Our founders Douglas and Roland Saunders established Two Gates Fisheries in 1935. The two were the children of Joseph and Sarah Saunders. Douglas was born in 1909 and Roland in 1916. In 1928, Joseph died saving a number of apprentices after a roof fall at Brierley Colliery. Sarah received compensation from the mining firm, the Hodroyd Coal Company. Not wanting her sons to work in the mines and face the same dangers as their father, in June 1935, she bought two shops at Two Gates. One was a fish and chip shop, the other a sweet shop. Douglas and Roland ran the fish and chip shop until Roland was called to fight in the Second World War. Douglas had a hernia, so he remained at home and worked in munitions. Roland fought on the Normandy front line and was commended for his efforts during the war. Romance blossomed in Brussels for Roland, however when news came that Douglas needed assistance, Roland returned to Shafton to help his brother. Roland remained single for the rest of his life. Together the brothers ran Two Gates Fisheries and they spent their time peeling potatoes and preparing fish during the day. The chip shop was their life until Roland was diagnosed with cancer and given 3 months to live. He lived 7 years and in that time, the bothers sold the shop and Roland died in 1979. Douglas lived until he was 99 years old. Their fish and chips were famous throughout the county, for their quality and because Roland was the fastest wrapper that anyone had ever seen. This story inspired us to turn the clock back and produce some of the finest quality fish and chips, fried in the traditional way. We hope in doing this, that we have done the brothers and the Shafton community proud.
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