A STALWART of Astley Bridge is celebrating its 95th anniversary.

Family-run Tobutt Sports opened in Higher Bridge Street in 1923, survived the war years and under the supervision of the founder’s grandson has gone on to expand the business to include the Good Health Centre.

The shop has been in Astley Bridge in some form or another for 95 years, moving to where Asda is now and then along Blackburn Road to its current location.

Dougie Tobutt, aged 68, is the grandson of founder Len, a Middlesex cricketer who came to play in the Bolton league and ran charity competitions and played well into his 60s.

Len began the shop in his 30s and his son Geoffrey helped him out from 1945 onwards.

Dougie said: “In the war years my grandfather would go to auctions to keep the shop going to buy anything.”

In 1965 when Len died, Dougie was drafted in despite his teaching dreams.

Dougie said: “I wanted to be a PE teacher but he passed in 1965 so I have been in it since 1965, dad wanted me in the family business — I was 15 and I lived for sport.”

Under Dougie’s guidance the shop has flourished and 11 years ago expanded to include a health therapy clinic.

As part of their 95th anniversary celebrations on Sunday the shop is holding the grand opening of its new therapy rooms having moved into the building next door, the expansion will take them from 10 therapists to 16.

Dougie is one of the therapists, he trained up after suffering a groin strain which was going to leave him unable to play squash and likely to need new hips in his future.

Studying around the country Dougie now has more than 20 diplomas in sports therapy and massage.

He said: “I found my passion really.”

Now the Good Health Clinic offers a whole range of treatments including the popular Medistone therapy,

Dougie runs the shop and clinic with his daughter Mandy Foster, aged 45 and his wife Eileen, aged 66.

On Sunday the team will be celebrating all day and are hoping customers old and new will pop down to say and celebrate with them and see the new expanded health clinic.

There will be half price treatments to take advantage of as well as food and bubbles to enjoy and the shop is raffling off a pair of running shoes.