Video: Farmer’s wife rides to the rescue of a Yorkshire village store

A COMMUNITY is only as strong as the bonds between its people, so when a group of North Yorkshire villagers lost a dear friend and longtime shopkeeper to illness last year it generated enormous sadness.
Spellow's at Marton cum Grafton, run by Helen Tesseyman, who now owns the village shop and post office.Spellow's at Marton cum Grafton, run by Helen Tesseyman, who now owns the village shop and post office.
Spellow's at Marton cum Grafton, run by Helen Tesseyman, who now owns the village shop and post office.

The death of Lee Stott left a hole in the hearts of those in Marton Cum Grafton, near Boroughbridge, and led to his widow Josie putting the village shop and post office business up for sale.

Given the circumstances, it was clearly important that the next shop owner was someone who would be prepared to go out of their way to be a real presence in the community.

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It was lucky then that Helen Tesseyman rode into the village on horseback one day with a head full of hopes and dreams.

Spellow's at Marton cum Grafton, run by Helen Tesseyman, who now owns the village shop and post office.Spellow's at Marton cum Grafton, run by Helen Tesseyman, who now owns the village shop and post office.
Spellow's at Marton cum Grafton, run by Helen Tesseyman, who now owns the village shop and post office.

An unlikely candidate to take on the role of postmistress and proprietor at 27, it is nevertheless what she has become.

The shop has been given a new look, stocks a growing range of locally sourced food and drink from champagne and wine to olives, cheese and pies, has fresh bread delivered daily and sells homemade cakes and ready meals crafted by Helen in her own kitchen at home.

But more than that, she has brought her own energy and has gone out of her way to get to know her customers, according to parish councillor Lynda Bullas.

“We very much miss Lee,” she said.

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“He was such a character and was very much a part of the community, so we feel really happy we have Helen.

“We didn’t expect someone who would so quickly become part of the community but she has brought a whole new approach with her younger attitude and she seems very energetic. She has brought that woman’s touch.”

Helen left a well-paid administrative job with Andrew Atkinson Livestock Ltd to take the position at the shop.

She said she was enjoying the ebb and flow of business, although the new occupation was not something she had planned in advance. In fact, it was a throwaway comment by a friend while they were out horse riding last summer that led to the investment.

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“One day I was riding out in the village with a friend. We passed the village shop and she said I should buy it.

“I applied and it was a long time before I heard anything but I took it over in January. I wasn’t looking to leave my job. This just came up,” she said.

On top of her additions to the food lines, and the typical household supplies you would expect to find at any village 
shop, Helen also sells takeaway coffee.

“I wanted to give this a new look. I’ve opened it up, added fresh bread and things like olives and cheeses and it’s proved a success. Footfall is increasing,” she said.

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“I’m trying to appeal to everyone in the village because there is a full spectrum of age groups and backgrounds here.”

The mother-of-one grew up in Halton East, near Bolton Abbey. She originally trained as a nurse and has previously worked at the Cavendish Pavilion riverside café on the Bolton Abbey Estate.

She relocated to Staveley where she lives with her husband Chris and two-year-old son Max. Her husband is a third generation farmer who cultivates barley, wheat and rapeseed, while Max, Helen says, is a particular fan of the sweets in the shop.

“I always wanted to do something for myself,” she said.

“I quite like a challenge and I really like it. The people are really friendly and I have a good laugh with them all. I already have my regulars who come in five times a day.”