John retires after 36 years with same Bridgnorth firm
When John Furness started work at an electrical firm in Shropshire, Elton John and Abba were battling it out with The Clash and The Sex Pistols at the top of the 1976 pop charts.
It was the start of 36 years of sterling service at Foxall's in Bridgnorth that ended on New Year's Eve as the 65-year-old, from Easthope, near Bridgnorth left work for the last time to start his retirement.
Mr Furness has spent more than three decades out on the road for the company repairing and servicing washing machines and tumble driers at homes around the county.
Mr Furness' boss Charles Foxall today described him as a 'dedicated worker' and model employee.
Mr Foxall said the company was planning a get-together in the near future to say goodbye properly to its longest-serving employee.
He added: "John has been a model employee. Even when he has not been feeling well he has always made it into work. We are going to miss him."
Mr Furness said: I had been an electrician and decided to move into the domestic side of things, repairing and servicing electrical appliances.
"I enjoyed getting out and about, meeting new people, and essentially the freedom of being your own boss."
"My knees won't miss it though. The job naturally involves a lot of kneeling on hard floors and my knees arent what they used to be."
Mr Furness said he was not planning to slow down in retirement and was looking forward to spending more time with Marilyn, his wife of 25 years, and helping his brother-in-law out on a farm he owns near to the couple.
