Swapping papers for pets – after 38 years

L and W Beevers on Badsley Moor Lane in East Dene will serve its last customer tomorrow (February 28) before the premises undergoes a transformation.

Mrs Beevers (75) said she was not heading for retirement — instead she is heading down a new career path which indulges in her lifelong love for dogs.

Mrs Beevers will be opening a boarding kennels near Thorne with her daughter Anita Claxton and son-in-law Robin Claxton.

She said: “It’s something I think I will enjoy more, I won’t be working as hard.”

Since 1977, Mrs Beevers has worked 18 hour days from 4.30am, seven days a week.

She joked: “I’m in need of a lie-in!”

Mrs Beevers said it has become increasingly harder to compete against supermarkets and trade has gradually dwindled.

At 77 years-old Mr Beevers could claim the title of oldest paperboy on the round as he has delivered newspapers, including the Advertiser, to customers on a daily basis.

Mrs Beevers said her husband had been doing the rounds because it was hard to find paperboys nowadays, and said he was looking forward to being able to indulge in his passion of fishing in their new Thorne location.

Mrs Beevers, from Brecks, added: “I am excited for a change, I’m looking forward to it.

“We have eight dogs between my daughter and myself, we’re out walking dogs quite a lot, so now we’ll be doing it more.

“I will miss the customers, I quite like meeting people, it will be a big change, I’ve been here a long time.

“I must have been mad actually to take it on.”

Mrs Beevers’ niece Karen Wilkinson (47) has worked at the newsagents since being a 14-year-old Saturday girl and is keeping the shop on but reopening it as a pet supplies store.

Karen, from Kimberworth, is not wasting any time as the premises reopens on Monday under its new name of Muttley’s Grooming and Pet Supplies.

She will also keep it in the family as her two children study animal care at college and will be able to help out.

But Karen added the pet grooming services will not begin until around April.

Any customer, new or old, who would like to carry on with their home delivery of the Rotherham Advertiser after Beever’s closes please contact our circulation manager Judith McHale on 07746705207.