Founder of a Bingham market retires after 35 years service

THE founder of Bingham Country Market is retiring after 35 years.

Frances Mary Steward, of Hoveringham, is packing up shop from Bingham's Country Market after starting the community event herself in 1976.

Originally the market was known as the Women's Institute Market, but then broke out on its own and was renamed the Bingham Country Market around five years ago.

The 84-year-old said she had enjoyed every minute of being in involved with the event, held every Thursday in the Women's Institute hut on Station Road.

"I have met some lovely people, and the market has become for many a social gathering as much as anything else," she said.

Mrs Steward – whose parents were farmers – said she started the market because at the time it was what many branches of the WI were doing.

Although she was a member of Hoveringham's branch she chose Bingham because of its historic links with being a market town.

"And when other markets began to close, the Bingham market has continued to thrive," she said.

Despite the economic downturn Mrs Steward believes trade at markets in general is not dead.

"There is still trade to be had at markets, and money to be made, it's just that you have to work that little bit harder at it than you used to, but then again that's not a bad thing," she said.

One of her fondest memories of being involved with Bingham's market was when a group of Women's Institute members attended the Newark Show.

"It was back in the days when there was a lot of people involved and when we used to do a lot of promotional work for the market – they were good times," she said.

Fellow member of the WI and a regular face at the market is Kath Yates, who described Mrs Steward, as a "wonderful woman who was kind-hearted and brilliant.

"She was brilliant at organising the market and we wish her all the best for her retirement. I know she will still be attending the markets.

"She has brought life into the market and for that she will always be remembered. She was a very kind-hearted person," she said.

The role of chief market organiser has now been taken over by Patricia Ellis.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503354/s/13e16ef1/l/0L0Sthisisnottingham0O0Cnews0CFounder0EBingham0Emarket0Eretires0E350Eyears0Eservice0Carticle0E340A39780Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

Slovakia Debit cards Publishing Gay and lesbian travel Asia Social care