News / News Wire
Community pays tribute to historic butchers
Dozens of heartfelt messages have appeared on the shop front of family butchers WG Stutt & Son, which has been open for business on Gloucester Road for almost 100 years.
The handwritten well-wishes can be seen on a cardboard sign announcing the shop’s sudden closure due to illness. The note is signed off by owner Marvyn Stutt, who was handed the reigns of the business by his father as part of the shop’s long-running family history.
According to The Gloucester Road Story, no. 226 has served as a butchers from as early as 1900, starting out as the headquarters of a Mr Thomas Dingle and being handed over to the Stutt family in 1931.
When the WG Stutt & Son we know today first opened it partook in a friendly rivalry with fellow butcher Owen Ralph, who was situated right next door at number 228 but was outlived by the successful Stutt business by some 80 years.
As one of the oldest shops in the area, the butchers have built a strong connection with local residents, evident in the messages which so rapidly appeared expressing best wishes for the future and hopes that Marvyn’s father will get well soon.
One line reads, “thank you for all your hard work and amazing meat”, while several others say how much they’ll miss the Stutts and their wonderful business.
It appears that the affection is mutual, with Stutt’s message ending in “heartfelt thanks for the support of all our regular customers who have supported us over the many years”.