AN award-winning family butchers in Fordingbridge will be bidding farewell to its customers as it closes its doors.

John Trim and his wife Louise, who run J May and Son, will be closing the shop on Saturday after making the decision to retire. The business has been trading in Fordingbridge for more than 100 years and was started by John’s grandfather.

J May, which later became J May and Son, was located in Provost Street until the 1930’s when it moved to Salisbury Street, where it is today.

John said: “My wife and I took the decision that we would retire and the time has now come.”

Although John says he is looking forward to retiring he will miss the people he works with and his customers.

He added: “We want to say how grateful we are to all our customers throughout the years.”

Speaking about closing the shop he said: “There was no one to carry on the business. It is very difficult.

“We have been through the whole gambit – we survived foot and mouth and BSE. Now, the time to retire has come.”

“It is not a business it is a way of life,” added John. “I will miss working with my wife, Keith, Anna, and the customers. My wife has been a really integral part of the business.”

The butcher shop has won numerous gold awards for its meat over the years and will be missed by its customers.