THE PETERSFIELD Cobbler, Steve White, celebrated 25 years of trading in the town just days before the restrictions were lifted – and, confident of better days ahead, has leased his Chapel Street shop for a further ten years.

Steve, 52, opened his shop on May 11, 1996, and still has the first £1 he took framed and hanging on the wall in his workroom behind the shop.

Steve, who moved to the town from Clanfield 18 years ago, said: “I have got a great loyal customer base – in fact, some of them have become friends.

“And I have been invited to their weddings, christenings, and sadly the occasional funeral.

“But they are a good crowd and were great through the last lockdown when my key cutting meant I could stay open as an essential business, and I want to thank them all.”

And it looks as though the shop is good for another 25 years, as Steve’s son Lewis, 22, is now working with his dad.

Steve said: “I used to work for a cobbler as a Saturday job when I was at school, and then joined a cobblers in Fareham.

“I was there until I decided to set up on my own.

“I looked around and chose Petersfield. It was one of the best decisions of my life – it’s a top town.

“Now Lewis is doing the same – he worked Saturdays, and then full-time when he left school.

“I’ve just renewed the lease, and looking forward to another ten years at least.”