BACK in March when the shops of Axminster went into lockdown with the coronavirus at its most deadly, concerns were expressed in many quarters that some of them would never open again.
In reality, with the help of government funding, there were far fewer casualties than were expected, although there were many job losses. That is not to say it was an easy ride during those three months of deserted streets especially for the small, owner-run businesses, many of whom had to invest heavily in putting in measures to keep their staff and customers safe as the High Street sprung to life again.
There was plenty of positivity around with encouraging comments from civic and business leaders that Axminster would bounce back as it always had in tough times.
Indeed, Axminster did bounce back in a much stronger way than many had expected. No one is pretending that the inland towns had enjoyed record business, but Axminster's weekly street market has made a remarkable recovery to somewhere near normality and a number of new businesses and food outlets have put faith in Axminster returning to a vibrant commercial centre.
Much of this positivity was generated by the tasteful development of Trinity House, which occupies such a prime trading location in the town, by Axminster Property Ltd, led by successful businessman Ian Styles who over the years has done a great deal to perpetuate Axminster's reputation with the development of his family business, Axminster Tool & Machinery (formerly Power Tools).
Trinity House has a smart new look with its trading units fully booked, including a new home for the hugely popular Waffle House which is extending its fundraising business beyond the serving of tasty Belgian delicacies admired by so many (especially me!).
As I write this column – and just as Axminster traders were looking forward to an expected pre-Christmas boost in trade – an increasingly desperate looking government is closing down the country again for four weeks in yet another bid to halt the spread of Covid-19. This action had to be approved by Parliament but will be go ahead with the support of votes from Labour who could do nothing other than give their backing because this is what they were calling for two weeks ago.
A number of Tory MPs will oppose the new country-wide lockdown but not enough to make any difference. Non-essential shops, cafes and pubs will close on Thursday until December 2nd, causing great concern to trading communities like Axminster all over the country whose businesses were still recovering from the first lockdown.
Whilst there have been a number of deaths in and around Axminster, the south west still has the lowest number of cases and casualties in the UK. The government recognised this and doggedly refused to put the areas where the virus was not to prevalent into lockdown but in the end had to succumb to the science.
I feel for all those small businesses who have worked so hard to get back on track and especially the two cafes – Ric's Kitchen and the The Cow & The Bean burger bar -who have just opened their establishments and will now have to close them immediately. Heart breaking.
We can only hope that this lockdown does the trick and reduces the 'R' rating which is essential and that when Boris Johnson says it will end of December 2nds, he will stick to it. At least this will allow our shops re re-open and take advantage of the pre-Christmas boost. They expect and deserve that.
- *****************************************************************
Meanwhile, the popularity of Axminster Nub News continues at a pace. Since we launched at the end of May we have published hundreds of stories on Axminster and district with our readership increasing in the hundreds by the week. Nub News is now undoubtedly the go-to media when it comes providing a news and information service. We have also launched a sports portal for the Axminster area carrying match reports and sporting activities from around the area.
Particularly popular are a couple nostalgia series we are running by two of Axminster's most respected citizens. Former mayor and sporting enthusiast Andrew Moulding is writing a regular column entitled 'Moulding's Memories' in which he is recording tales of growing up in his own town as well as focussing on different aspects of life in Axminster.
His first contribution took our readers on a tour through Axminster in the 1950s, bringing back many happy memories for so many people, especially those who were born and schooled in Axminster but moved away from the town in later life. A number wrote to us saying that Andrew's recollections had made them really home sick.
His second series focussed on Axminster Carnival over the years and this also stirred the memory of many who had taken part in hilarious carnival goings-on. In doing so he paid a warm tribute to two of Axminster's staunchest carnival stalwarts – John Jeffery BEM and Geoff Enticott who have been connected with the organisation for more than 50 years and are still doing so to this day.
Andrew's next Nub News series will be focussing on some of Axminster's characters over the years which his growing number of followers are bound to find fascinating.
Axminster Nub News' other nostalgia series comes from the pen of Millwey Rise born and bred Dick Sturch who is chronicling growing up on the Axminster estate, known in his early years as 'The Camp' as it was where the American GIs were based before D-Day in the Second World War and where there was an Army hospital.
After the war the Nissan huts were converted into accommodation and Dick's family were among the first to move in before they were provided with more modern facilities by the old Axminster Rural Council. He has some fascinating exploits to tell and the next column (part 7) will be published this coming Saturday. It's essential reading for all your Millwey Riseans!
- *****************************************************************
Christmas will soon be upon us - and it looks like it's going to be a Christmas like no other. Fundraising has been severely curtailed this year which has paid for the Christmas illuminations in Axminster, provided by the excellent Light Up Axminster organisation, led by the enthusiastic Cindy Furze. The usual festive events have had to be put on the back burner.
But despite the restrictions imposed on all communities by covid-19, Cindy has promised the residents and businesses that Christmas WILL be happening in Axminster and every effort is being made to ensure the town will look as festive as possible with some social-distanced events also being planned. Residents are also being urged to step outside their doors on Christmas Eve and ring and bell and sing Christmas carols. Go on – do it! Let us show that pesky epidemic that our Christmas spirit will not be broken
As a young reporter Christmas always started for me at the Axminster Christmas Fatstock Show run by R & C Snell with Lord of The Manor Frank Rowe very much in charge. Coming from Lyme Regis, I never considered myself to be a country boy but I covered quite a few agriculural stories, the most important one being the annual fatstock show where farmers from all over the area congregated at Axminster market for the various Christmas auctions.
There was a special festive spirit about Christmas Fatstock Show day and when all the cattle competitions had been settled and all the turkeys were sold, everyone retired to the The George Hotel is you were a gentleman farmer or to the Axminster Inn if you were a farm hand or lowly cub reporter.
I enjoyed the day immensely and would always travel back to Lyme on this bus worse for wear through drink. But there was one duty I hated – having to climb into the main ring to interview the farmer who owned the champion beast. I was never comfortable around farm animals and farmers were notoriously difficult to interview.
On this occasion, as I was climbing into the ring, I could see Frank Rowe laughing at the side. I knew I was being set up. Every time I asked the farmer a question he would just answer 'yes' or 'no'. And as my line of questioning was faltering badly the cow urinated down my leg. The farmer did not turn a hair and as I clambered out of the ring, steaming, I could see Frank doubled up with laughter.
I returned to the market office, which is where Cinnamon's Indian restaurant is now situated, to type out the results of the day in my underpants – with my trousers drying on the paraffin heater! I've always thought of it as my "Creatures Great And Small" moment.
Happy days.
