GEN Fruit veg assortment

A greengrocer who ran and lived at her shop in County Durham for more than six decades has died.

Joan Rutherford, opened the fruit and veg store in Front Street, Stanhope, in 1952, and was still working until last month. She died age 78 on 16 April.

According to the Northern Echo, Rutherford, née Woodhall, borrowed £7 from her father to start the fruit and vegetable business.

She opened her shop seven days a week and, until she became unwell a month ago, made early morning trips to Team Valley wholesale fruit market in Gateshead three times a week.

After marrying Gordon in 1959 and honeymooning in London, Rutherford took no time off to holiday until her golden wedding anniversary when she and her husband returned to the capital.

The Echo reports that they enjoyed London so much, they returned several times, and attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in 2011 in recognition of her long career.

Her legacy will live on in the family - theEchoreports that her granddaughter Michelle ran a fruit and vegetable stall in Wolsingham for three years, but will soon move into a shop named Woodhall’s in tribute to her grandmother.