St Ives-a new millennium4/10/023:50 pmPage 58Below: Nita Luxford, writerPhoto: Stuart Littlewood/Pentax MXNita, a freelance journalist, spent her early lifein the mining community of Durham. Shetrained as an infant teacher and came to StIves in the early 1960s, marrying Brian Luxfordwho runs the garage business Purser &Luxford in the town. They moved toHemingford Grey in 1968.After retiring from teaching Nita began writingarticles for country magazines and is now aregular contributor. Here, she is in the librarysigning copies of her first book A Working Lifeon the Great Ouse, a unique record of avanished way of life. It tells the story of theMetcalfs and the Arnolds of Holywell - threegenerations of the same family who made theirliving from the river by punt-gunning, shooting,fishing, eel-catching and rush-cutting.Above: John BryantPhoto: Stuart Littlewood/Pentax MXJohn’s great-grandfather started the Bridge Street department store of John Bryant & Son, drapers and furnishers, in1887. His father, David, retired from the business in 1996 and John and his sister Jane took over. Jane sadly died ofbreast cancer in 1998.A bit of a rebel, John went to work as a welder when he left school, then joined the Army for 5 years working in REME onlong-range guns. He returned to St Ives in 1987 to learn the family business. He recently took Bryants into ‘e-tailing’: thestore has its own website which will soon be developed to accept online orders and payment. He has 3 children and is apassionate gardener.In the controversy surrounding the refurbishment of the town centre, John was involved in discussions with the DistrictCouncil from the start but felt that the opinions of traders were ignored if not in tune with official proposals. Along withmany other shopkeepers he disagreed with the stance of the Chamber of Trade on the issue.He is pictured here beseiged by construction work, which obstructed shopping in Bridge Street for months.Page 58
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