Milford sisters Anne Perrett and Gwen Peden, who ran Gwen’s Ladies’ Fashion shop, died within three weeks of each other
MILFORD is mourning the loss of two well-known sisters who have been described as “pillars of village life”.
Anne Perrett and Gwen Peden, who was at at the helm of Gwen’s Ladies’ Fashion shop in Milford, died within three weeks of each other.
Anne died on 22nd November aged 87, and Gwen was taken ill at her sister’s funeral on 12th December and died in the early hours of the next day aged 89.
They were the daughters of village butcher Fred Cooke, who was born in West Cottages, Keyhaven Road, in 1906.
Fred’s first job was at AF Hillier's Butchers in the High Street as a delivery boy, and he eventually bought the business and ran it until 1977.
As a teenager, Gwen worked in the office there, learning from him the importance of good customer service which was put to good use when she later set up her own clothes shop in the village.
She met her future husband Ed at a dance in Southampton when he was about to emigrate to Canada. She joined him there and the couple married in 1957. They returned to England in 1961, and Gwen opened her shop, Gwen’s Ladies’ Fashion, in 1964, which he ran for nearly 50 years.
As well as having a passion for clothes, she was also an expert seamstress, always making incredible garments for her three daughters, Carole, Michele, and Jenny, when they were children.
They said: “It was the beginning of the swinging 60s and mum loved fashion. She wanted to bring a little bit of London style to Milford. The shop was like Carnaby Street when it first opened, with hot pants and miniskirts.
“Then mum quickly realised that those styles might not be suitable for all the Milford ladies, so she adapted and offered something for everyone. Clients came from afar and stocked up on clothes they said they could not find anywhere else.”
“She always remained on top of fashion trends. At the height of the Bay City Rollers stardom, mum stocked up on the stripey socks the band were famous for. They sold out so fast that she often had to travel to London to quickly replenish the stock.”
Gwen was described by her daughters as “an independent woman and very self-driven”, adding: “She ran her own business from a young age, while raising her children and running the family home which in those days was quite unusual.
“When the shop was closed, locals would often knock on the side door to our house if they had got a hole in their tights and needed more urgently.”
Gwen is also remembered for the part she played in supporting local organisations and charities.
“You could say that mum was Milford’s answer to Ticketmaster as she sold community and charity event tickets and raffle tickets,” said her daughters.
“At carnival time her whole window was given over to a large display of photos and trophies for it. The Milford Parish magazine was also distributed from Gwen’s shop.”
Gwen was thrilled when in 2009 her shop was nominated for Hampshire Village Shop of the Year. She and her team attended a glittering award ceremony on HMS Warrior in Portsmouth. Gwen came runner-up and was delighted to receive her award from her gardening hero Alan Titchmarsh.
It was a sad day for Milford when the shop closed, and Gwen was thrown a retirement party by local community groups, with speeches of gratitude.
Sister Anne married fisherman Ray Perrett and for much of their married life they lived in a house in Keyhaven Road, where they brought up daughter Lisa and sons Shawn, Graham and Jeff.
Anne later joined Gwen running the shop, working there along with Michele until Gwen took a well-earned retirement in 2012. All three women gave a level of service that was “like no other”.
Since the death of the sisters, the family say they have been inundated with cards and messages of condolence. “It’s just been an outpouring of love from the community, friends and family – both for mum and Anne,” said Gwen’s daughters. “We are very grateful and proud of all they achieved.”
