A BURNING passion for traditional leather making and an undying love for Tetbury are the reasons why a couple have remained in the town for 40 years.

Valerie Michael and Neil MacGregor launched MacGregor and Michael leather goods shop in Tetbury 1974 and celebrate the 40th anniversary this month.

“It is a lovely town and it has lovely people. We are very privileged to live here. When we go to other places and come back we are reminded of how lovely it is here compared to other places,” Val said.

“It is a way of life for us not just a business. We care about the things we are making and do not just see them as products. We have good communication with customers and we want them to be happy.”

At their Silver Street shop the couple sell a variety of leather goods from handbags to men’s wallets which are all made in their workshop using traditional leather-making techniques.

Val said it was thanks to these techniques they ensure they can create high quality products lasting for decades.

She explained that quite often leather goods in modern times are mass produced and because of this the quality is not as good as they do not last as long.

“We still see old trunks because the leather was good,” Valerie said.

“What we are about is making things that go on being beautiful and strong, which something that has a lovely colour and depth to it that changes with time.”

To celebrate their anniversary Valerie and Neil have crafted a limited edition trunk and travel bag which they showed off at the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen Spring Show in Tetbury earlier this month.

To find out more about the shop see macgregorandmichael.co.uk