There’s a new hand on the cleaver at Joyce & Lucas Butchers and Delicatessen in Alton.

Chris Glanville and his wife Carolyn have retired after 36 years running the High Street shop.

Their daughter Kerri is staying on to help new owner Richard Parish.

Chris, 72, said: “I’ve been doing this for a very long time. My dad had a shop and I used to help him. We wanted to have a go ourselves, we found Alton and that was what we were looking for. There were no supermarkets then, it was a proper high street.

“We’ve managed to keep it going and it’s never been better. If I was ten years younger I wouldn’t have sold it. Now there’s an opportunity for Richard to carry on and improve it. He has got the modern ideas.”

The Glanvilles always lived in Purbrook and Waterlooville but Chris never minded commuting.

He said: “We travelled up every day. The only time we couldn’t get there was when there was a foot of snow on the A3 in early 2010 and the police shut the road. It took three-and-a-half hours to get from Horndean to Petersfield and back.

“But on a nice day it’s a lovely drive through the Meon Valley. It’s a half-hour journey and it helps you unwind. We’ve all enjoyed Alton and we’ve made a lot of friends there. A lot of people have said come back and keep in touch.”

Richard, 53, lives in Horndean with his wife Karen, 45, and daughter Alice, six. Alton-born Karen was a teacher at Chawton CE Primary School and The Butts Primary School before becoming a lecturer at Alton College.

Although he has been in the meat trade for 25 years, Richard has been in charge at Joyce & Lucas for two weeks and said there was “still a lot to do” in getting used to the role.

But he added that Kerri was a huge help: “She’s been there the majority of the time Chris and Carolyn have been there, so I’m leaning on her.

“I want people to keep using it. There are lots of houses going up in Alton so I want more people to use it. I’ve always wanted to run my own butchers shop, for many years, so that is what I’m doing.”

Richard plans to trade as Joyce & Lucas for six months before changing the name to P.A.R.K. Butchers Ltd - P for Parish, A for Alice, R for Richard and K for Karen.

He aims to use local produce as much as possible, but said: “I know enough people in the trade to get anything that’s out there.”

Richard added: “Keeping with the ‘local’ theme, in the shop we will be having ‘Alice’s Pantry’. This will have local produce for sale - for example eggs, honey, flour and other tempting items for hampers.

“I’m going to bring in my own ideas but will also use Chris’s - the pies always go well, for example. It’s all about good quality meat.”