Clap tonight for ‘Mike The Shop’

The community of Castle Caereinion is being encouraged to show their respects tonight following the sad death of ‘the heart of the village’ yesterday.

Michael Rogers, 72, was affectionately known as ‘Mike the Shop’, having lived in the village all his life and worked in the shop, firstly for his mother after leaving school and then taking it on following her death.

He sadly passed away yesterday following a heart attack on Saturday.

Tributes have poured in and with residents unable to physically pay their respects to family due to the current restrictions, tonight (Tuesday) there will be a clap and cheer at 8pm.

Emma Thomas told us: “Castle Caereinion lost the heart of the village yesterday when Mike the Shop died. To honour him and given the current circumstances we are doing a clap for him at 8pm.

“He always had a smile for all who came into the shop. If you needed something, he would have it. The shop was officially named ‘not open all hours’ a few years ago. That was his humour.

“To say the community is devastated is an understatement.”

Among the tributes paid was former MP Glyn Davies who said: “He was at the centre of all village activities.”