Readers might be interested in this item from the Guardian,  a
British newspaper. It appeared on Tuesday November 27, 2001 in the section
called 'Country diary' and was headed 'Village shop rescued by John
Vallins. Maiden Bradley is in Wiltshire


Our supermarket's new extension will provide a noodle bar, rotisserie,
pizzeria, worldwide takeaway, fishmonger, butcher and patisserie to add to
the plenty already available. But in the smart, newly fitted stockroom of
Maiden Bradley's resurrected village shop, I was shown just three kinds of
shampoo on the shelf (as against 30 at the supermarket) and proudly told
that each one was stocked in response to a particular request from a
resident, like the leaf tea imported from Harrogate specifically for one
valued customer who preferred to drink no other kind.

In the summer, the previous owners gave two months' notice that, as income
from the shop and post office was insufficient, they would close in
September. After this date, the nearest post office was at Horningsham,
only 3 miles away but with no bus link. An open meeting revealed a passion
to keep the village shop open. There was a quick and positive response from
the District Council and Countryside Agency. The next step was to form a
Friendly Society, and by late October the Maiden Bradley Village Shop
Association Ltd was duly registered, so that share certificates could be
issued to the 100 shareholders.

A share costs £5, and each shareholder has one vote, irrespective of the
size of the holding. Grants and the capital raised from shares have funded
the relaunch, a questionnaire has informed purchase of stock, and voluntary
labour has made the shop bright and welcoming. Staffing for the hours
people want is part paid and part voluntary and Consignia will reopen the
post office counter soon. Other villages are looking to follow Maiden
Bradley's example.