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Bob’s a good ‘un as Louth market stall erector calls it a day after 37 years
Bartley Harrison, Katy Stephenson, Alan Harvey, Esther Bolton, Robin Fenton, Bob Ritchie, Alan Grant and John Fearns present Bob Parrinder with cards for his retirement after 37 years at Louth Market.
A MARKET stall erector from Louth has admitted he’s ‘ready for a lie in’ after 37 years of waking up at the crack of dawn.
Bob Parrinder called it a day after nearly four decades of putting up and taking down stalls in Louth and Mablethorpe for East Lindsey District Council.
Bob had become a well-loved colleague and friend by the market traders in Louth, and the sentiment was shared that he would be missed by all.
Remarkably, he had only agreed to step in when another worker was ill all those years ago, but somehow he never quite made it out again.
Bob said: “I’ll miss the markets and the traders very much, though I am looking forward to the odd lie in after 37 years of 5am starts, especially when it’s raining.
“I’ve always enjoyed the job, working with good people and having a laugh, but it’s the right time to pack in now.
“I’ve got plenty to do around the house, but I’ll take it easy too and try to enjoy it.”
Bob’s final shift was on Thursday night in Mablethorpe, but traders and staff at Wednesday’s Louth market clubbed together to get Bob a giant card and give him a fitting send off.
His supervisor Bob Ritchie added: “We will all miss Bob, he’s a larger than life character, always jolly even in the mornings when it’s rainy.
“We will certainly find him hard to replace.”
Trader Alan Harvey echoed Mr Ritchie’s thoughts. “Bob’s a bit of a character,” he said. “He’s a good bloke and you can rely on him, things won’t be the same without him around.”
And Alan Grant who runs the card stall on Louth’s market, added: “We’re going to miss Bob, but we’re all looking forward to him coming back.
“He’ll be buying the teas on Friday!”
Esther Belton, the new support operations manager for markets in East Lindsey, also thanked Bob for his hard work and dedication to the role over the years and handed him a card signed by the staff at the district council.
Watch a video of traders and staff saying their goodbyes to Bob by clicking here.
Have you got a story we can cover? Please email sam.kinnaird@jpress.co.uk or call 01507 353219.
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Weather for Louth
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 32 mph
Wind direction: North west
