Carla Beavers may hold two Boston Market records – she has had a stall on the market for 39 years and her stall has been trading there for around 70 years.
Carla has been attending on Wednesday and Saturdays for almost four decades without a break. She took over the stall from her mother-in-law, Mrs Monica Beavers and the business was started just after the end of the war by Mrs Clayton.
The stall sells ladies’ and gents’ underwear, nightwear, aprons and handkerchiefs. It tends to cater for more mature customers, but Carla has served generations of the same families.
She also stands on Horncastle Market on Thursdays, and used to also stand at Sleaford, Alford and Spilsby Markets.
Carla repeats what other Boston Market stall holders say; that many regular customers come along to see a friendly face and have a chat.
“The market’s not what it once was, but then again, nothing is. But compared with most other markets Boston is still holdings its own.
“We worry about the market. What would Boston be without its market?” said Carla.
Our conversation was politely interrupted by a customer who wanted to know if I was from the council. Uh-oh, trouble ahead was my first thought.
“I just wanted you to know what a lovely town this is,” said visitor from Ramsey in Cambridgeshire, Mrs Betty Dolby, making our day.
She made two purchases from Carla while husband John waited patiently with his market day purchases.
They explained they had come to Boston that morning on a North Star Travel Ltd mystery tour.
“We have had a lovely time and would like to come again,” said Betty.
John added: “We stopped for tea and a toasted teacake at Churches Restaurant when we arrived and liked it so much we went back for lunch. It was tip-top and great value.”
They enjoyed their visit to the Stump, despite it not looking its best with current renovation and improvement works taking place, and then found the market as an added bonus.
Carla said: “Boston gets some bad press, so it was really nice to hear visitors without preconceptions say such nice things.”
Record-breaking Carla on her clothing stall with one of her regular customers who stopped by for a chat