The last member of the Forbes family that ran the village shop in Longforgan for more than a century has died at the age of 80.
June Franchi (nee Forbes) went to work for her parents Janet and Cameron in the store in West Main Street as a 14-year-old girl and was behind the counter selling newspapers, magazines and groceries for the next 47 years until she retired.
Serving the community from 1945 to 1991, she got to know generations of villagers and became an institution in the area.
Her daughter, Janice Barclay, said the shop building was in the family since 1862. It was opened by Mrs Franchi’s great-great grandfather, Alex Forbes, who used the former farmhouse for his cobbler’s business.
It was converted to a shop by his son, with Mrs Franchi taking over the reins from her mother.
It became known as “a little Harrods” by many customers, including author Rosamunde Pilcher.
“It was a life of early starts, serving all day and then late finishes, and she did this for a long time,” said Mrs Barclay. “These were the days before supermarkets when the village shop was a real focal point for the community, and my mother became known to many people.Hard work”It was very hard work though. Her brother and sisters all worked there for spells and she also had her two sons and myself working in the shop when we were younger.
“I don’t mind saying that it was because her children realised how hard it was to run the shop that we didn’t take it over from her, but did other things with our lives.”
Mrs Franchi sold the shop in 1991 to Tom and Sandra Feeney, who run it as Longforgan Newsagents and General Store.
Away from the shop, Mrs Franchi had a passion for gardening and was also a leader in the village Guides.
Her marriage to Jack connected two prominent shopkeeping families in the Dundee area. The Franchi family ran the tea-room and restaurant in the old Overgate.
Jack’s brother was Alan Franchi, who became famous as a television director, and when their parents died Alan and Jack went to live in Longforgan where they were brought up by their aunt Agnes.
It was then that June met Jack. Jack Franchi passed away some 30 years ago and Alan Franchi died last year.