Welcome to the Mells Village Shop blog. We've started the blog to help publicise the shop, and as a way of bringing information about the shop to those who care about it and use it. If you would like to comment on anything in the blog, please click on the word 'Comments' beneath the post.
To bring you up to date, here is a Brief History of the last year in the life of the shop, by June Costelloe.
Early 2008: Mells Sub Postmaster Robin Tindale decides to give up running store.
April 2008: Group of villagers plan campaign to save store and Post Office.
July 2008: 120 people attend meeting in Tithe Barn; unanimously pledge support. Mells and surrounding villages leafleted with membership forms for ‘Mells Village Shop’.
Summer 2008: Applications to join MVS received from cross section of Mells and wider community. Donations range from £5 to £1,000. Friends and relations from further afield also join. All 208 members receive complimentary jute bag with MVS logo. Bids prepared for funding bodies and sponsorship sought.
August 2008: Mells Village Shop Ltd registered as limited company under Industrial & Provident Societies Acts. Plans drawn up to gut, refurbish interior and update Post Office equipment.
September 2008: MVS awarded £30,000 grant from SALSF.
October 2008: £20,000 raised from community in 4 months; MVS awarded loan of £20,000 from Co-op, with match-funding of £20,000 from ViRSA. Further grants add up to nearly £120,000. Plans can go ahead.
December 2008: Robin Tindale decides to retire as Postmaster as well and Mells man Mike Phypers appointed Manager/Sub Postmaster designate from 1 March 2009.
January 2009: Building work begins. Post Office and newspapers move in to next door portakabin.
March 2009: Work should be finished; plans underway to build on coffee shop. Fund-raising events to be organised; appeal still open.
11 April 2009: Grand Opening of Mells Village Shop!
To become a member of Mells Village Shop, call June Costelloe on 01373 812 199.
The picture below shows Robin Tindale, left, and Clare Asquith, underneath a banner indicating the success of the fundraising effort.
Hello, I live in Lullington on the edge of Orchardleigh Estate, but used to live in St Anthony's Cottage in Mells in the 1980s. I very much enjoyed attending the Picnic in the Park last August with friends from Coleford & we wld like to know whether it is going to be held again now that you have raised the funds you need for the Post Office. Word has got around, & it was such a lovely location for a mini-gig, I know of others who wld like to attend. Can you help? Thank you. Sally Helvey 830430. I am not really anonymous !
ReplyDeleteHi Sally
ReplyDeleteI live just round the corner from St Anthony's and am delighted to know that you keep in touch with goings on in Mells. The Picnic in the Park was terrificly successful and we do hope to hold it again - we will keep you posted if and when. Fund raising is on-going, even though Mells Village Shop is up and running, so do keep an eye open for events in the Somerset Standard. Next event is the second Mells Open Gardens on 22 May 11am to 5 pm. Why not come and have a look behind the scenes at your old village?
Many thanks for letting us know your interest.
Best wishes, June