RETIRING BUTCHER IS HAPPY ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR THE CITY

by John Roberts

After working as a butcher in Bradford for nearly 40 years Donald Pickup has decided to hang up his cleaver, give away his business to his assistant and call it a day.

But the 56-year-old is retiring a happy man. He feels that both his market stall and the city centre are heading for a bright future.

Donald today backed the Telegraph & Argus Buy it in Bradford campaign and urged shoppers to make the most of the city’s markets and shops.

He started work as a butcher’s boy when he was only 14 and began running his own shop in the old Rawson Market when he was just 18.

He said: “When I started out I had just one customer. I took over the shop from someone else and he took all his other customers with him.”

But since then he has spent the last 38 years building up a base of loyal clientele and becoming one of the most popular faces among Bradford’s market traders.

During that time he has only missed a fortnight through ill health and had just four holidays.

He said: “Market people are a breed all their own. You just get into a routine of working. “When I used to work in Rawson Market before the supermarkets were open, if you wanted to get a cut of meat you had to go to the market.

“The markets were always full and there was such an atmosphere. There used to be 32 butchers in the old market now at the Oastler Centre there are just six.

“There is a whole generation who are missing out on what markets have to offer. If you go to a supermarket you are lucky to get a smile out of the people on the till, but at a market you can be served face-to-face by a butcher whom you can talk to and have a laugh with.

“We have been at the Oastler market for coming on to four years. It is a lovely market – very diverse; we have a lot of different communities there.”

Mr Pickup has welcomed the Telegraph & Argus Buy it in Bradford Campaign and believes the city centre is being transformed as new developments take shape at Rawson Quarter and demolition goes on to make way for the Broadway complex.

He said: “Bradford is going to be a fantastic place to shop. All of the lovely new apartments that are being built in Bradford are bringing more families into the city – that is the way to regenerate Bradford. In less than five years’ time, Bradford is going to be the place to shop; nobody is going to want to shop in Leeds.

“I think that this campaign is a smashing idea. Anything which promotes the city of Bradford is fantastic and just has to have our backing.”

After devoting decades of his life to his market stall, Donald has decided to give his business to David Crompton who has been working as his assistant for 20 years.

The shop will continue to trade under the ‘AJ Pickup and son’ name in Oastler market.

Donald said: “The shop was actually named after my father. He ran a m haulage firm and wanted me to take over, but I never fancied it so I named my butcher’s shop after his firm as a mark of respect.

“I am happy because I know that David will be looking after all my loyal customers who I think of as friends.

David said: “I feel touched, to be honest. Donald is giving his business away but he says I have earned it because of the years of dedication.

“We have worked together for 20 years and he is more like an older brother to me than a boss.”

Donald said the city could look to a successful future and he believes its biggest asset is its people.

He said: “The people of Bradford are wonderful. If you stand at a bus queue for two minutes someone will come and talk to you. You don’t get that anywhere else.

“I am passionate about Bradford and passionate about the markets and I urge people to come to the city to see what they are missing.”

e-mail: john.roberts@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

It will unleash our potential	Quality and friendliness
The owner of Bradford’s Café Bleu believes the Telegraph & Argus Buy it in Bradford  campaign will unleash the unfulfilled potential of the city. Faramarz Azaeian decided to move to the city three years ago to launch his continental café in North Parade. He said: “I saw the potential of Bradford when I came here.  It is situated close to the motorways and is near Sheffield and Leeds, right in the middle. But we need to get more people to come and visit Bradford. “The city needs to get more of a positive vibe going; over the years Bradford has got some bad press but it has got a lot to offer. “People who come here for the first time are surprised to find us here. I think that this campaign is a marvellous idea – we have got to promote the city.”	Staff at Alias shoe shop in the Kirkgate shopping centre have thrown their support behind the Telegraph & Argus Buy it in Bradford campaign. Manager Karen Richardson and shop worker Belinda Rose said the scheme was needed to bring more people into the centre. Belinda said: “I think the Telegraph & Argus campaign is a good idea.   We need to get the big-name stores coming into Bradford to get people to come here.  Karen said: “ Bradford has got a lot to offer.  People cannot find an Alias store in Leeds. “We offer quality products and a friendly service.”