Coddenham: Shop celebrates 100 years under one family

Coddenham Community Shop, near Needham Market, was taken over in 1923 by Albert Gudgin, which was then passed down to his son Dudley and his wife Joan.

Roy and his wife Ann then became the third generation of the family to run the shop.

Roy Gudgin, with his wife Ann, who still own the property. Credit: Georgie Kerr (Image: Georgie Kerr)

One hundred years on, the Gudgins, who retired in 2001, still own the shop premises but the business in now run by Coddenham Community Shop Ltd.

Albert Gudgin originally purchased the village stores in 1922 after being the manager at the Co-op in Carr Street, Ipswich.

The shop sold groceries and was a drapers as well. It remains a grocery to this day.

The shop was bought in 1923 by Roy's grandfather, Albert. Credit: Georgie Kerr (Image: Georgie Kerr)

Roy Gudgin said: "My grandfather took over the place in 1923, and when I was 15, in 1956, I started to work in the shop with my parents.

"They had one member of staff at the time, and I just packed things up and did general background work.

"Then, when I passed my driving test, we were doing deliveries to local villages, so I started doing that."

In 1975, Roy took over the business from his parents who retired, and went on to buy the Post Office and the butchers in the town and run them too.

Roy's parents, Dudley and Joan, who ran the shop before him. Credit: The Gudgin Estate. (Image: The Gudgin Estate)

"It's been my life really, I've done nothing else," Roy said.

"It's been quite extraordinary how much it has grown."

There have been challenges for the shop over the 100 years, with Mr Gudgin saying the period following the war was difficult for his parents as they couldn't afford staff.

A celebration was held on July 22 to celebrate the 100th year, with current shop staff wearing costumes similar to those of the 1920s, along with a party for volunteers who have helped with the running of the business.

Current volunteers at the shop wearing clothes from the 1920s. Credit: Georgie Kerr (Image: Georgie Kerr)

Ann and Roy Gudgin. Credit: Georgie Kerr (Image: Georgie Kerr)