

Suke Wibaut, who runs Butter and Cream Cakes, a nearby stall, said: “I’m very sad to see Richard leave.”

Share This Post