Written by Jess Reeves June 2012

Many, many years ago Churchstoke was a quiet place
Until Ruby, Roy and Harry completely changed its face
Why travel to go shopping to places far and wide
When they could build a supermarket here in the country side?
They started out in a tiny place; Roy built a posh lean to
Some of us remember it down the village at Bridge View

They soon outgrew that tiny place, bigger premises they sought
But first just what and where to build, so land they went and bought
They built a garage, then a shop and add-ons by the score
But room there never was enough, they always needed more
The village population, it grew and grew and grew
So a larger shop, a bit more land and lots more houses too.

Now all this was not a benefit, just for Ruby and Roy
The whole village now was gaining as more staff they would employ
And folks needn't spend a fortune and go travelling to shop
Cos Ruby, Roy and Harry decided they would stock the bloody lot.
Grocery, booze, and veg and meat and every sort of tin
No matter what was asked for they went and got it in.
Wellies, clothes and carpets, cards, toys and so much more
Everything you'd ever want is somewhere in the store

There wasn't room inside the shop for all they'd like to sell
So they launched a Sunday market, and this went down so well
Because all around the car park and in the warehouse too
Were aisles and aisles of market stalls selling items old and new
The market became quite famous, people came from everywhere
To visit Tuffins market stalls to buy, sell or just to stare.

With friends from in the Midlands with whom I used to chill
Said they'd never heard of Churchstoke, they'd re-named it Tuffinville
I used to hear their stories of the bargains that they'd found
In a village down in Powys, while to the coast were bound.
They'd never miss the Sunday Market the weather didn't matter
They just had to come to Tuffinville to shop and have a natter.

Tuffins introduced the pound shop with everything a quid
Where Grans and Mums and even Dads found something for the kid.
But not just the kids have profited from items for a pound
Because nearly every customer, here has a bargain found.
With cups and plates and cleaning stuff and tools and batteries too
And flowers, candles and Christmas cards, to mention but a few.
They opened up a butchers shop, a laundry and lots more
They've even got a hairdressers down in Tuffins store.
.....

Now Ruby, Roy and Harry have provided employment for us all
The young, the old, the fat and thin and the short and the tall
How many of the villagers, jobs here, have they been given?
How many families, because of Tuffins have earned a decent living?