It was definitely a case of déjà vu for volunteer Joan Churchouse last Friday when the St Margaret’s Hospice Shop in Minehead held a double Celebration.

It was the 25th Anniversary of the shop and also its official reopening after a major refit.

Joan, who has worked at the shop for all 25 years said: “I’ve always worked there on a Friday morning, so the day the shop opened was my very first day too. I watched Mayor Stan Taylor cut the ribbon. Now I feel so very honoured to do the task today.”

Joan had recently retired from her job as a community nurse and midwife when she decided to join the team of lady volunteers at the shop.

She said: “My colleagues and I had sometimes helped at the hospice so it seemed like a natural progression to help at the shop. It’s very worthwhile.”

The 25th Anniversary also celebrates a lot of giving from the local area and the shop’s manager, Christine Slade, says the shop and all its wonderful volunteers are like one huge ship’s crew working together.

“I want to thank them all,” she said, “And we are also celebrating the wonderful people of Minehead and surrounding area who generously donate such beautiful things. Our shelves and display cabinets are always well stocked, plus all the marvelLous clothes and furniture which together has earned our shop the local nickname of ‘Aladdin’s Cave.’ We hope that lots of people will call in and see our new look shop.

“It’s been an amazing 25 years and we certainly don’t intend to stop. We believe that St Margaret’s Minehead shop will always be there – a real hub of our community!"