The Tenovus shop in Pwllheli was one of the first to open in north Wales and on 30 May, a celebration was held to mark the 30th anniversary with a special cake cut by town mayor Cllr Eric Wyn Roberts.

The shop opened on 20 March, 1989 in a shop called The Regency on the High Street, which was a china shop and is now Patricia’s Hairdressers.

The CEO at the time was Paul Weir and his wife Helen was the shop organiser, with 42 volunteers.

The first week they took £500 and over the years it grew from strength to strength with a lot of help from all kinds of people.

There was Harold Williams – fundraiser for Tenovus from Criccieth, who also became area manager, and a great inspiration to the staff and volunteers. The late Evan Jones, Penrallt organised coffee evenings with John ac Alun, and concerts at Neuadd Dwyfor.

Elwyn Owen, whose wife Freda was a volunteer in the shop, raised several thousands by cutting up firewood and selling them.

A new CEO called Peter Searle, was very supportive to the Pwllheli Shop, instrucing the staff and volunteers to keep an eye out for a larger shop.

As luck would have it shoe shop Stead and Simpson was moving down the street and the charity’s new base opened in December 2002.

Tenovus in Pwllheli are looking to the future and hoping to reach many other milestones like this one in the years to come.