SIR — A rather bald announcement in last Friday's Free Press reveals to the world that yet another local institution is to disappear after almost half a century of exemplary service to the population of Watchet.
I refer, of course, to the retirement from the newsagents' business of the Tapp family of Chilcott's News.
Our own happy association with Chilcotts began when we first lived here many years ago, from 1973 to 1976, and had our newspapers from them. Indeed, our son was for a time one of their paper boys.
During the 12 years when we lived in Salisbury, we maintained our contacts with fairly frequent visits to West Somerset and always popped into the shop, if they were open, to buy some small thing. We returned to settle here in 1988 and returned to them once again for our newspapers.
The family have always been a pleasure to know and in our view have been a most admirable advertisement for Watchet, with its many holidaymakers from far and wide.
The shop has always been in the nature of such places in small towns and villages, as much a social centre as a shop and they will be much missed.
We are sure we speak for all their patrons, friends and the many holidaymakers who have visited the shop when we wish all of them every success, good health and happiness in the future, although we are sure we shall still be seeing all of them fairly regularly.
Allan Stanistreet,
12 Normandy Avenue,
Watchet.