ANTIQUES queen Margaret Mead is giving up her shop in Devizes after 35 years of running the business but admits that in the early days she was a bit naive when dealing with customers.

Mrs Mead, 77, who will sign off from her shop in Northgate Street on Saturday, said: “When I first took over the premises I ran it as a second hand shop and I just took everyone who came in with something to sell at face value.

“I then realised that some of the bikes and other stuff that was being brought to me had been stolen and I felt terrible. I must have been very naive and didn’t question where the things had come from and then someone would come in and say it was their’s. I decided then to go in for antiques.”

She said that she got her love for old items from an aunt whose home was full of collectables. She said: “Right from when I was little kiddie I was interested.”

The shop came into her family back in 1935 when her father-in-law Harry Mead bought it and used it sell radios.

She said: “There are still people in town who remember him and his radios.” Then in 1963 her father put up money to help her and her then husband John to buy the premises.

But it was not until she divorced and she gained full ownership that she set up Margaret Mead Antiques which she has run with her partner Pete.

She said: “I felt the time was right for us to retire. I am 77 and Pete is 80 so we couldn’t go on running it for much longer.

“We live in Swindon and the journey, especially in the winter, is all becoming a bit much. But I expect that we will still do a few markets.

“We used to love going to markets such as the one in the Bull Ring in Birmingham back in the day. But now we will just pick and choose and just do a few.”

Mrs Mead, who has two sons and two grandchildren, said the main thing she will miss will be her customers. She said: “People have been wonderful and very supportive.

“I will miss everyone and would like to thank all of our customers. I am going to miss everyone but I won’t really miss running the shop any more.”

But regulars will not miss out on having an antique shop in Northgate Street as she is going to let the building to fellow antique dealer Michael Gray who will take over the front shop and live at the back.