A LOCAL shop at the heart of the community celebrated its ruby jubilee by supporting a local charity.

Jaybees Convenience Store, in Kings Furlong Centre, was joined by friends, families, customers and dignitaries to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the shop.

People listened as Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s mayor Cllr Jane Frankum and shop owner Mark Buttress addressed crowds who helped the shop see in its landmark year.

The shop, a branch of retailer Mace, first came to the area in 1976 and has become an integral part of residents’ lives.

The event raised more than £500 for local children’s charity Naomi House and Jacksplace hospices, which provide expert hospice care to life-limited and life-threatened children, young people and their extended families from the county and beyond. 

Mr Buttress said: “I started out with this business when I first moved to Basingstoke at the age of three.

“I’ve been a paperboy, manager and for the last 21 years I have been running the shop.

“Over those 40 years we’ve had 150 shop assistants, more than 300 youngsters doing the rounds and our assistant manager Cheryl Giles for around 20 years. It’s amazing.”

With the rise of supermarkets and internet shopping, Mr Buttress is thankful for his loyal customer base.

“It’s a forever-changing industry,” Mr Buttress said.

“Originally we never sold alcohol and now we do, the market is growing.

“People often want to buy little, but often. We have been finding that people don’t always want to go to the bigger shops as they end up spending £100 instead of £60.”

He added: “I would always encourage people to check their local shops because you’d be surprised what offers we can do.

“There is a threat from bigger stores and there was a threat to Brighton Hill Shopping Centre – the community came together to stop it. It’s always ongoing, but we’re excited for the next 40 years.”