COMMUNITY SAYS THANK YOU AS SHOPKEEPERS CHARLES AND LINDA BRADING RETIRE AFTER 32 YEARS

The community of Nettlestone and Seaview gathered to say goodbye to Charles and Linda Brading yesterday (Tuesday), as the respected retail couple hung up their uniform for the last time. For the past 80 years – and over 3 generations – the Brading family have run the village store in Nettlestone. Opening early and closing late, their efforts have been much appreciated by everyone in the area. Charles’ dad, Vic, started the business as a mobile shop in the early 1960s. Vic was given permission to open up shop in the front room of his Nettlestone home when the Street Trading Act effectively banned him from operating out of his van. Charles left school at 14 to work in his father’s shop, taking over in the early 90s at a time when the opening of Tesco wiped out 50% of the business. Despite the challenge posed by a supermarket giant, Charles moved Vic’s Stores to a 7-day-a-week model and rebuilt the business with the support of his wife, Linda – playing a crucial role during the pandemic, delivering to more than 80 vulnerable households every other day. Earlier this year, the business was bought by Portsmouth-based Pranay and Niket Patel who have opened up across the road in the former Roadside Inn pub. To help smooth out the transition, Charles and Linda have been helping out for the past 3 months – but the time has come for the husband and wife duo to wind down from the world of retail having run the shop for the past 32 years. Former Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Major General Sir Martin White, who is also a Seaview resident, handed over a gift of appreciation of £650. The Chair of the Parish Council Barry Elliott then gave Charles and Linda Brading a plaque with the Freedom of the Parish.