Leamington butcher is still cutting it after more than 40 years in the business

Darren Higham opened Highams Butchers with his father Walter at the Shopping Centre in Whitnash in 1984.

He had already worked in the industry from the age of 13 when he was a ‘Saturday boy’ in Kenilworth.

Walter retired in 1986, leaving the running of the shop in Darren’s capable hands.

In the earlier years of Highams, Darren would travel to the meat market in Birmingham on a Tuesday and Thursday to pick up the majority of the meat.

The rest came from Snelsons in Kenilworth, which is no longer open.

In the 1990s, Darren made some big changes to Highams, including raising its hygiene standard to an advanced level, which enabled the shop to sell cooked hams to other outlets.

Over the years, Highams was a finalist in a West Midlands sausage competition four times, for which the famous judges included rock star Noddy Holder, comedian Al Murray, celebrity chef Simon Rimmer and Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood.

Holidays were few and far between for Darren and the shop and its customers have always come first.

He sold the business to his nephew Leon five years ago but still works there part time.

Darren said: “I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

"It’s been sad to see a lot of my old favourites customers go over the years but I’m onto serving the third generation of them now.

"Highams will always have a special place in my heart.”