Much-loved bakery and Spalding institution Pacey’s reopened this week – a landmark moment for the town and in the lives of new owners Sharon and George Tear.
By pure coincidence the reopening came in Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and less than a year ago Sharon was battling the disease.
Sharon (43) said: “I was diagnosed with cancer in June and we knew we couldn’t do anything about buying the business then.
“I had all the operations and things and George said ‘it’s still for sale’.
“I said ‘If you want to do it, let’s do it’.”
Before her illness, Sharon, who also owns Spalding salon and spa Strands, in Clover Way, had been pondering reducing her hours there, but feared the impact it would have.
Her sudden illness meant Sharon was forced into taking a backseat for a while and she was elated to see her team step successfully into the breach.
It opened her eyes to the possibility of beginning a new challenge and adventure with husband of three years George (37), a transport manager at Fowler Welch.
Neither of them had any experience in the bakery industry, but they had seen how much Pacey’s, in Red Lion Street, was loved and believed it should not be allowed to fold. Before its closure in August, Pacey’s had been operating in Red Lion Street since 1916.
Sharon was diagnosed after a routine smear and within a month of her diagnosis she underwent a total hysterectomy.
She and George had to come to terms with the fact it meant their dreams of a family would never become a reality.
Sharon said: “I accept it is something that happened to me and while I will never forget, I have always remained positive. The NHS was fantastic.
“My message to other women would be ‘don’t leave it. Go and get checked’.”
TV star Jade Goody famously died of cervical cancer six years ago, aged 27. It is thought her life could have been saved had she undergone the kind of checks Sharon did.
Nearly 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year in the UK yet 20 per cent of women do not take up their invitation for cervical screening.
