Family Shop: 130 Years Serving a Village, Surviving Post Office Changes

Springfield Stores is in a village called Hardington Mandeville. The same family has owned it since 1890. They have survived many changes and challenges, including the Post Office scandal. Daphne Creed runs the shop now. She is 77 years old and is the third family member to do so.

Daphne took over in 1991, after her mother, who managed it before her. Her mother had taken over in 1936, following Daphne’s grandmother, who had run it since 1890. Helping her mother felt natural to Daphne. She feels happy meeting customers and friends, which motivates her each day.

Daphne likes not having to travel to work, and she also appreciates having her family near. The shop itself has changed since her grandmother’s time. Daphne recalls old sweet jars and cheese with rind. Decimalization was hard for her mother, but she handled it well.

Daphne once worked at a hospital as a senior nursing officer’s secretary. She returned to help after her father’s death. Daphne has four grandchildren. She helped her mother more with the shop, then moved back home after her father died.

The shop started in the house and now sells groceries and toiletries. Daphne tries to keep the products local and fights against big supermarkets. She says she mostly helps people top up their supplies since it’s a small place.

The shop has a good location, as there aren’t many other shops nearby. The store includes a Post Office, which thankfully avoided the Horizon scandal. The retail side helps the Post Office, she says, explaining that one needs the other. The true extent of the scandal was unknown until a film came out.

She avoided the Horizon scandal, and the film showed the scandal’s true extent. Local businesses use the Post Office for cash. Somerset Council gave her an award in 2009, and The Queen gave her an MBE in 2012 for her service to the village. She visited Windsor Castle for the honour.

She described it all as a dream, emphasizing that recipients cannot tell anyone before the letter arrives. Daphne has been a Churchwarden for over 25 years. She is also secretary for the village hall, helping with village life and fundraising.

Daphne hopes the shop stays in her family. She does not plan to close it and will keep going as long as she can. She will stop only if she loses money or if her health fails.