Millom shopkeeper, 100, says he may retire in a year or two
A 100-year-old shopkeeper who has been in business for more than seven decades says he may consider retiring "in a year or two".Arthur Ferguson and his wife Cicely turned a former bakery in Millom, Cumbria, into a haberdashery in the 1950s, and since then it has become a steadfast part of the community.His staff described him as a "marvellous" man who "likes life and likes to see people"."Over the years I've got to know lots of people in Millom and they're all friendly," said Mr Ferguson, adding: "It's a very good place to live."
The shop has expanded over the years and has adapted to the changing times."A lot of the people, 20 years ago, would come in here and buy material to make their own dresses and that sort of stuff," Mr Ferguson said. "Of course, then we sold a load of material for sewing dresses and zips."These days, the shop focuses on selling men's and women's clothing, as well as school clothes.
'I've enjoyed my life'
Mr Ferguson is a World War Two veteran who took part in the Burma Campaign, in which Allied forces defeated the Japanese.He still wakes up six days a week at 07:00 but lays in "a little bit" on Sundays.Despite being well past retirement age, Mr Ferguson still plays an active part in the business and regularly travels to Manchester to buy new stock."I've enjoyed my life, it's been very good," he said."And I've got a good family, I have got some wonderful people, we're all friends together."
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