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Man on bargain store quest visits 'viral' shop

John Devine
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Reporting fromMarch
John Devine/BBC Jonathan Scandrett has short grey hair and a dark T-shirt under a blue fleece. He is standing in front of a Boyes shop window with various items displayed.John Devine/BBC
Mr Scandrett said he had wonderful greetings when arriving at the stores - "one shop presented me with a cake, it was quite emotional"

A man who has set himself a goal to visit every Boyes store in the UK has made his way to the town where its unique positioning next to a pet shop made it a viral hit online.

Recently retired Jonathan Scandrett, from Stokesley in North Yorkshire, has been a long-time fan of the bargain stores and wants to visit all 81 shops by bus.

Number 61 on his list was the store in the Fenland town of March, which for years has sat next to a pet store - now redundant - on Station Road, recreating the name of the British pop group.

The store put out balloons for Mr Scandrett's arrival - but there was no time for rest, and he hoped to complete his quest in Hull at the weekend.

John Devine/BBC Jonathan Scandrett, 60 has short grey hair ad a dark t-shirt under a blue fleece. he is standing in front of a Boyes shop window with various items displayed.John Devine/BBC
Mr Scandrett said he always bought one item on his visits - wildflower seeds - which he intended to present to local schools in North Yorkshire

Speaking of his journey so far, Mr Scandrett said: "I reckon it has cost around £400 in bus fares and £1,600 in hotels and food.

"I did ask my wife to accompany me, but I don't think she was too keen."

Richard Humphrey/Geograph Two shops side by side, with a small gap in between. The one on the left is called The Pet Shop, and to the right is Boyes. Richard Humphrey/Geograph
The Boyes store in the Cambridgeshire town of March sat next to The Pet Shop for many years, sparking a viral hit

The 60-year-old said he "loves to tick-off lists" and was a "long-time fan of buses and Boyes stores", so thought combining the two would make an "interesting challenge".

He said: "Some [people] go trainspotting, but I thought Boyes have 81 stores on the mainland in the UK and I set myself up on an adventure to visit every one by bus.

"I made up the rules, so I can break them, which I had to when the bus from Abergavenny to Hereford didn't show up, so I had to pay £70 for a taxi ride instead."

Mr Scandrett said he had bought a packet of wildflower seeds at every store and intended to distribute them to local schools on his return.

John Devine/BBC Autumn Wilding is 26, she has full head of red hair which is curly and shoulder length. She is wearing wide framed glasses with a dark frame, she has two rings in her right nostril and small round earrings, she is wearing a black blouse with white patterns on and behind her is the Boyes department store interior, shelves with various goods.John Devine/BBC
Store supervisor Autumn Wilding said she was impressed that Mr Scandrett used mostly buses to get around the country

The Cambridgeshire town of March has a habit of hitting the headlines for its quirks, including for its "Pet Shop Boyes" stores and its wonky Christmas tree.

Autumn Wilding, 26, the store supervisor in the local branch of Boyes, said Mr Scandrett's visit had certainly made a talking point.

"We made up a nice welcome sign outside the store with colourful balloons and it has put us on the map," she said.

"Most of the Boyes shops are up north and on the coast, so we feel we get forgotten about a bit."

The Pet Shop Boys performing for BBC Radio 2. Vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe are both dressed in black.
It is not known whether pop duo Pet Shop Boys have ever visited their namesake stores - or if it was always on their minds

Far from ending his "tick-off list" adventures, Mr Scandrett said he next planned to visit every Scottish football league stadium.

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