Fruit & Veg Man Dick praises Newbridge kids for not stealing his apples!
By Rose B O’Donoghue
Photos: Pat Tinsley
“I have worked over 40 years as a fruit and veg trader on the Main Street here in Newbridge” said Dick Wixsted, “and despite school children and youth passing up and down here on weekdays, I’ve never had an apple lost! People are quick to criticise youth but my experience here is quite the opposite….”
A familiar sight in Newbridge, Dick first began trading in Newbridge in February 1978, and ironically, he started out where he is currently located close to, the premises of the Man’s Shop, formerly run by the late Brian Mathews, and now run by Paul Mathews.
“I have traded this side of the street mainly – only once, did I have to move over to the ESB offices across the road, where Insomnia is now. The late Joe Cosgrove, of Cosgrove’s Pharmacy – a pure gentleman - came over to me one day and asked how trade was. ‘There’s no business down this side of the town at all’ I said ‘Newbridge is a one-side, one street town!’ Well, he told me to move over and park outside his shop as long as I liked.
“And that’s the kind of good will I have experienced in this town from shoppers and traders alike, they were all so supportive. When the traffic lights were inserted I had to move back up the street, outside Paddy Powers and Paul Mathews – nearly back where I started over 40 years ago!”
Along with his wife Geraldine, the couple have niched out a living for themselves and reared their six children Sandra, Karen, Lavinia, Joseph, John and Richard near Kilcullen where they moved 50 years ago. All bar Richard have worked in Newbridge town which Dick considers as his second home.
Dick was actually born in the UK, his father was from the Isle of Man but his grandfather hailed from Limerick. When he was four years old, the family moved back to Ireland, to Co Kildare.
He added “All the shops from McDonnell’s Bar, right down to the end of the town, have been so supportive. I’d never be stuck for a cup of tea from McDonnell’s Bar or a bit of banter from Vivian Clark! Newbridge has been very decent to me; you wouldn’t meet nicer, more decent people – I used to have women coming down to buy fruit and veg with their children. When the children grew up, the came to shop here, then I had the women returning with their grandchildren.”
With fresh fruit and vegetables, and seasonal fayre for Christmas, Dick’s Fruit & Veg truck is on Main Street from 7am to 3.30pm in Winter and from 6am – 3.30pm in Summer. He will be 41 years trading in Newbridge on Main Street next February and “Ne'er an apple lost or stolen in all that time!”
That’s not a bad endorsement for the calibre and honesty of the people of Newbridge.