Page 12 - Market Times April 2024

12
FEATURE • TAMWORTH
Carl Lees, who has traded on the market for 30 years, initially selling pottery before moving on to artificial flowers and air fresheners, has never seen anything like it.
“To be fair, I have always found that if you put the effort in you can do reason- ably well on this market. But now the footfall is incredible on market days. It feels like the town is a different place.”
And Simon Frankham, a third-generation trader whose grandfather began selling army surplus on Tamworth market in 1947, said: “The market was in its heyday when I started selling fashion here all those years ago. We never thought it would end. But they opened Ventura Park,
Apparently, the town virtually ground to a halt on the day Ben offered his jacket potatoes for free, with any donations going to Kidney Research UK. A father of nine, Ben is on dialysis after suffering kidney failure and undergoing several transplant procedures.
Dave and the traders are bemused but delighted by the Spud Man internet phenomenon. “I did notice Ben seemed to be always on TikTok, but I don’t really understand it myself and don’t use it,” said Dave, who used to sell confectionery on markets including Birmingham Bull Ring before joining LSD which runs the market for Tamworth Borough Council.
When he took over as manager 11 years
ago, the market was relatively busy, with stalls stretching along the pedestrianised Market Street and George Street and into St Editha’s Square.
Held every Tuesday and Saturday, it now has around 26 traders selling a wide variety of food and general goods.
Dave said most of the long-serving traders had regular customers who had stayed loyal, but since Spud Man took the internet by storm, the footfall had increased dramatically, and the traders were enjoying the benefits.
“A family from Liverpool arrived at 4 am the other Saturday and it was as if the kids were going to meet Father Christmas, they were so excited,” Dave said.
Dave Perry (right), manager of Tamworth market for the private operator LSD, is pictured with NMTF President-Elect Mike Riley, who had to see the phenomenon for himself
Carl Lees who sells artificial flowers and air fresheners has been trading on Tamworth Market for 30 years
Simon Frankham is a third-generation trader whose grandfather started selling army surplus on Tamworth market in 1947