Sharing our Stories - February with the Fletchers
Gosh – it’s March and I have failed to post the lovely conversation I had with Jennifer and Sarah Fletcher from the wonderful R.A. & J.S. Fletcher & Sons! My husband and I have shopped there since we moved to Grange in 2003. Not only do we love the gorgeous food they sell, but we also enjoy the warm and friendly welcome we get whenever we go in. And of course, one can track the seasons by the hat that Andrew Fletcher is wearing! Anyway, enough from me……
R.A. & J.S. Fletcher & Sons are a family run retail business owned by Jennifer Fletcher along with her two sons Andrew and Rick & daughter Sarah. “With over 35 years’ experience selling fresh produce from around the world along with many speciality goods we pride ourselves on the quality and service we can provide in Grange Over Sands”. www.fletchersfruitandveg.co.uk
Open six days a week from 7.00am till 5.00pm the shop keeps the family very busy. With such long hours I was therefore keen to find out what Jennifer and Sarah enjoy about their work, what they like about living in Grange and what helps them to relax in the evening after long hours serving customers.
I’m delighted to say that they both love Grange aswell as books and Mum and daughter regularly swap books and recommendations. They both enjoy a wide range of different books but especially enjoy books by crime writers like Ann Cleeves, Richard Osman, Claire Mackintosh and Mo Hayder.
Sarah remembers Mum and Dad reading Walt Disney’s books where Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck enjoy many adventures. A particular favourite is ‘The Mystery of the Missing Peanuts’ where Detective Donald had to catch two naughty chipmunks, Chip and Dale’, who stole peanuts from Mickey’s Zoo.
Sarah also shared the fact that she didn’t really enjoy the reading chosen at school and it took some time before she began reading for pleasure. However, when she had her own family, she was keen to surround her children with books and enjoyed reading books like ‘Stickman’ by Julia Donaldson and ‘Rainbow Magic’ by Daisy Meadows with them.
Interestingly, it was fellow parents who helped Sarah start reading for pleasure. On their recommendation she started reading ‘The Hive’ by Gil Hornby; a touching novel about the social world of school mothers. For the first time, Sarah really enjoyed reading each page she turned, a stark contrast to the anxiety she remembered from her school days.
Sarah soon became hooked on reading novels by writers such as Sophie Hannah and crime thrillers by Mo Hayder, Henning Mankell and Samuel Bjork. Sarah also enjoys local authors such as David Nicholls, Paul Daly, Rebecca Tope and Ruth Sutton. Sarah said “it’s great reading stories with reference to places and landmarks where we live. It gives me a deeper understanding of the story when you know the place exists and is somewhere you have visited”
Sarah is currently reading ‘Really Good Actually’ by Monica Heisey. It’s about a lady who is going through a divorce two years after she married. “Despite the subject it’s a very humorous read and will make you laugh”. Jennifer is reading 'Murder before Evensong' by Richard Coles; a great mystery with a few smiles along the way!
Another book she remembers buying was ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. “Very hyped up but having dragged my eyes over the first 100 pages I slammed the book shut and donated it to a charity. If you want a book with a steamy, raunchy element look no further than Jilly Coopers Riders. Give me Rupert Campbell Black over Christian Grey any day!”
A final thought...Fletchers supply just about everything you need for fantastic fresh and cooked meals. They also have a great range of foods for those of us with allergies. If you struggle for menu ideas then come and visit us in Daisyroots Book Shop and have a look at our great selection of cook books.
Cheerio for now and look out for my next post later this month!
Izzy