IT was an emotional day for Mrs Ray Evans who has retired from the food van in the mart at Newcastle Emlyn.

Mrs Evans has been a familiar face to many, providing refreshments to farmers and mart-goers for nearly 32 years but has now decided to call it a day at the age of 85.

She had been thinking about retirement for a couple of years but put off the decision until now and has closed her business.

Her husband Vernon retired a few years ago from running his mobile shop.

Geraint James of Dai Lewis & Co presented Mrs Evans with flowers in recognition of all her hard work over the years as farmers and friends looked on.

And also stepping down will be Florence Roberts, also 85, who has been helping out for 23 years and worked on the cattle sale days every other Tuesday, and Beryl Williams, 71, who has 20 years under her belt and worked on Thursdays at the sheep sales.

“We have had a lot of fun and we will all be sad to go and we will all miss it a great deal,” said Beryl.

“We have made a lot of friends over the years. Often people come up to me and say hello and I have to think ‘where do I know you from?’ and it will be from talking to them at the food van.

“It is certainly the end of an era but I will keep on working. At the moment, I am helping a friend who does catering and I just love meeting people.”