| The best known tobacconist in the city is retiring after 50 years in the business - but is not holding out for a long-service medal from the Queen after once running out stock of her late sister's favourite brand of cigarettes. John Elvin, 64, has been the manager at Churchills in St Andrew's Street since it opened in 1988, and started his career at Lambert's tobacconist in Gentleman's Walk in 1958. But the popular shop on the corner of Bridewell Alley will continue without him, although current owner Keith Garrard said he would be a hard act to follow. The grandfather-of-seven, who occasionally smokes a Cuban cigar or a pipe, is retiring on May 31, which conveniently is the day before his 65th birthday on June 1. It will be a landmark occasion for Mr Elvin, but not one he expects to end in any special recognition from the Queen. He said: "I forfeited that possibility several years ago when Princess Margaret was at a function at nearby St Andrew's Hall and sent out to Churchills for a pack of her special discount cigarettes. But, for the first time in months, we were out of stock." |