Retiree 'full of emotion' after 45 years in shop

A man says he will be "full of emotion" when he retires after 45 years working at the same clothing shop.

Keith Warren has worked in a number of different roles at R Scott & Co, in Castle Street, Cirencester, for more than a third of the retailer's 120-year history.

The 74-year-old said he had had many "happy years" at the store, which he will say a final goodbye to later.

Shop director Charlotte Balmer said Mr Warren's retirement was well-deserved but he would be "sorely missed".

"The business has supported me over the years and I have tried my best to fulfil my roles," he said.

"It has been a total of 59 years in the textile trade, both wholesale and retail, all of them happy years."

Mr Warren applied for the role of general sales and window dresser at the shop in 1980.

After a successful interview with Leslie Wylde, who owned the store at the time, he was hired - and never looked back.

However, Mr Warren said his appointment as the store's general manager in 2011 was one of the most difficult periods of his career.

"In June of 2011, the then-store owner Jim Balmer and his wife Jacquie de Creed were tragically killed in a light aircraft accident in France," he said.

"When I was offered the position of manager, I was completely taken aback.

"This was the hardest part of my journey at R Scott & Co, as I was then responsible for the day-to-day running of the shop without the guidance of Jim."

Mr Warren successfully managed the store until 2020, at which point he stepped back into the role of sales assistant.

Ms Balmer has know Mr Warren for most of her life and said his contribution to the shop had been "tremendous".

"His knowledge, experience and instinct will be sorely missed," she added.

"He has done so much for me personally, with patience and support since I first became involved in the company."

Mr Warren still expects to be kept busy during his retirement.

"I remarried three years ago," he said. "I will be supporting my wife bringing up her four grandchildren.

"Rather than finding me in an armchair, I shall be at the local park with the loudest children."

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