The Otterton Community Shop has undergone complete
refurbishment at a cost of £25,000, fully funded from
reserves. Within a week, the shop was cleared, fully
redecorated, new commercial grade floor tiling laid, a new
counter and storage cupboards fitted, new lighting
installed and the plumbing upgraded. The shop was
then fitted with new shelving to accommodate changes in
the layout and new chillers and freezers installed.
Finally, the shop was re-stocked allowing it to reopen on
schedule.
This was achieved with the support of our volunteers who
helped to clear and restock the shop and each of the
contractors who delivered on time to ensure a successful
outcome.
They included:-
Richard
Witherby Joinery Paul Yeomans
decoration Adam Cole tiling, A& S Kingdon
plumbing services Mike Self Electrical Shop Equipment &
Design Limited - shelving KJS of Barnstable -
chillers and freezers
The unit is now fitted to full commercial standards on a
par with that of any national retailer.
The shop was officially re-opened on Tuesday 18th
February2025 by Lord Clinton who paid tribute to all those
involved in bringing the project to a successful
conclusion on schedule and within six and a half days.
Volunteer Party 2024
Our volunteer party held on 7th November celebrated 10
years since the shop opened for trading on 1 December
2014. Current volunteers were joined by many of
those pioneers and former committee members whose
perseverance brought the shop into existence, including
Viv Price, Jill Gladstone and John Edmonds who spoke and
revived memories of the struggle to secure premises and
funding. The party was also attended by Alasdair
Cameron of the Otterton Relief in Need Charity who told of
the invaluable work undertaken by the charity supporting
those villagers in need of financial support and the OCS
Chairman, Jeremy Wakeling, was delighted to confirm a
further donation to ORINC of £3,000. In addition, it
was announced that the shop would be giving £3,000 to the
Village Playground Fund, accepted on the night by Richard
Witherby. All in all, a tremendous way to celebrate
success built on the foundations of those who set up the
shop and the continuing efforts and commitment of all
current volunteers.
Alasdair Cameron, Jeremy
Wakeling & Richard Witherby
