Number 4 High Street was built in 1921 and bought by a Mr. Jacobs. He had a small wooden hut on the green opposite. He sold alcohol, among other things, from it! The shop was built on the side of the house in 1926 and was the only one in the village until the 1960's.

It was owned by the Jacobs (father and son) all those years. Then in 1967 it was bought by the Manders. Unfortunately it declined during the next 10 years. The Post Office, which had been conducted in the front room of a house, expanded. 

We (Bob and Gill Hodgson) bought the rundown shop in 1977. It has been a struggle but we have managed to, with the help and custom of many good people in Acton, built up trade despite the rise of the Supermarkets, 2007 is our 30th year. 

Acton is unusual in having two shops, most village shops have disappeared, and are disappearing, due to the increased mobility of people and the perceived cheapness of the big supermarkets.

I don't  know if we will equal 40 years, like the Jacobs, but hope to continue providing a service to the residents of Acton for many more years!

Since this was first written another 5 years have elapsed, now 2007. The other shop (which was the Post Office) has had 3 or 4 different owners and we are still here! Doris (Parmenter) our part timer and friend for many many years is still working with us.

Sadly some of our customers and good friends that we have known for many years have passed away, as happens in a village, A lot of new people have moved into the village, some have become good customers and friends,
Despite having had a new left hip and still coping with Ankylosing Spondylitis we carry on! A new Anti-TNFdrug called Humira has helped me greatly, transforming the outlook for me and others with AS.

Another threat to small shops, especially long established ones, are the great number of new bureaucratic regulations, some make you want to give up. Everything has to have a risk assessment and there are a great many more to come.
The power of the super markets grows even greater but I think an even bigger threat is the problem of getting goods to sell. Wholesalers delisting, in their eyes, slow moving items but which are the life blood of village stores.

The front and the inside of the stores has changed since we opened the Post Office. We opened it on Monday 16th. October 2006. It had been located in the other shop in the village but it was taken away and closed because of the theft of over £15,000 by the then Postmaster. We felt that once a Post Office closes in a village then the heart goes out so decided to apply. That was in May 2006. We did not realise how involved and complicated the process was. The interviews, business plans, having to get suppliers to make a counter and fit equipment  in the shop. 5 months later Gill was the Sub Postmaster (male and female, generic term).

It is now the beginning of February 2007 and it has been a very steep learning curve indeed. If we knew then what we know now.....!  Still we are getting used to the systems and procedures, still a lot to learn but it goes to show 'you can teach a couple of old dogs new tricks'!

The future is a bit uncertain. The Post Office is in consultation with the Government about the future of the rural Post Office network and at least 2500 offices will be closed. Will we be one of them only time will tell.