The wife of beloved Darlington greengrocer Robin Blair has paid an emotional tribute to her late husband as the stall he devoted his life to closes after more than 150 years.
Alwyn Blair, who was married to Robin for 51 years, said he was a “gentleman” who “had time for everybody”, as JJ Blair and Sons served its final customers at Darlington Indoor Market on Friday, October 9.
Robin, Darlington’s longest-serving market trader, died in July aged 81 following a short illness.
He had spent more than 70 years working at the stall and, according to Alwyn, never wanted to retire.
She said: “It’s a really sad day. Robin never wanted to retire, so that decision was taken out of his hands.
Robin Blair served the community for decades.
“He was only poorly for about five weeks, so the decision wasn’t ours. That’s just the way it has been.
“We can stand here having fun and chatting with everybody, but underneath it all, it is really sad.”
Alwyn began working alongside Robin at the market in 1980 after previously managing Mothercare.
Together they watched generations of customers pass through the stall, with many shoppers becoming friends.
She said: “We’ve had some really, really loyal customers over the years. I think a lot of that came down to the personal service.
“We knew people. We knew their families and their grandchildren. Everybody became like a family.
“For some of our older customers, we might have been the only people they saw that day. They could come in, have a chat and, if they only wanted one carrot, one leek or even one tomato, they could buy it.
“You can’t really get that in many places anymore.”
JJ Blair and Sons
The final day ends the Blair family business stretching back more than 150 years.
Alwyn said: “The business originally belonged to my husband’s grandparents, then it went to his mum and dad, and then to Robin and his brother Keith.
“You’re talking about more than 150 years of Blairs. You go right back to the days when they had a horse and cart bringing the vegetables down because they didn’t have a van.
“Robin’s dad never drove, so when Robin left school and was old enough to pass his test, that was one of the things he had to do. He got the first van.”
JJ Blair and Sons
Alwyn has also witnessed dramatic changes in Darlington Market during her decades behind the counter.
She said: “When I first came here there were more butchers, fruit and vegetable stalls and a bit of everything. You could buy anything here.
“Bank Holiday Mondays used to be incredibly busy because everywhere else was closed. But shopping is completely different now.”
Alwyn said supermarkets, online shopping and declining footfall had made it increasingly difficult for traditional traders to compete.
JJ Blair and Sons
She added: “But what we always had was that personal service and everything was fresh.
“We just didn’t have the footfall anymore. People started shopping out of town and shopping online. It’s a different way of shopping now and, really, it’s a sign of the times.”
Since his death, customers have continued to share their memories of Robin, with the family placing a book of remembrance at the stall.
Customers have remembered Robin by writing down memories. (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)
Alwyn said: “Customers were coming in and saying all these lovely things to us, so my daughter thought they might like somewhere to write them down.
“We haven’t really read them properly yet because it’s a little bit upsetting.
“Everybody has been so kind. We’ve had so many really loyal customers over the years.”
But as more than 150 years of trading comes to an end, Alwyn said Robin’s legacy will always be remembered.
She said: “Robin was the man. He had time for everybody.
“Even at home he was a gentleman. He had his own opinions, of course, but whether somebody well known came into the stall or it was one of our regular customers, he was just Robin.
“There were no airs and graces. He was just Robin, and he was my husband.”
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Beloved Darlington greengrocer Robin Blair to be laid to rest tomorrow
Robin’s death earlier this year prompted an outpouring of affection across the town.
Hundreds gathered in Darlington town centre to pay their respects when his funeral cortege stopped outside the market where he spent most of his life.
Former colleagues called Mr Blair the "backbone" of the market, while council deputy leader Chris McEwan described him as "an institution for Darlington".