A WELL-KNOWN face in Salisbury is celebrating 50 years of serving people with a smile at the city’s market.

Ruby Bonner, who also celebrates her 79th birthday tomorrow, has been making sure people get their five-a-day on one of Salisbury Market’s fruit and veg stalls since 1964.

After having five children – John, Ricky, Terry, Ann and Alan – Mrs Bonner started working for her childhood friend Jean Gill and her husband Vic on their fruit and veg stall.

She has always worked hard, chatting with the customers and bringing in tasty cakes for people to enjoy.

She often helped out at other markets in Wilton and Christchurch, as well as in Salisbury.

And when the Gills retired, Mrs Bonner carried on working at the market, now with Hutchings Fruit and Veg.

She said: “I love it. I don’t feel like it’s been 50 years.

“People say I should retire but my doctor said if I can keep doing it then why not?

“It keeps me going and I want to keep doing it until I can’t do it anymore.”

Mrs Bonner now has seven grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Her family said she would put many people half her age to shame with her hard work ethic.

She lost her husband to cancer after 52 years of marriage and Mr Gill also passed away a few years ago, but Mrs Bonner and Mrs Gill remain close friends.