Gail looking to clean up

8:35am Wednesday 9th April 2008

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FORMER England footballer Lee Sharpe is a regular visitor to a laundry and dry cleaning shop in York Street, Stourport.

No, the winger renowned for his pace does not need his kit washed!

He has left all that behind. The shop is owned by his mum.

Gail Sharpe set up Sharpes Dry Cleaning last November and, with thoughts of expanding it, she has entered the Business Idol Competition being run by the Kidderminster Big Breakfast Club in association with the Shuttle /Times & News.

"The £1,000 cash prize for the winner would be useful," she said, "and the expert advice would help me to grow the business."

The advice - reckoned to be worth over £2,500 - is offered to the winner by members of the Breakfast Club, who have already built up their own successful businesses and are keen to pass on their knowledge and help to create more prosperity in the Wyre Forest area.

Meanwhile, club chairman, Robert Forsyth, urges budding entrepreneurs to join them at their Tuesday 7am meetings at La Brasserie restaurant in Lower Mill Street, Kidderminster, when, over an informal breakfast, members build up contacts and swap business ideas.

Gail Sharpe gained her laundry business skills running a team of cleaners for Birmingham City Council. Now, as her business consolidates, she is planning to open another shop in a nearby town.

Her son Lee is 37, having retired from an illustrious career in football when he was 29.

One of his early teams was Stourport Wednesday. He went on to play for Manchester United, Leeds United and Bradford City and won eight caps as an England player.

"Lee has helped me financially," said Gail, "but doesn't get involved in washing dirty linen. He's too busy nowadays, as a television personality, and Shuttle/Times & News readers may have seen him in shows like Ant and Dec, All Stars, Superstars and Love Island."