Bohemia Village Voice

Annette key-cutting at Bohemia Lighting

Maurice and Annette Dunford have been running Bohemia Lighting Centre at 71 Bohemia Road for thirty-five years. Maurice was working as an electrician at the time, and the couple decided it would be a good  idea to buy the premises as a base. Initially they bought both no. 71 and no. 65, both formerly Roger’s Haberdashery, as empty shops.
“It was a challenge working in the shop when we first started,” said Annette, “as I had two small boys to look after as well! The boys used to go to St. Paul’s School. Now they are 37 and 35!”
In 1991, Maurice started Security First, and ran this from no. 65. In 2006 the Dunfords decided to sell no. 65 and run both businesses from no. 71. 65 is now  occupied by Cheap and Cheerful. These days Maurice concentrates on the security side, while Annette runs the shop. She said, “It’s more difficult now than it was when we started, because of parking and the internet. It’s going to be even harder for us if another supermarket comes to Silverhill.”
She continued, I like meeting people, and we have some lovely customers who stop for a chat. I’d miss that if I didn’t run the shop. It’s a personal service. We try to give a friendly face.”
At Easter 2007 the couple had to cope with a flood, when they arrived one morning to find water all over the floor. It was coming from a cracked sewage pipe in Newgate Road. After the pipe was repaired, the shop had to be substantially refurbished and everything contaminated had to be removed. Even the walls were replastered, and new counters put in, as well as a new carpet laid.
But after all the remedial work and the extensive damage that had been done,  it was back to business as usual. Maurice and Annette are obviously survivors!