Coal merchant calls it a day

9:32am Wednesday 24th September 2008

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THE owner of a Kidderminster coal yard is shutting up shop after nearly 40 years of running the family business.

Terry Chandler is retiring from C H Andrews Coal Merchants, as the heavy lifting of coal is getting too much for him.

The 62-year-old, who runs the business with his wife, Janice, delivers fuel to homes in Wyre Forest and often travels to Redditch and Droitwich.

Based in Sandy Lane, the coal merchants company, started in the town 51 years ago by Mr Chandler’s father-in-law, Charles Henry Andrew, is due to close next Tuesday. Its customer base will be transferred to Charlton Whitehouse Fuels in Rowley Regis.

Mr Chandler said: “It’s been a family business ever since it started in 1957. I don’t want to close. I wish I didn’t have to but time moves on and age catches up with you. It’s heavy lifting, all day every day.”

He added: “I have a good relationship with my customers and they all know me by my first name. It’s been nice working here and I have enjoyed my 40 years here.

“I shall miss it. I’m going to miss meeting the customers, going to my yard every day and speaking to people. It will be a sad day when it closes.

“Charlton Whitehouse have assured me they are going to deliver the same service to my customers that I have done over the years.

“They’re going to take my phone number so my customers can still call the same number and get their coal delivered.”

The father of two added that he could not pass the business down as his children did not want to take over.

“On the day we shut we will shed a tear but it’s like everything else, you get over it and you have got to move on,” Mr Chandler added.

“It would have had to have closed some day. I can’t carry on doing it by myself.”

Does the closure of the coal merchants mean the end of an era? What do you miss about years gone by? Leave your comment below.