Local Face: Adam Blake

Adam was born in the Royal Bucks Hospital, Aylesbury on 10th March, 1980. His parents lived in Aston Clinton at the time but when Adam was seven years old they moved to Wendover so he attended John Hampden, Wendover Middle (as it was then) and John Colet schools. His brother Martin and sister Caroline have also followed in his footsteps.

Adam freely admits that when he was at school he enjoyed practical subjects much more than academic ones. He has particularly fond memories of the wonderful One Day Trip to France in his last year at Middle School.

When he was of suitable age, Mr Toplis at John Colet School tipped him off that there was an after school job going at P S Tilbury, (Butcher). Adam’s mother, Ruth, had bought meat from Peter King in Aylesbury Road and continued to support him when he moved to the High Street so Adam started washing up and putting away there at the end of the day. He later started a paper round with Stars, before school.

Adam thought he might become an electrician so he started an apprenticeship with Richard Powell of Tring with Day Release at Aylesbury College for NVQ level 2. He really enjoyed the practical nature of the work but there was not enough of it to sup port his position and he was made redundant, an all too common feature of modern living. He managed to find another electrician, Adrian Shambrook from Bedgrove, who was able to take him on as an apprentice with Day Release but once again it did not work out. Adam decided to try college full time but it was very difficult to complete the number of hours required for the written component of the course. He was trying to support himself by helping out his father, Richard, and serving in Stars.

During this time he discovered that Peter King had a vacancy for an apprentice butcher. Once again the work was of a practical nature so Adam thought he would try for it and was accepted. This was in February 1999.

Adam has shown a natural flair for this trade and enjoys serving the customers, too, so he was pleased that this time he was offered the opportunity to transfer from one company to another when Tilburys closed in July this year.

The equipment is slightly different at Kings Farm Shop, including an electric burger press and a splendid kebab mould. There are a lot more people at Kings Farm Shop too, 5 full time, one delivery driver and some part time.

Adam lives in central Wendover and when the move first took place he walked out to Kings Farm Shop, situated at the end of Nash Lee End, between the Marquis of Granby and End of the World pubs. (The only road cut in two by the bypass). He soon decided that cycling was a better option. This is to save wear and tear on his pride and joy, his car. It spends some time off the road as Adam makes improvements to it. His first car was a Ford Fiesta and with the help of his father he renewed its engine. Adam bought himself a Citroen Saxo 3 years ago and immediately started to customise it. With the Haynes Manual at his side, he has now fitted 17″ alloy wheels, a complete new exhaust system and is particularly proud of the new stereo system. He is now in a position to help friends with installing their car audio or just discussing fast cars.

Adam uses The White Swan as his local. He enjoys playing pool but his special favourite is darts. For two years he threw for The White Swan in the Wendover League which includes pubs as far afield as The Plough at Weston Turville and The Rothschild Arms at Aston Clinton but mostly centres on Wendover pubs such as The Pack- horse, The Rose and Crown and the Royal British Legion.

Adam is enjoying being part of a thriving local business, which specialises in serving the people of Wendover and its environs.

Why not pop in to Kings Farm Shop and see what he and his colleagues can do for you? In common with all good butchers, they open nice and early: at 8.00am Monday to Saturday. Closing time varies, Monday and Saturday 4.00pm, Tuesday to Thursday 5.00pm, Friday 5.30pm.