E & C Greenalls in St Helens to close in November after 68 years

E & C Greenalls, on Duke Street, has become a staple of the community over the years.

The business, on Duke Street, was started by Elizabeth Greenall 68 years ago on September 6, 1954.

Her son Colin began working at the shop aged 10, later becoming a partner in 1965, before taking the reins in 1970.

The bakery’s most-loved items which fly off the shelves each day include steak pies, meat and potato pies, vanilla slices, blackcurrant tarts and custard.

"It is all made here, we make everything ourselves and sell it through the shop, and we get the meat from Gavins Butchers," said Colin, who has announced that the doors will close at the bakery for the final time on November 4.

Colin says he has “lots of good memories” from over the decades.

“I remember when we first started, before supermarkets, we did a lot of cakes for weekends and people would be going home with six boxes of cakes.”

Well-known customers over the years have included Saints stars such as Harry Pinner, Roy Mathias, Ray French and Neil Holding among others.

E&C Greenalls (Image: Newsquest)

“I always remember Roy Mathias would come in on a Saturday morning, buy about two or three steak pies and then score a hat-trick that afternoon!” Colin said.

Colin, 78, who plans to put the unit up for sale, expressed sadness at the upcoming closure but said the time had come for him to retire.

During the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977 (Image: Submitted)

“I am sad it is coming to the end but what must be must be,” he added.

“I have been telling people, and they have been saying things like ‘you can’t close, what are we going to do?’

“It means a lot, you probably don’t appreciate how other people appreciate you, so it’s nice to hear people say those things.”

Colin, who has two daughters who live in Yorkshire, says he plans to spend his retirement with wife Cynthia, and enjoy time with his five grandchildren and in his garden.

He is also chairman of the Sankey Canal Restoration Society.  

Greenalls showing support for Saints ahead of the Challenge Cup final in 1978 (Image: Newsquest)

“I would just like to thank all the people who have worked for me over the years, it has been an honour to know them.

“I’d like to thank the customers for their support over the years. I wish them all the very best for the future.”