A POPULAR shop which has been serving customers for more than 55 years has suddenly closed leaving regulars devastated.
Bill Christophers, 79, has announced his retirement after running his antiques shop Saracens Lanterns in, Kent for more than half a century.
The dad-of-two, who had first trained as a teacher, revealed he's throwing the towel in to focus on his health, after years working in the quirky store.
For many, the has felt like “a piece of history” disappearing, with residents flocking to social media to express their disappointment.
One local said: “I've always loved looking in the window of this shop.”
The local ‘s popularity stretched beyond locals too, with South African bishop Desmond Tutu once famously visiting the store.
Bill bought Saracens for £2,900 in 1970 – roughly £57,328 in today's money – by saving money working night shifts at the local bakery.
After some negotiation, he brokered a deal with the owner who gave him a small mortgage to help him purchase.
He told Kent Online: “At the time, there was a lot of cheap property going in Canterbury. There were a lot of empty shops, I was in the right place at the right time.”
After years working up to seven days a week, Bill decided in 2000 he would only open the shop on Saturdays.
He said: “I found that you get a lot of people coming in during the course of the week, they just sort of look round and say ‘Oh, lovely stock, lovely stock, who does the dusting?’ And I got thoroughly fed up.”
Despite the risky tactic, the antiques collector said his sales didn't suffer a significant slump and he was able to get some of his life back again.
His love of antiques began at an early age, with one of his fondest memories being when his mum sent him to buy oranges with a Queen Victoria Jubilee shilling.
When his family moved into an old pub, he said it was like being thrown into a treasure trove with dozens of interesting objects he found to collect.
His passion developed when running his shop, where he often upcycled old furniture he bought for a penny at auction houses which he sold on for a hefty sum.
But over half a century later, Bill revealed he's shutting up shop for the final time amid his disappointment over the way the city has turned out – “bit of of industrial estate, here there and everywhere.”
Going forward, he said he hopes to continue doing what he loves by selling bits and bobs as a hobby “rather than a career.”
As for all his stock, many items are on their way to local charities.
