Much loved Jonty celebrates recovery with colourful garden shed

Jonty Page wanted to capture the inspirational nature of his home village Rostherne after conquering throat, tongue and lymph cancer.

The 61-year-old is a much loved trader at Knutsford Market and wants to thank everyone for their get well messages and support.

Friends, neighbours and strangers rallied round to keep his business, Jonty's Fruit and Veg flourishing whilst he underwent treatment.

His partner Jane Smyth, 56, said: "Jonty has now been given the all-clear and is elated.

Jonty Page can't wait to get back to his beloved stall in Knutsford Market

"He couldn't wait to ring the bell at Christie's but the ding-a-ling in the bell has been taken away so no-one could touch it because of Covid.

"Jonty wanted something bright and colourful for the shed, a celebration of life and everything it brings. He also wanted to support young graffiti artist Joe Connolly.

"He gave him free reign to do something in keeping with where we live in Rostherne. It is a nature reserve and bird watcher's paradise.

"Joe used colourful spray cans to create a beautiful humming bird on one side and St Mary's Church and colourful hills with flowers on the other side.

"It was amazing watching him work."

Graffiti artist Joe Connolly captured the beauty of Rostherne spray painting Jonty's shed with a humming bird and flowers

Jonty is recuperating and can't wait to get back to his beloved stall.

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"The treatment I underwent is painless but brutal and I lost five stone in weight," said Jonty who was diagnosed with cancer in January 2020 and began treatment two weeks later.

"I was 17 stone when I started but am back to 14 and building myself up very slowly."

The couple are indebted to the army of volunteers who stepped into make sure his fledgling business, launched in August 2018, survived.

Friends took it in turns to run the counter and display products in keeping with his high standards.

Volunteers offered to do home deliveries throughout the pandemic, providing a lifeline to the local community.

Suppliers ensured only the best and finest fresh produce was provided, just as Jonty always insisted.

Single mum Jane, who has a 10-year-old son Harry, strived to keep the greengrocery business running alongside her own market stall, Style Loft Boutique.

Jane Smyth and Jonty Page at Jonty's Fruit and Veg stall before his illness

Jane said: "We can't say a big enough thank you to all those people who rallied round to help us. If we said thank you every day for the rest of our lives for the kindness they showed us it wouldn't be enough.

"They were just great and lifted me and kept the business going under such extreme circumstances withi Covid. They were like guardian angels.

"Without them we would be in a very different place today.

"The main thing is the treatment worked and we are very grateful for that.

"People are still helping out. Jonty comes into the market and speaks to customers. When he is ready he will be back, it's just a matter of time.

"We're taking each day as it comes."