Topsham residents and customers queued to celebrate the reopening of the popular Devon Air Ambulance Vintage & Variety charity shop in Fore Street on Saturday. 

The shop’s planned refit was brought forward when rainwater forced the shop to close its doors last winter. Now, thanks to the hard work of contractors, staff and volunteers, the specialist charity shop welcomed local shoppers and visitors to browse newly-replenished shelves and rails. The busy shop boasted many vintage items, from accessories and garments to trinkets, books and toys, donated by generous supporters across the county.

A positive opening weekend

We were really excited about welcoming our supporters into the refurbished shop,’ says Devon Air Ambulance Retail Operations Manager, Chrissie Peel. She said,

Staff and volunteers have put in a great deal of time, care and creativity to make this shop unique and to offer customers a very special shopping experience. It was a shame we had to close for such a long period, but we are confident the refurbishment will help to inspire shoppers to purchase from among the beautiful range of donated items from our generous supporters.

Vintage fans and charity shop enthusiasts enjoyed light refreshments aas they browsed the newly arranged shelves once Flight Operations Director, Ian Payne, cut the ribbon at 10am.

The vintage shop, one of two vintage shops of the 19 Devon Air Ambulance shops across the county, also welcomes volunteers with a particular enthusiasm for all things unusual, old and new, to register their interest in helping at either of the Topsham shops.

Would you like to volunteer?

Register your interest here!

 

Left: Vintage dresses flew off the rails in record time on reopening day.

Right: Vintage fans queued in eager anticipation of the doors opening.

 

Left: Interior shelves were colour themed to create an appealing display.

Right: The revived shop window captured the attention of one shopper.