Back on our feet – After the fire
continuing their business.
Marcelle opened Flowersmiths with Heather Wilbourne (pic. above) in Anzac Street, and Simon has re-opened the deli opposite them in Anzac Street Bistro with friend Serin Aubrey.
The Wheelhouse – Brother and sister Sarah Squire and Jonathan Walker
‘it’s been unbelievably tough at times,’ said Sarah (pic above), as we sat down to try and sum up the last twelve months since the fire ripped apart the business her mother and father started 26 years ago. ‘Just half and hour before the fire started i said to someone i was having the best year of my life. i might be careful before saying something like that again! ‘we had no idea, initially, how devastating the damage would be to the building. Many people were fantastic and incredibly supportive. we needed that support because we had virtually no information on what was going to happen before Christmas. that was a very stressful time, but i think we are now looking to the future.’ Sarah said that, apart from the devastation of the fire, the worst thing about it was being forced to lay off staff – something the family had never had to do. ‘they were all amazing,’ she said. ‘Many of them have returned now, which is great.’ the two businesses owned by the family – the wheelhouse and Skippers - had changed just before the fire. Skippers had stopped serving fish and chips and had concentrated on sandwiches. now the family have moved the fryers back in. ‘we wanted to do fish and chips and i think it’s great to be doing them again,’ she said. ‘the hardest thing is to be so close to it all day, everyday. People have no idea how bad it is and how long it’s going to take to put right. but we’ve now started on a process of rebuilding and just want to get open again as soon as possible – after our rather dramatic pause!’
‘It has been a very hard time, obviously,’ said Simon(pic. below). ‘But we want to say thank you to all our customers for their support - we have been bowled over by the amount of people who have come to seek us out.’ Marcelle immediately decamped to the couple’s garage after the fire to fulfil her wedding commitments. She worked from there for five months.
‘Heather and Marcelle are delighted by how Flowersmiths is doing,’ said Simon. ‘And when I got the chance to work with Serin and bring the Deli back I jumped at it. I’m thoroughly enjoying it – and will continue to work towards taking the deli back to Smith Street again.’
Smith Street Deli – Simon Entwistle
and Marcelle Chownes-Dove
The couple from Smith Street Deli - Simon on the deli side, Marcelle creating beautiful flower displays - have both found ways of
Singer and Singer – Lesley Challacombe
Singer and Singer Estate Agents – first established in 1972 - found themselves without a home after the fire, but needing to continue trading to allow them to support their long list of tenants and clients. In stepped David Freeborn, offering them the office above his on the corner of Hauley Road and Lower Street. Grateful for a home, albeit temporary, Lesley and her staff got on with finding homes for those made homeless by the fire. ‘We are so grateful to David and Carol for helping us there,’ said Lesley. ‘But we quickly realised the impact it
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