Orchard Brothers
1908

William Thomas, the founder's son, died age 64 and his sons Will and Fred inherited the business. Will ran the post office and the house letting agency whilst Fred ran the grocery business. The shop was renamed "Orchard Bros", a name that has continued to this day.
Read some letters to the business from the time of World War One.

1927

Fred died aged just 53, leaving the business in the sole hands of Will. He continued to run the post office, employing managers to run the shop and its branch at Totland.

1933

Around this year the fourth generation entered the business in the person of Fred's son, Dick Orchard, who was to remain actively involved in the business up to his death in 2005, apart from his years of service in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. On leaving school he had an apprenticeship with a master grocer called Croft in Winchester before starting work in Orchard Bros full-time.

During the 1930s the old stables were converted into a new bake-house as motor vehicles took over the deliveries from horse-drawn vehicles. At one time two bakers were employed and Orchards supplied a wide range of breads, cakes and pastries including wedding and birthday cakes to order. The steam ovens were the most modern on the Island.

1939

Freshwater Bay branch of Lloyds Bank closed at the start of World War Two.