Shrewsbury shop worker set to hang up scissors after 50 years
More than 50 years after starting work at a landmark fabric and haberdashers, Bryan Machin will finally be hanging up his scissors.
Bryan, who has worked for Watson & Thornton, which has a shop on Mardol in Shrewsbury, since 1972, will be signing off for the last time after tomorrow's shift.
Having started working for the company as a ‘Saturday boy’ on the market in Ellesmere Port in 1972 Bryan has decided to step back from the only job he has known.
His parents lived next door to owner Colin Thornton in Congleton, Cheshire, and it was the start of a very long working relationship.
Bryan was transferred to Wellington market in Telford in 1975, and has been associated with Shrewsbury and Shropshire ever since, especially when he moved to live in the county town in 1984.
The market job continued while still at school and he used the school holidays to work as many days as he could.
After a disappointing time in his A Levels he started working for Watson & Thornton full time in January 1979 after flirting with Polytechnic in Nottingham.
It was in the market in Shrewsbury that Bryan would meet his future wife, Sarah, while she was studying dress making at Sixth Form College.
When the company went in a different direction, Bryan worked in the shop in Mardol full time and has not looked back.
He has met many customers over the years, which has been one of the highlights of his time with the company.
He said it had been a pleasure to get to know them and help them in their purchases.
Many customers who have moved back to Shrewsbury after time away are always amazed that he is still there – and introduce their children by saying: "This man was here when I was your age! And he hasn’t changed!"
Bryan said: "Well I have got less hair now and a few more wrinkles!"
During the years he has also been involved in volleyball locally, countywide and nationally having coached at Sundorne and the High School, played for Sundorne, Telford and Shropshire, and he currently referees in the National Volleyball League.
His competitive playing days are unfortunately over due to having both hips replaced but it hasn’t stopped him being an active member at the Shrewsbury Club.
Bryan has thanked the owners Colin and Caroline Thornton for their years of support and patience – and especially their daughter Pascale who now runs the business and has helped to modernise and make the company what it is today.
He said he does not have any immediate plans but is looking forward to the next chapter in his life with 2025 already starting to look busy, especially with a couple of weddings and a concert in the pipeline.