Local butcher Gerry Henshaw has hung up the apron and cleaver today (Friday) after some 55 years in the butchery business.
The 69-year-old, who lives in Wroxall, enjoyed his last day of employment at The Butcher Shop in Cowes, calling it time on the only job he has ever known.
To celebrate his special day, business owner Andy Brooke and his wife Paola dressed up the shop with balloons and banners and laid on a spread for some of the customers to enjoy on Gerry’s final day.
A commemorative cake was made to honour the legendary butcher and he was given a specially engraved knife by Andy and his team to say thank you for all of his hard work, not only the 6 years in Cowes, but throughout his immense career.
Gerry left school at age 15 and followed his older brother Raymond – who at the time was managing a shop in Fulham – into the butchery trade. By the time he was 18 Gerry was also managing a butcher’s shop in Hammersmith and spent time working in the butchery department at Selfridges on London’s Oxford Street in the 1980s.
Since coming to the Island Gerry has worked for numerous businesses including spending a number of decades at now-defunct business Hamilton’s, at both their Wootton and Newport premises.
Having met Andy through Shanklin-based WA Foods back in the 1990s, in 2017 the pair linked up professionally with Gerry and his wealth of experience joining The Butcher Shop team. Since then, Gerry has been an ever-present at the shop on High Street in Cowes.
On Gerry’s retirement, owner Andy has said:
“To be fair, I don’t really want him to go, he’s been here since day 1 and it’s kind of the end of an era. It’s like losing your right arm.
“I’m pleased for him though as he does deserve it. I’ll miss him more than he knows”.
The Butcher Shop opened up another premises back in Newport back in June 2022- as previously reported by Island Echo.
Speaking exclusively to Island Echo, Gerry said:
“I’ve got lots of books to get through including a fair few sports books and auto-biographies and I’m sure my wife’s got a list of things I can be getting on with such as painting and decorating.
“I want to thank Andy and everyone for the last 6 years, I’ll miss my fellow colleagues immensely.”
“I started when I was 15 and its all I’ve ever known. The job isn’t too hard in terms of the physical demands its just all about getting along with the community and the people you serve, some people came in to see me this morning at 07:30 just after we’d opened. I’m really grateful to them”.
To celebrate his retirement, Gerry and his wife Sally are off on holiday to Egypt tomorrow (Saturday), with the pair set to celebrate Gerry’s 70th Birthday in the sun on Sunday.
Well done Gerry x enjoy your retirement.
Another great London Man who came to the island to
share his skills.
Well done Gerry, enjoy your well deserved retirement.
55 years. An incredible feat. Many congratulations. I cannot see this ever being beaten as the eating of meat will probably be outlawed by the nanny state before long.
Ah gerry what a lovely fella best of luck to you !
Wishing you a very happy retirement
Sorry I missed it Gerry – we were away on holiday – Happy retirement – I will miss you!