Hunwick village shop owner retires after 62 years of work

Jean Little and her husband Maurice first took over Hunwick's newsagents back in 1961 - and since then she has served thousands of customers and became a well known figure - eventually running the last shop in the village.

Jean's days saw her waking up in the early hours of the morning at one time - preparing paper rounds for delivery boys and girls who began their shift at 7am.

Lesley Watson-McClurg, 54 and Jean Little, 93. (Image: Cornerstone Supported Housing and Counselling) However, after well over a century of hard work, Jean has shut up shop after a fall meant she could run the store no longer - and the leftover stock at her shop was given to a worthy cause.

Neighbour Lesley Watson-McClurg, 54, told The Northern Echo about Jean, her story, and how the loss of the shop will be a real miss in the village.

She said: "Jean lived in Hunwick prior to buying the shop - and then the opportunity came up to run it. She ran it with her husband for a while but it has always really been Jean's shop.

"I've known her all my life and have been her neighbour for over 30 years. She is like my family. People come to see Jean herself - everyone just loves her.

"She didn't want to give the shop up but she did know it was time."

Unfortunately, an accident saw Jean taken to hospital in October, meaning the shop was left empty for the first time in many years - and it was sadly decided to close it for good.

However, Lesley came up with a clever idea to sell the remaining stock and donate it to a local homeless charity, which led to a huge influx of support. 

She added: "I decided to try and kill two birds with one stone - and suggested we sell off the remaining stock whilst Jean was in hospital.

Nicky Morson from Cornerstone Supported Housing and Counselling and Jean Little. (Image: Cornerstone Supported Housing and Counselling) "This will get rid of the stock, put some money in Jean's pocket and also do a lot for the homeless community too."

On the receiving end of a bundle of food was Cornerstone Supported Housing and Counselling, a Willington-based homeless charity with hubs across the region.

Nicky Morson works for the charity - but has also lived in Hunwick and has known Jean growing up.

She said: "Everybody has had a paper round at Jean's when they were a kid - and no matter what you needed, you could go to her and see if she had it in the shop.

Bob the therapy dog with donations to the charity. (Image: Cornerstone Supported Housing and Counselling)

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"The suggestion was that if they wanted to buy something extra it would be donated to ourselves. Anyone could buy from Jean's and it was stored in Lesley's house.

"It was a really lovely thought. She is an amazing woman."

The food will now be used and placed into emergency packs for the homeless.