22 Sep 2026
Herts charity Willow has opened its first shop in St Albans.
The store is at 10 Chequer Street, formerly Timpson, and showcases a range of pre-loved clothing, accessories and homeware, with every purchase supporting their mission to create lasting memories for young adults faced with challenging serious illnesses.
The shop opening was attended by St Albans Mayor Cllr Matt Fisher and the ribbon was cut by Marian, who told the crowd about her experience of illness and the joy of her Willow experience.
She said: “On behalf of my family we would like to say thank you so much for gifting us a beautiful holiday in the Cotswolds. It was a break for us, but especially for the children, to take some respite from what they’ve witnessed, from what our family has experienced with critical illness.
“I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in my thirties. I was young fit and healthy with no family history, and yet I still got it. The holiday that Willow gifted us will last us through our lifetime. It will remind them that it is a choice to actually go out there and enjoy yourselves, and to respect our bodies and our time with each other. That’s actually what Willow has done for us and our family. It’s not just a holiday, it was actually about self care. Thank you so much.”
Willow’s CEO, Jonathan Aves, added: “Everything about these shops is about raising funds to be able to provide more Special Days to our beneficiaries. Thank you to all the Willow staff and to everyone who worked so hard to make this shop such a fantastic looking shop in St Albans.”
