Market Kings leave after 150-year Walsall stint
It has a name that has been at the heart of the Black Country for more than 150 years – but a long-running family-run business has sold its fruit and veg for the last time.
With generations of the same family running shops and market stalls, the name King's has been a feature in Walsall for decades.
But now the final incumbent of the King legacy, Bob Giles, has stepped down from his pitch at Willenhall, bringing a long-standing era to an end.
The fruit and veg business was started at the historic Walsall Market by Bob's great grandfather from his mother's side, Matthew King, around 152 years ago.
His grandfather, also known as Matthew, then took over the mantle at the beginning of the 20th century. From trading on the town centre market, shops were then also opened in Pleck Road and Ida Road, Walsall.
From there Mr King's eight children continued in the trade. In the 1950s Bob's aunties, Pat and Jean King, uncles Derek and Maurice and worked on Walsall Market while others branched further afield.
This included Bob's mother Iris who was based at a shop in Blakenall Heath.
There were up to 10 stalls at Walsall Market in the King name at one point but the numbers dwindled until all the traders finished more than 10 years ago.
Mr Giles had initially operated a market stall in Walsall but has been based at Willenhall since 1976. However, he was forced to stop at Christmas after being left out of pocket and suffering from a drop in footfall.
Mr Giles, who is is known as 'Kingy', ran the stall alongside his wife Yvonne.
His work pattern included regular 3am starts to collect fresh goods from Birmingham. And he has seen the price of cauliflower rise from around 4d to £1.50 and tuppence for potatoes to 39p a pound.
The 64-year-old, of Stafford, said he was sad to step down but had no choice after being forced to cover a £500 monthly deficit this autumn and winter.
The father-of-one said more investment was needed into the town to keep it thriving. "It is very sad," he said.
"I want to thank all the customers that have been loyal to us, especially over the last few years as they have kept us going this long. It was lots of fun. I can only compare it to being on stage, you were performing all day, joking and having a craic with the customers all day long. It was hard work, don't get me wrong. I used to get up at 3am and not get home until nine at night."
He added the business had struggled to make a profit recently.
"I have put money in during the last three months to keep things afloat and I can't see it getting any better.
"I just can't afford it, there is no footfall coming through the town. It got worse when Morrisons opened but you can't blame the customers.
"Younger generations are now programmed to go to supermarkets, but those in their 50s to 60s were programmed to go to the corner shop and weekly markets. There is nothing wrong with going to the supermarket. But it is that way of shopping that has killed our way of life."
One of his favourite moments was battling the bad weather to make sure sales reached their maximum for a Mother's Day about 10 years ago.
"Most people wouldn't have worked in it. But we had thousands of pounds of flowers we had to sell."
