R.E. Caudle, Fruiterers

Between 1961 and 1969 R.E. Caudle, fruiterer occupied 5 St. James Terrace (now Capability).

Below is a transcript from a 1972 Echo article that we have been given about the Caudle family. Some of their comments remain very relevant to the issues that we have today!

Article in the Gloucestershire Echo, 1972, about the retirement of Mr & Mrs R. H. Caudle, fruiterers, who occupied the site from 1930.

FRUITERERS RETIRE

The owners of Cheltenham’s oldest fruiterers, which dates back to 1902, retire tonight. They are Mr and Mrs R.E.Caudle, of St James’s Terrace. Mr Caudle was born in the shop a year after his parents took it over.

“It was a butcher’s then,” he said.”There are still meat hooks at the back. There were square panes of glass in the windows.” But it was only by accident that he came into the business. “I was an ecclesiastical joiner,” he said, “but in 1928 to 1930 there was no work, so I started to help out in the shop.”

He took over when his parents retired in 1930 and has remained for 42 years.

The shop was supplied by fruit and vegetables from its own gardens in the Park and at where Sandford Pool now lies.  Grapes were included among a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. “Eating habits had changes a lot since the shop first started,” said Mr Caudle. “People are choosier these days,” he said.  “They like foreign stuff like avocados and red peppers, whereas a vegetable like sea kale that used to be very popular, has gone out altogether.”

He had not been alarmed by the rise of the supermarkets and pre-packaged vegetables. “We give a different service,” he said. “There are three things.  Personal service, personal credit and personal delivery. You won’t find a supermarket giving all those.”  “We serve people who used to come in 30 years ago, and others who’ve moved into other parts of the town make a point of coming back to us.”

After their retirement, Mr and Mrs Caudle plan to go on a long holiday before returning to their home at 92 St Georges Place, Cheltenham.