Couple rise to new challenge running hotel

While some may look forward to a life of leisure, Bob and Dawn Gooderson decided it was time for a new challenge.

Now Bob and Dawn are finding their feet as the new owners of the town’s Half Moon Hotel.

After searching since last year for somewhere suitable they decided the Half Moon made the perfect business proposition.

The West Street inn had been run by previous owners Jill and Dave Dixon since 1971.

Bob said: “I had got bored being retired, so we had been looking for a small hotel for a couple of years and this ticked all the boxes. We plan to leave things as they are for the first few months and not make any major changes.

“Dawn and I have been working together from day one and make a good team.”

Bob lived in South Africa for 45 years where he met Dawn. They moved to the UK in 2000 and previously ran a catering company in Wiltshire.

Dawn said: “The moment we stepped through the door it just felt right. We are certainly enjoying life here.”