A day of celebrations was held for a stallholder who recently retired from Beverley Market after 57 years.
John Dyson began trading at Beverley’s Saturday Market in 1966, at the age of 16, but enjoyed his last day on 14th January with colleagues old and new, and with his stall decorated with balloons.
The current stallholders clubbed together to present John with a cake and a picture of the market, his wife Pearl was presented with flowers, and former traders and a former markets officer were invited to say farewell.
The chairman of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Cllr John Whittle, visited the market to congratulate him and said: “It was a pleasure to thank John Dyson for his remarkable years’ service as a stallholder on Beverley Market, and to wish him well for the future.”
Richard Lascelles, the council’s markets officer, said: “It’s the end of an era. It’s a shame to lose someone with so much experience.
“When I started, John was a big help to me, he’s always been someone to rely on, and he will be missed.”
John, 72, who is president of the National Market Traders’ Federation, couldn’t drive when he first set up his stall, having to rely on lifts from others, and he said Beverley’s market has grown much bigger over the years.
He said: “I did say I didn’t want any fuss when I left, but I’m glad. Some of the comments I had were unbelievable and I saw a few people I hadn’t seen for years.”
Although retired from Beverley market, John will continue to trade at Pocklington and Cottingham markets with his stall, selling hosiery and socks.
And he intends to carry on his work with the national federation to encourage new blood into the markets industry.
