A WHITCHURCH business will close its doors following the owner's decision to retire.

Therese Hickland, who owns Healing Thyme in High Street, had been due to retire earlier in the year, but the impact of Covid-19 meant she was forced to carry on working for a few months more.

The driving force behind the retirement was a desire to make more of life, she said, as well as caring for her elderly mother.

“During this period while we all tried to find our path through this new reality," said Therese.

"I became very conscious of my own mortality and that of my elderly mother, and the precious nature of time.

"I do not want to wake up one day and find that life has passed me by. I have more living to do yet.”

Therese had hoped that she would find someone to take on the business and continue to serve the people of Whitchurch, but no such buyer could be found.

“Alas, that someone has not come along and the economic climate going forward is not an encouraging one for new business," added Therese.

Healing Thyme will close on Friday, September 25.

Over the next few weeks Therese will be encouraging regular customers who rely on the availability of certain products to stock up on things with a long shelf life.

She will also be taking orders for bulk purchase with a 10 per cent discount of goods during August and will be reducing prices on residual stock during September.

“The last 11 years in Healing Thyme have brought all of us who have worked there great joy and pleasure helping others to find their path to health and happiness," Therese added.

"There have been many challenges along the way, but we always ended up smiling.

"Thank you to all of you who have helped to make it worthwhile."