Dorset's Williams the Bakery to close after owners death

Williams the Bakery is to close.

It will shut its doors in Wool after nearly a century of baking, serving its last customer on Christmas Eve.

The bakery was first opened by Lionel Willliams in 1927 and has remained a family business ever since.

He handed the reins to his son Edward in 1961, with Edward’s son Clive joining the business in 1976, straight from bakery college.

Clive ran the bakery supported for a long time by his late wife Rosemary until his own untimely and unexpected death in June of this year.

Clive Williams (Image: Jonathon Williams)

Clive’s brother Bruce Williams said: “My brothers sudden passing has had a huge impact on all of us here and his knowledge and experience are sorely missed.

“Our staff have worked tremendously hard to ease the transition to business without Clive but without his experience and talent we feel the time has come to close.

“It does concern us that the village will lose a long-standing shop and employer, but sometimes the right decision is not the easiest one.”

The family are also sad to have to say goodbye to a ‘truly wonderful team.’

Bruce added: “Continuing to try and run a business that requires years of skill and experience without the knowledge and expertise of Clive and under the current market and economic pressures facing small businesses across the UK we have been left with no choice.

“We are saddened to say goodbye to some truly wonderful team members and our historic family business.” 

Williams Bakery will close it's doors for the last time (Image: Jonathon Williams)

Williams the Bakery once had shops in Weymouth, Dorchester, Swanage and Wareham.

Jonathan Williams, Clive’s son, said: “The demand for more traditional baking has been in decline for some time and like many small retail businesses the pressure of the supermarkets and large national chains have combined with testing economic pressures to make sustaining a small business very difficult.”

The family say they're saddened to be closing 'a much-valued and popular community asset' and are keen to hear from anyone who would be interested in continuing the bakery and coffee shop.