A popular Newport butcher will hang up his meat cleaver on Saturday – after a career that has spanned nearly half a century.
Dave Matthews, of Dave Matthews Butchers on Stafford Street, will retire this weekend after 48 years in business.
Born and bred in Newport, Mr Matthews started life as a butcher at the tender age of 14 at Shropshire’s Butchers on St Mary Street.
He then had a stall in the market for two years before taking over his current site on Stafford Street.
But the butchers will remain open with son Sean and daughter-in-law Amanda taking over.
Mr Matthews, aged 63, said he will miss his friendly customers.
He said: “I have got some loyal and very good customers and I hope they continue to come.
“I’ve had a great time but now I want to spend some more time with the grandchildren.
“We’ve also got a house in Spain which we will be able to spend some more time at.
“You reach a stage where you realise this is no dress rehearsal. You have to make the most of life.
“It’s time the business had some younger blood and fresh ideas.
“I’ll miss the banter with the customers, but not getting up at six o’clock in the morning.”
The shop’s two members of staff will be staying under the new management.
Mr Matthews has seen plenty of changes during his decades of trading meat.
But his life might have taken a different turn had it not been for a pushy mother.
“I finished school a month before my 15th birthday,” he added.
“That was on the Friday and my mum had already got me a job at Shropshire’s and I started on the Monday.
“The next week I was delivering orders on the bike as far as Donnington.”
By Sean Wozencroft