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26 Mar 2026

Bira has welcomed the government's £319 million investment in high street revitalisation, while warning that without reform of business rates and action on overseas imports, many high...

19 Mar 2026

This one's sobering: 42% of small businesses reported a cyber breach in 2024, according to the National Cyber Security Centre. And it's not just massive corporations being targeted. It's small,...

19 Mar 2026

The Chancellor held a roundtable discussion on a future high street strategy last week, with Bira the sole voice representing smaller retail businesses. Read an update on Bira's place at a...

18 Mar 2026

An independent bike shop is refusing to sell or repair e-scooters over concerns about how they are being used, with the area’s police force backing the call and urging others to follow...

17 Mar 2026

Walking, wheeling and cycling across the Liverpool City Region are saving the NHS £53.8 million every year, according to the latest Walking and Cycling Index, with cycling playing a key...

13 Mar 2026

Findings from consumer rights publication Which? add to calls from the E-Bike Positive campaign to better scrutinise these sites and promote quality e-bikes from reputable manufacturers and...

6 Mar 2026

The Metropolitan Police have seized more than 50 illegal e-bikes during a two-day crackdown in London as part of a wider effort to tackle crime linked to illegally modified electric bikes.

5 Mar 2026

ACT parent company Bira has warned that the Chanellor's Spring Statement offered no new support for high street businesses, as rising tensions in the Middle East threaten to push up energy...

4 Mar 2026

The UK cycle industry were brought together at COREbike 2026, with retailers, distributors and industry partners gathering for several days of meetings, networking and product showcases.

3 Mar 2026

A Scottish bike repair shop and cafe has recently moved premises into a bigger unit thanks to a growth in business, with the local council noting the positive impact it would have on the local...

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Scots butcher shop loved by Royals recalls 'cheery' Queen

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

The owner of a butcher ‘s shop in Ballater, Aberdeenshire has told the Daily Record of his shock at the death of the Queen, who was an often-seen figure in the town near Balmoral.

John Sinclair, the co-owner of HM Sheridan, told the newspaper how he only saw the Queen three weeks ago and recalled her once popping into the shop for a chat. He said the Queen had been in the shop twice, once after flooding and another just to say hello.

John said: "I met the Queen about six times, she's been in the shop twice, after the flooding and when she just popped in to say hello. The last time I met her was three weeks ago, she looked a bit frail but for a lady of 96 that's not surprising.

"She was quite cheery and she had a smile on her face. It was at the castle Highland Games, we introduced a game called Balmoral Stones and got two stones of 35kg each for people to carry 70 yards, one of the stones was engraved with the dates of the jubilee.

"You'd not expect someone to be working at 96, I still find it really hard to believe. The whole village is feeling pretty down. You don't know what the next generation will be like, this area would miss the Royal family if they didn't come back to Deeside.”

"They have done a lot to support this area. Princess Anne comes in the shop regularly wearing a Barbour jacket and jeans.

"I think the Queen was quite low maintenance, up here they were just a normal couple and made their own tea. They are just a normal family as well."

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