IT’S the end of an era for the market as one of the most popular and longest serving traders, Josie Butterworth, has announced she will be retiring – just shy of her 83rd birthday.

And her retirement also spells the end for Butterworths bedding and towels, a business that has been part of the town centre since 1934.

Mum-of-three Josie, from Appleton, began working on her parents’ pet stall aged just 18, but said she has decided not to move into the new building when the market transfers to its temporary home later this year, ahead of the £100 million Bridge Street revamp.

She said: “I was only a teen when I started on my mum and dad’s stall, which is where I worked until I got married. My husband worked in the market too, Butterworths has been going since the 1930s, so the stall is 84 years old itself. I met my husband when I was putting a fish tank up in his house for my parents’ store.

“I always worked with him, it was very hard work back then, especially because it was his parents’ business.

“It was wonderful, you always had customers round you.

“And you could hear my husband’s voice all over the market.”

Josie’s husband Michael Butterworth is fondly remembered by many residents following his death in 2014.

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Josie said: “I always worked with my husband so it’s different without him.

“When I finish I want to write a book of my life. I can remember being in the old market and my wage was only £4 a week.

“I remember watching people come and stand their children beneath the clock and say ‘stay there, don’t move, I’m just going to the broken biscuits stall’.

“My mother always went to the broken biscuits shop, people used to queue for them. They would give you half a biscuit and you were absolutely made up. I have had fantastic, wonderful life working in the market. People ask me if I’m going to the new market. I have worked here from the age of 18 but we are not getting the people coming in here like they used to.

“So I’ve ordered some signs to say we’re having a retiring sale, not a closing down sale – I would like to get rid of the stock and then retire from market life.”

But she added: “The staff are absolutely great, I’m going to miss them.”