WITHOUT wishing to enter into the commercial controversy vis-a-vis the major supermarket chains versus local convenience stores, may I endorse, hopefully not to inpertinently, on behalf of many a customer, the already expressed sadness at the all too sudden closure – though it had been very much on the cards for some considerable time – of the your-ourlocal top-up store/JR’s Newsagent.

Also it is regrettable that its almost overnight disappearance prevented us from personally conveying this sentiment, together with our extreme gratitude for the excellent service provided to our local community for somewhat longer than I had appreciated (March 9).

The Singh family was invariably courteous, affable and generous, in the last case, unfortunately, occasionally to a fault, with respect to both their clientele and choice of employees.

They survived shoplifting, break-ins and a not inconsiderable assault, and I must confess that I was not entirely convinced by the wisdom of their £20,000 refurbishment about a year ago, but, being rubbish at business, I largely maintained a ‘noble’ silence.

I also enjoyed their sense of fun, not least that of the son and heir Kulwant, whose gentle mickey-taking frequently got the better of my sometimes ingenuous, occasionally hungover self and in passing this family often furnished the initial, welcome feedback to my humble contributions to the Oxford Mail.

By no stretch of the imagination have they failed, and I offer them my very best wishes regarding any future enterprises or, presumably in the case of Chuhar ‘The Boss’ Singh, well-deserved retirement there from.

I shudder to contemplate by what this fine establishment may be replaced.

DAVID DIMENT Riverside Court Oxford