A COMMUNITY Rubery stalwart who has worked at the same hardware store in the village for more than 53 years is retiring at the start of next month.
As well as running Kennedys Mica Hardware for over five decades, John Horwood has also been a pillar of the local community, playing a part on the Neighbourhood Watch scheme and the PACT (Partners and Community Together) committee.
Mr Horwood was born in the Black Country and attended Bournville Technical School for Boys in south Birmingham.
He had a number of jobs when he left school, including working at Huins Shoes in Northfield, before moving to Marley Tiles in Walsall. He then ended up back in Northfield with Marley Tiles.
When he started work at Kennedys as a manager for Arthur Kennedy in 1972, there were a lot of changes happening nationally, including the introduction of VAT and decimalisation.
He took over from Mr Kennedy in 1989 and has run the shop ever since.
John told the Standard: “To be honest, I never dreamed I would be here this long – it has always been a very traditional hardware shop and has not changed much over the years.
“I saw Arthur a few weeks ago and he’s still going strong at the age of 102.”
John lived in Quinton when he started at Kennedys and used to cycle to work over the very steep Frankley Beeches to get to the shop.
“Back then, most of Frankley was just fields – it’s changed a lot since then.”
John, who turns 81 in the coming weeks, said the thing he would miss most in his retirement was the shop’s loyal customers.
“I have met so many people over the years and many of them have become firm friends.
“It’s nice to see different faces everyday and some people I used to serve have now grown up and had children and I am serving them.
“I have also seen a lot of people move away from Rubery and then move back.
“When you compare it to Bromsgrove and Northfield, Rubery has an incredible community spirit.”
John’s last day at Kennedys will be Saturday, November 1, and he wants to catch up with as many people as he can before he departs.
“I haven’t really made any big plans for my retirement – I guess I’ll just see what happens.
“I’m sure certain things will crop up and I’ll do what I have always done – try new things and if I can help people along the way, I will.”
Kennedys Mica Hardware will remain open under its new owners.
