It is the end of an era - the name Butcher is to disappear from Brookend Street in Ross, where is has been prominent for nearly 130 years.

The 'Motor House', the Brookend building, which is being removed to make way for the new Aldi store is said to have been the first purpose built garage in the country. The Gardner Butcher garage in Brookend Street has closed but the company still has premises in Kyrle Street and planning approval for the work they wish to do there.

George William Butcher came to Ross from Gloucestershire in the 1860s and in 1879 he opened a jewellers' shop with his cousin William Butcher on the other side of the road to the garage, The jewellery shop sold watches and confectionery and it was also a post office.

By March 1892 G&W Butcher had installed Ross Cycle Works where Robin Lloyd's antiques and the takeaway is now, either side of Butcher's Alley. They manufactured their range of Kyrle cycles and ran a riding school at the back, the catalogue for 1898 says: "It is mainly for the comfort of Ladies that we have built our commodious Riding School, and secured the service of the best and most skilful teachers."

The Kyrle cycles ranged from £10 for the Gents Popular Kyrle to £21 for the Gent's Imperial Rover Roadster. Motor Cycles were available from £30 and Butchers dealt in the all the other well-known brands of bicycle. There was a smithy and toolworks to back up the manufacture of the bicycles.

Sadly George died in 1898 and William was left with the sole ownership of the business. He had two sons, Alan and John and two daughters. Later he served the town as the chairman of the Ross Urban Council, and his interest in wirelesses led the company to promote the Marconiphone Radio.

It was inevitable that from selling jewellery, and manufacturing bicycles, William Butcher would seek to go further. He built the Motor House in Brookend in 1905/6. At the corner of Cantilupe Road and Gloucester Road, where Clarke Roxburgh is now he merged his firm with Cassons Carriageworks and bought out Mr Casson. Cassons had built carriages that were horsedrawn but William Butcher was eager to produce car bodies. He also took over the Kell Works where Like Florists and the Wye Electric showrooms are now.

One of the main advertising points made by G&W?Butcher was their late opening hours, every night until 8pm and until 9pm on Saturdays. In The Ross Gazette of March 28th 1912 it was reported that the G&W Butcher company was 'a progressive business incorporating skilled workmanship, go ahead methods and enterprise and above all courteous staff.'

During World War I Butcher & Casson Ltd sent out a flyer to the local community explaining that "service was as normal although a number of their younger staff had joined up and were contributing to the war effort. Alan transferred to the Army Service Corps and later rejoined the Yeomanry and finally served as Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant when he retired. The other son was John 'Jack' Butcher who gained the rank of Major in the Military service. Alan got married in 1912 and had five sons and two daughters. In September 1929 the premises on Gloucester Road were sold.

Alan was the Chief Fire Officer in Ross for 20 years. He had obtained both motorcycle and motor car licence by the age of 17 years but regardless still retained his love of horses and bicycles and was frequently seen around the town on his bicycle up until his late 70s. For 67 years he was a member of the Ross Conservative Club and was then awarded honorary life member in 1971.

Before his death Alan Butcher passed the responsibility of running the family business to his son, Brian, and later the firm became Gardner and Butcher. Brian Butcher was kind enough to allow the Gazette to use his archive material.

Chris Robertson