Celebrating 50 Years of Guest and Philips
Tue 15th November 2016
50 Golden Years of Guest and Philips.
Beverley was a very different place fifty years ago when Michael Guest and his wife Anne established Guest and Philips or Michael Philips as it was then called.
In 1966, Beverley was a comparatively small rural town with a livestock market every Wednesday (the cattle market was where Tesco is now located) which brought the farmers and their wives into town, making it a busy day for the shops. Most of the shops were privately owned in those days. Thursday was half day closing, which meant Beverley was almost deserted on Thursday afternoons.
The business is now run by Michael and Anne’s children, Philip and Karen. Karen told Just Beverley: They have welcomed clients from all walks of like into their stores, as well as some famous people. Karen said: “One day a big, black, chauffeur driven Mercedes pulled up outside. The chauffeur opened the rear door of the car and out stepped Jeffery Archer! He wandered into the shop and had his watch-battery changed, just like a normal customer!”
Styles of jewellery have changed immensely over the years. Gate bracelets and Cameo brooches have been replaced by branded names such as Links of London or Georg Jensen although antique and period jewellery is extremely popular. The Market Place store is a virtual Aladdin’s cave of stunning period and classic pieces in gold and silver with diamonds and pearls. Karen is a diamond and antiques specialist so there is always something special if more modern designs are not to your taste!
The watch department now has a Cartier ‘shop in shop’ soon to be followed by Omega and Gucci Michael, Philip and Karen have all been presidents of the Beverley and District Chamber of Trade, Michael is an MBE for services to the community in Beverley and has recently been awarded Honorary Freemanship of Beverley.
As to the future, Just Beverley wishes the Guest family all the very best for the continued success of this wonderful business.
Guest and Philips Jewellers, 23-25 Saturday
Market, Beverley HU17 8BB.
Tel 01482 882599/882334.
and
23a Flemingate Centre, Chantry Lane,
Beverley HU17 0PW. Tel 01482 881001.
www.guestandphilips.co.uk
