A VILLAGE near Wallingford has celebrated the 10th anniversary of its award-winning community shop.
On Saturday – a decade on from residents helping fundraise £20,000 for community-run Ewelme Village Store to open – villagers marked the occasion with a bunting-lined party.
As many as 100 people – including the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire, Lady Silvia Jay – attended for 'speeches, Prosecco and nibbles'.
ALSO READ: Wallingford Community Fridge opens its doorsShe congratulated the store on its decade in business and the community for its contribution to making it a thriving part of Ewelme.
Ten years on from its humble beginnings, the store now has more than 300 shareholders, six daily managers, 25 volunteers and an annual turnover of about £150,000.
Above: Villagers 10 years ago
Speaking after the event, Chairman Sarah Maine said: "It's a big celebration. We have been going 10 years and it was a milestone.
"I think most people were appreciative of the shop - most people can't imagine life without if now. It's a focal point for the village and brings people together."
The shop has won a number of awards over the years, including Best Community Store in the South East 2017, and is run by a management committee which has evolved to include a number of different local people.
Mrs Maine, who was singled out for praise as the High Sheriff thanked volunteers and staff members, continued: "It has done everything that people think community shops should have done.
"We had quite a lot of people who used to work for us come - it had a nice feeling about it."
READ AGAIN: Help is on its way: Wallingford project hailed for poverty fightOn Saturday, the street in front of the shop was closed as villagers raised a glass to its continuing success.
Cara Chapman, Vice Chairman of the management committee, added: "It was really lovely. We had a lot of emails and messages congratulating us in the run up.
"Getting to 10 years is a real milestone that we are all very proud of. It was (also) a great opportunity to look back on what we have achieved."
Miss Chapman listed three main achievements that the community was most proud of: "Getting the shop open; sustaining it and keeping a healthy business. But also probably the most important point was to make it a central hub for the village."
She continued: "The shop means different things for different people - from those who need a pint of milk or a newspaper to those who need jobs.
"We employ local teenagers and and a huge range of volunteers; the social interaction they get from being part of the community shop is great. We have made ourselves the go-to place in Ewelme."
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