Chip shop marks centenary with donation to school

French's is currently is run by Alanna French (second from left) and her team

A fish and chip shop run by four generations of the same family is celebrating its centenary.

French's was founded in Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk in 1921 but moved to its current premises on The Quay in 1925.

To mark the anniversary, the business has donated £10,000 to Wells-next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School to build an all-weather outdoor play canopy.

Shop manager Alanna French said many family members had attended the school, so it was fitting to help "a cause close to the heart".

Nursery class teacher Marijka Kirk said the canopy would make a huge difference to pupils

Another Norfolk company, Trademate Windows, has offered to build the 14m by 4m (46ft by 13ft) canopy at cost and the work is due to be done over the Easter break.

Head teacher Rachel Stroulger said: "We're always looking at ways to strengthen community links and this is just a perfect example. We are thrilled."

Nursery class teacher Marijka Kirk said: "The canopy will make a huge difference to the quality of early education we will be able to offer here."

French's was founded by William French (right) who settled in Wells after World War One to marry his sweetheart, Blanche

French's was founded in 1921 by William French.

He had earlier visited the coastal town with the Staffordshire Yeomanry, which was training ahead of deployment in World War One.

While in Wells, he met Blanche Hawes and fell in love with her.

According to the family, Mr French said if he survived the war, he would come back and marry her.

He did survive and came back to marry Blanche, whose father lent him the money to start the business.

French's opened in 1921 on Station Road before moving to its current waterside location in 1925

Shop manager Ms French said the original plan had been to hand out free portions of fish and chips to mark the centenary, but that a donation to the school felt like the right thing to do.

"My great-grandma helped to build part of that school. She was a governor at one point," she said.

"I attended it, my dad attended it and now my children are at the school as well so it is a cause close to the heart."

Ms French originally trained as a nurse but is happy working in the family business now.

"I did enjoy it. But Dad was at a point where he wanted to retire and take a step back, so it felt right to come back," she said.

Ms French said there had been a lot of change over the family's 100 years in business.

"We've changed the decoration and the layout. The cost of everything has really gone up," she said.

"It does cost a lot to run a fish and chip shop, especially when you strive for quality."