E&C Greenalls in St Helens closes after 68 years of trading

E & C Greenalls, on Duke Street, has been a longstanding feature in St Helens.

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

Colin Greenall and colleague Michelle Banks (Image: St Helens Star)

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

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

Customers have been expressing well wishes to Colin ahead of his retirement and a plethora of cards wishing him well for his retirement have been in place behind the counter. 

Michelle Banks, who has worked at the bakery for 11 years, admitted it was a sad and emotional day to be leaving. 

Colin said: "It is sad, I am looking forward to retirement, but I will miss it.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to all the customers who stayed loyal with us for all these years.

"People have been saying 'you're the last traditional bakery in town, what are we going to do?' and said they're going to miss me."

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

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.

Colin admitted that it "feels strange" to be finally retiring after all these years.

He added: "One of my customers said 'are you looking forward to retiring?' and I said 'I won't have to get up in the morning and scrape frost off the windows', and this morning there was frost on the car, for old time's sake!"