Trader to close family market stall after 70 years

Mary Walley has herself been running Mary's Meats for 38 years

A market trader is closing her family's meat stall after 70 years in business.

Mary Walley, who runs Mary's Meats, has herself been running the firm for nearly four decades.

She has said personal and business issues have both prompted the decision to close the stall, at Market Drayton's indoor market.

"I will just miss the atmosphere, the friendliness of the customers, the banter with the stallholders," said Ms Walley who, on asking what she will do, responded with one word, "cake" - in the form of on online baking firm.

Flocks of customers queue to be served at Mary's Meats

The stall, which sells meats, cheeses, and pies, originally sat on The Shambles, now known as Shropshire Street.

It was passed from Ms Walley's cousin to her father, then to her sister, before being handed to her.

Generations of the family have worked behind its counter under Ms Walley's watch, including her husband, daughters, and granddaughters.

"I would've liked to have passed it down to one of my grandsons," she told BBC Radio Shropshire.

Ms Walley is a popular fixture in the market, and regular customers are now like friends.

"They're not happy, they want me to stay. I would love to stay," she added.

'I bake every day'

Although she has fond memories of the market, Ms Walley said the coronavirus pandemic was a particularly difficult time.

"Trade wasn't brilliant, sometimes we were gone by 10 o'clock," she recalled.

"But I'm proud that I've kept the same customers, I've not had one complaint."

Ms Walley will hang up her white coat for the final time on Saturday, before turning to the baking.

The cakes will be sold online, under Cakes and Bakes by Mary Rose.

"I bake every day. That stall (Mary's Meats) is easy, it's the cakes that take the time," she added.