Trader quits town (From Warrington Guardian)

Trader quits town

after

12 years

It's time to move on, says owner of Vivi's

A KNUTSFORD trader is leaving town for a new life in literature.

Viv Allinson is selling up and moving out after 12 years in King Street to publish her first novel.

"I have served my time in Knutsford and now it is time to go," she said last week.

Viv, who has been working on her novel for the last couple of years, plans to move to the south of France.

"I have loved Knutsford since I used to bring my children here to play in the playground," said Viv, who is half-French.

"It will always have a place in my heart but everything must eventually change." Her novel, which she would describe only as a mixture of fact and fiction, is soon to be published in Britain.

The trader, who owns Vivi's, hopes to sell up by the summer.

She said many businesses had already shown interest in the double-fronted shop which she is selling herself.

"It will go to the highest bidder," she said. "I need money to move on."

The women's fashion retailer, who trained as a buyer at Harrods, has been a high-profile figure in the town centre for 12 years.

She recently featured on television and radio programmes stating the need for customers to buy from independent retailers - not just browse.

During her time in Knutsford, Viv, 50, claimed to have seen many changes.

But after setting up and running her own business - a wish she always wanted to fulfill - she is happy to move to her mother's country.

"I have spent the first half of my life in this country now I'll spend the second half in France, " she said.

"But it isn't so far away. I'll come back to Knutsford to visit my friends and family."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.