Traders and shoppers gathered in Church Street on Saturday to say a farewell to one of the town’s most colourful characters who has been serving customers for nearly half a century.

Phil Munday, whose fruit and veg shop has been the focal point of the pedestrianised street for over three decades, is finally closing his doors, although he will still continue home deliveries.He came down from London as a butcher nearly fifty years ago and began working for John Wills in Le Gourmet at their first premises where the Dogs’ Trust is now. “Duncan was still at school when I first worked for his dad, then when he took over, we worked together for years and it was great” said Phil. Then having a mid-thirties crisis, he felt he needed a change and after the old Rudges shop closed down, it seemed a good idea to open something “a bit different” and he joined forces with Pauline Jones and began trading as Munday and Jones in the former Round Ear - and previously Martha’s Pantry - premises. They enjoyed a rising success with their pavement displays dominating the street, drawing admiration from customers and adding a vibrancy and a buzz to the popular shopping destination. Sadly, Pauline died in 2003 but Phil continued the business with his trademark banter: “I’ve spent 50 years insulting customers, upsetting, being rude to them but they’ve come back for more” he said. A former mayor of Monmouth, his typical day would start at 3am collecting his fruit and veg from Bristol and after unloading at the shop, he would work until about 6pm most nights, a routine he kept going for 33 and a half years. “I’m 70 next week”, he told the Beacon and after trading for nearly half a century, he believes it’s time to slow down. “I will still do deliveries for my regulars” he added. Speaking of his decision to close he said “I’m amazed at the response I’ve had, people with tears in their eyes and the younger customers pointed out I’ve been here all their life, some have said their first memory of seeing me was when they came into the butchers with their gran and grandad”. Halfway through the interview, some customers spontaneously began singing ‘for he’s a jolly good fellow’ and many stopped to say how sorry they were to hear he was going. Traders and customers gathered at 3.30pm for a ‘small’ presentation by Sam Porter on behalf of the traders in Church Street, which included a book of photographs of all the traders stood outside their shop. Applause broke out as Phil came out to see them. “Thank you all, I wish you well” he said. On presenting him with a box of small gifts from each shopkeeper, her husband Steve said it was “in appreciation for all the hard work that you’ve done, feeding us and our customers”. Then a Victoria sponge presented by Prae Hamilton of Whole Earth cafe brought more applause: “I don’t know who half of you are”, he quipped, “one or two of you are familiar”. “Thank you all very much”, he added, it’s been a great journey”. Local musician, Lyndon Owen then played out Phil’s last day with a tune on his Spanish Gaita Gallega. Phil thanked his four members of staff “who have come a long way with me”, Liz Halford and Sue Margretts both of them have been with Phil for 20 years along with driver Rurry Gemmel and relative newcomer ‘Young Phil’ which drew more applause. “I’ve got a lot of fans, but I’ve upset a lot of people” he said with a twinkle in his eyes, or was it a tear?