Langers snack van - outside Ridgeons at Martlesham Heath - becomes Mumma Jones under new ownership.
Former squaddie Mike Langridge found it difficult getting a job when he left the Royal Anglian Regiment.
But Mike, who now lives at Rendlesham, wasn’t prepared to sit around waiting for something to come along.
“I couldn’t get a job, when I came out of the army, so I started my own business.”
Mike had been an infantryman with the Royal Anglians, and was in the band for three years too, so he had to look for a new route to success.
Tweny-seven years-ago he started his Langers snack van, and he has been operating in the Martlesham Heath Business Park area for most of that time.
“I had 22 years in the army, although I wasn’t from Suffolk I wanted to come here and think of retirement, and to explore my own interests. I am originally from Boreham Wood.
“I am into antique restoration and art, but I had no formal qualifications.
“Coming out of the army I was pretty motivated; and I had always like cooking, so I decided to start a catering business.
“I still do all the cooking at home.”
He has had his van at various locations at the Martlesham Heath business area over the years, he said, including most Ridgeons recently, and previously at Great Mills, Focus and Bennetts Electrical.
It has proved popular with people working in the busy commercial and retail estate, and with visting customers too.
He added:“I have had a lot of good, loyal customers over the years, who seem to love my style of cooking.
“Now I aim to use my retirement to develop my art.
“I am a keen artist and I paint all sorts of subjects, from pets to historical scenes and landscapes.
“It was time to pass the business on.”
Mike is married to Caroline and has two children and four grandchildren.
Langers has been transformed into Mumma Jones by Marly Jones and his mum, Debs.
Marly, a building contractor from Ipswich, said: “I am a building contractor, and we did some work with Ridgeons, so I knew of the snack van.
“I bought it to set my mum. It is going to keep her busy,” he said.
“It will be open five days a week, from 8am to 2pm.” They would be offering a range of hot snacks, he said.
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