With the ‘hugest sense of sadness and loss’, Hargreaves of Buxton has announced the death of Cliff Coles, head of the family business. Cliff is described as: ‘a stalwart of the local community, a pillar of the town and always ready with a cheery greeting and pride in his town, Derbyshire, and this shop.’
Hargreaves’ Martin Coles-Evans states on behalf of his family: “We are bereft; his battle with cancer was fought bravely to the very end. Joining the business in 1970, working alongside his wife Teresa, he guided the company through difficult times, always focusing on what he held most important: service, value and choice. Now we carry his legacy onward, in loving memory.”
Customers, fellow retailers, and industry colleagues have sent a deluge of tributes to Cliff, with many concurring that: ‘Buxton has lost a true gentleman.’ Cliff’s helpful and welcoming demeanour and ‘great sense of humour’ are widely acknowledged. Typical tributes include: “The epitome of old traditional customer service, you always knew you were a highly valued customer, no matter what you were buying from Cliff.”
Lizzy Braine, from fellow family-owned cookshop The Kitchen Shop, Lichfield is also among those paying tributes, saying: “You’ll carry on the legacy with pride as we do every day.”
Top: Cliff Coles 1940-2022, pictured outside his family business: the independent cookshop, home and gift retailer, Hargreaves of Buxton.
