Third generation is taking on family's fruits of labour

via Khmer NZ News Media

Published Date: 01 July 2010

By Nick Ward

AFTER almost 30 years, Dorothy Makinson and her son Ian are preparing to leave their greengrocery business in Twentywell Lane, Bradway.

As a third generation prepares to take over the shop, Dorothy, aged 84, is pondering what to do with her spare time while, Ian, aged 51, is ready to start a new life – in Cambodia.

And he isn't giving up on greengrocery entirely. He plans to grow mangoes, ginger, bananas and pineapples to sell once he gets there.

Ian caught the travel bug more than 30 years ago and first visited Cambodia after Pol Pot died in 1998 and the Khmer Rouge had given up on the war-torn country. He took his motorbike to visit the great Angkor Temples.

"The sides of the roads were still mined, as were many of the temples, so myself and a friend had to be careful not to fall off…"

"Staying in the remote villages changed the direction I wanted my life to go. One little girl we met was critically ill with malaria and her parents couldn't afford a $2 mosquito net. In fact no-one in the village could and a lot of people died.

"The next year we went back in a jeep stuffed full of mosquito nets – it doesn't take much to help change someone's future in Cambodia."

Ian has been back many times and is now engaged to a Khmer girl. When he was asked to head a project to help the people in the remote areas of Cambodia have access to education and health care, he didn't hesitate.

"The village is pretty much the same as it was 100 years ago," he said. "We have a stilt house by the Mekong and some land on which we grow mango, ginger, bananas and pineapples which we will sell.

"Water is from the Mekong and cooking is still done on a wood fire. No electricity means we go to bed at sunset and get up at sunrise. But there is lots to do, so I shouldn't get fed up."

Back in Sheffield Dorothy, who officially retires on July 18, is not certain what she'll be doing to occupy her time. "I've always been very active. Not doing anything isn't something I normally enjoy."

She bought the then rundown fruit and veg shop in 1981. "At the time there was only one supermarket in Sheffield and in the Yellow Pages there were pages and pages of independent fruit shops listed.

"But over 30 years we have adapted to meet the new competition and build on the strengths only a local shop can offer the community.

"Our block of shops is now bustling and busier than at any time in the past."

Taking over is 24-year-old Tom, who started working at the shop at 16. "My dad tried to talk me out of working at the shop but I didn't listen and now he and my grandma are retiring I am the third generation to continue the tradition.

"Irene, one of the ladies who works for us, is also retiring after 28 years at the shop. Irene is very popular, she has been friends with many of our customers for a long time.

"It's not an easy trade, with 3.30am starts and 6pm finishes and every major supermarket on our doorstep. But I feel immensely proud that our customers have remained loyal and that the new generation of shoppers has rediscovered local shops."