Four days off in 40 years.

That's not a bad attendance record for a family running a convenience store in Chatham.

Now they're preparing to say goodbye to their loyal customers as they leave the shop on August 10.

Surinder Singh took over the SS Mini Market in Magpie Hall Road on August 1, 1981, aged 31, after leaving his job as a factory worker at Kent Alloys in Strood.

His wife Harbinder wanted them to run their own business to provide for their young family of two children.

They worked long hours at the shop – formerly known as Mickey's – and ploughed their takings into three expansions over the years, as trade flourished.

Children Kuldeep and Hardeep grew up living above the premises and helped out from an early age.

Daughter Hardeep said: "It was like living on a building site. There was always work going on.

"It started as a small shop and then an off licence, selling newspapers and videos."

She left in her 20s but still returned to help out at weekends.

Brother Kuldeep took over as manager when their father passed away in March 2008, following a battle with cancer.

It's telling that for the hard-working family, Surinder collapsed and died while working at the shop at the age of 59.

Widow Harbinder, 72, has carried on serving customers ever since.

The shop on Medway's close-knit White Road estate was home to three generations.

Hardeep said: "We have very fond memories. We didn't know any different. Everyone knew each other. It was a real community.

"But things have changed. A lot of people have moved down from London.’’

Grandson Amar Singh, 21, said: "The shop is everything we know.

"In the past 40 years it has been closed for a total of four days. One for my grandfather's funeral, two for my auntie's wedding and one for my father's wedding.

"We've worked there every Christmas, even as children."

The family, who will still own the building, are due to officially hand over the keys on August 10 to a new shopkeeper.

Fittingly, it would have been Surinder's 73rd birthday.

Amar explained that his gran will be enjoying a hard-earned retirement, his mum now works in stroke rehabilitation for the NHS and his dad has bought a hotel in Clacton, Essex.

As for the customers, he added: "We have started telling people that we're leaving and the response has been really nice.

"A couple of them even said they wouldn't be able to set foot in here again, as it won't be the same when we're gone.

"But it's been our whole life and it will be nice to have time to do things as a family without having to worry about who's running the shop."

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