1 week Ago
Terence Lett has been a staple of the High Street in Witney since 1997. Terence (Terry) Lett and his wife, Karen, have run the independent business together with a dedicated team of five, one of whom has been with them for 20 years, since the first Witney store opened in 1988. Keith Gill, fellow jeweller and Mr Lett's best friend is looking after the closure.
He said: “We realise the store closure will come as a shock to its loyal customers and the community. "It’s of course been a very difficult decision to make, but with the very sad loss of Terry to cancer a year-and-a-half ago and him being the backbone of the business with his name above the door, the family feels it is time to close this chapter." Mr Lett was aged just 26 and a working jeweller when he made the decision to move into a caravan to save money and pool all his life savings into opening his first jewellery store in Carterton in 1985.
The gamble paid off with the store’s instant success sparking a second store opening in the historic Market Town of Witney three years later in Langdale Court. Just like Carterton, the Witney jeweller 'fast became the destination for locals to find the perfect piece to mark special occasions and milestones'. In 1997, Mr Lett merged the Carterton and Witney jewellers to create a larger site on Witney’s High Street, and has been there ever since.
The jeweller closed for over a year in 2017 to undertake a major £1million renovation to modernise the interior of the store, and with the renovation came the injection of new life into the Grade II listed building, as well as the High Street itself. “Locals will remember Terry as a ‘cheeky chappy’ who always had a smile on his face,” said Mr Gill. “Terry’s wife, Karen, would really like to thank their extremely loyal team who have kept the store thriving throughout its history and Terry’s illness.
"Karen would also like to warmly thank the whole Witney community who have shown such great support for Terence Lett Jewellers over the years.” The family-run jeweller will be marking its closure with savings of 50 per cent across its entire fine jewellery range, including diamond rings, coloured stone pieces, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. The sale commences at 9.
30am on Saturday, April 12. All pieces will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis with the closing down sale lasting until the stock is sold. Terence Lett, The Jeweller, can be found on 3 High Street, Witney OX28 6HW.
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