Estate agent retires from family firm

Mr John Ritchings (59) started work at Padiham Estate Agency, in Burnley Road, in 1972 before taking over the business from his father who retired in 1981.

He had previously worked at the family’s Nelson branch where he completed all his training.

“It was in March, 1972, that the person who was running Padiham at that time left,” said Mr Ritchings.

“I remember walking into the office in Nelson town centre and being told I was going to Padiham.”

Mr Ritchings stayed in Padiham for the rest of his career and said his family sold property for generations of Padiham people.

“I enjoyed my job very much. There were some peaks and troughs during that period. We had to diversify and go with the flow. We went into the lettings side round about 1990 which was the time when sales were pretty slow after the mid-80s boom.”

A keen cricketer, Mr Ritchings recently signed for Burnley Belvedere in the Ribblesdale League after playing for Rolls Royce in Barnoldswick for many years.

With his new-found free time he also plans to spend more time in his garden, see more of his son, who lives in Yorkshire, and learn a language.

He lives with his wife Pamela in Nelson.

“I’m very keen on my garden, this weather’s helping me get to grips with it and do all the things I haven’t been able to do at weekends,” he said.

The lettings side of Padiham Estate Agency, which also served as a local agent for the Halifax until 2001, has been taken over by Petty’s and Mr Ritchings will remain as a consultant for the time being.