Hundreds of people joined community leaders to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Chalke Valley Stores in Broad Chalke.

Salisbury MP John Glen, Chalke Valley Stores chairman Derek Brown and the High Sheriff of Wiltshire Mr Pradeep Bhardwaj all gave speeches during a four-hour celebration attended by hundreds of community members and current and former staff of the shop on Friday, June 2.

Tony Patel, who has been manager of Chalke Valley Stores for five years, said that the shop has seen significant changes during his tenure.

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He said: “We’ve changed the whole ordering process, we’ve changed the way the tills operate, we’ve put in a new electronic point of sale system, we’ve got the new coffee machines that we’ve installed.

“The way the whole shop works is slightly different. It’s more of a sort of commercial retail rather than just a sort of village shop.”

Mr Glen said: “One of the things I always tell people is that when you move to Broad Chalke it’s very likely that within a few hours you’ll be met by somebody who will give you a perspective as to all the activities that are going on in the village, and it’s the most hospitable and wonderful community that you could think of and I think that this premises and the way it has evolved, and the way so many people have come together to support it by volunteering week in, week out, providing such a valuable resource for the village and those nearby is a tribute to you all.”

Broad Chalke was also named one of the best places to live in the UK by the Sunday Times in March, upon which Tony said the Chalke Valley Stores’ hub was an important centre for the community.

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Tony said in March: “The hub shop came about when other stores in the village couldn’t survive so they closed down. The church couldn’t sustain itself, so everyone got together and thought why don’t we put a shop in the church? The community then got together and funded this, and we also got funding from some grants.”

Mr Bhardwaj, who has lived in four different countries including his native India, said the shop exemplified the type of community spirit that is special to small villages in the UK.

He said: “That is the beauty in this country. As we know, in the villages in particular you have a very strong sense of belongingness and self-togetherness, sense of community spirit, and I’m glad we are carrying on all these traditions.”