Exclusive by Alan Quick
A CREDITON couple say they were overwhelmed to have received so many cards, gifts and flowers after they announced they were closing the cafe and takeaway they have run in the town for more than 37 years.
Catering has been in Roger and Janet’s blood for much of their life: Roger qualified as a chef at college and worked in the hotel trade and Janet was a trained cookery demonstrator.
They ran a mobile canteen in Witheridge and other parts of North Devon, including at farm and stock sales on Exmoor, and after some years doing this, decided it would be nice to have a base.
They bought what was the Country Rose Tea Rooms and ran it as such for a while before expanding the business and changing its name to the Triple C Cafe and Takeaway.
Janet and Roger provided catering for outside functions, opened the cafe and takeaway six days a week and started doing evening meals as well.
Open early to late, the cafe also provided catering for the snooker club (formerly the cinema, which is now Buccaneers Bar) next door through a hatchway, for many years.
They have served food to thousands of customers, from near and far, and it has meant many early starts and late finishes.
Roger said that the "meal of the day" and the full house breakfast were always the most popular they served.
The couple have fond memories of some celebrity visitors and of a party they held to mark the Millennium for customers and friends.
They are looking forward to some time for themselves now they have retired and said they thanked all their customers over the years for their custom, kind wishes, cards and gifts.
Triple C Cafe and Takeway is in the process of changing hands to a new cafe and Roger and Janet wish the new proprietor, Lucy, all the best for the future.