LOCAL PEOPLE
The end of an era
The end of an era for Annette of No13 Ladies Fashion… Having reached retirement age (and a bit more!) she will now take time for reflection and some new adventures. In 1995, to get married to Tim who was living in Modbury, Annette took a leap of faith and sold her small restaurant and home in Worcestershire. With wonderful memories of ‘window’ shopping as a young girl with her mum, who had an extraordinary eye for style and quality, Annette developed more than a little interest in clothes, and felt a natural instinct to pursue an occupation in fashion retail. Serendipity played its part, and on a day out to Lydford Gorge, shortly after moving to Devon,
she happened to park directly outside number 13 Duke Street, which had a ‘To Let’ sign in the window. The rest is history - 27 very happy years of choosing a collection each season, from a variety of designers. One of the greatest pleasures for Annette has been the repeat custom from many women both local and far afield who have treasured, and still wear, items from the early days, and who have appreciated the passion and personal service - which helps in avoiding expensive mistakes! Deciding not to go into further education, Annette started work at the age of 15 and remembers her mum taking a portion of her (very small) wage each week, which immediately catapulted her into a sense of selfpreservation. Starting out as an office junior in the motor industry (she still makes a good cup of tea), she gained secretarial skills and weekended in the local cinema selling ice cream. At 22,
she took a secretarial job in a large, busy restaurant and worked evenings and weekends learning all aspects of the trade, while saving furiously for a deposit on a mortgage. Her first leap of faith was selling the property and investing in a partnership in a wine bar in Cambridge, and after a few years taking on her own restaurant in Worcestershire where she happily lived and worked for ten years. Fifty-six years of commitment and hard work - but Annette assures me she always found time for fun and adventure along the way. She is now looking forward to the next chapter in her life. If her mother was the catalyst for opening a boutique, then it is her father’s love of gardening that is now inspiring her, and plans are afoot to take a share in an allotment – where she will no doubt look very stylish amongst the vegetables.
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