Time is running out for me, so it’s time to retire
Much-loved jeweller with a terminal illness puts shop on market after almost four decades
A JEWELLER with a ‘heart of gold’ is calling it a day after almost four decades in business.
Ken Riley, 72, who owns the Watchmakers and Jewellers, in High Street Cheadle, has placed the shop on the market after being diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Ken, whose customers have included darts legend Eric Bristow and MP Bill Cash, said: “I have been doing this for 39 years. I was driving buses before.
“But I have been repairing watches since I was aged 15. I started from scratch. I was at No.5 Market Square before I came here in 1998.”
Ken is married to Glenys and they have a daughter, but she is not interested in taking on the business.
Ken said: “Glenys has retired. I started the business and after about six years I was so busy I had to ask Glenys to pack in her job at Creda and come full-time in the shop.
“We built up a strong reputation. We used to repair for 12 other shops up and down the country.”
His passion for repairing watches started when he was a child as his brother was ‘good at taking things apart and never putting them back again.’
Ken said: “My grandfather used to tinker with clocks. He died when I was four. From there it progressed. I am just self-taught.” Ken, of Blythe Bridge, is hoping to sell his business as a going concern for £175,000, which includes the business and the property. The stock would be extra on valuation. He has had several interested parties from London.
“It is a busy shop,” he said. “The accountant said it is the most profitable business on his books.”
Ken said: “I have got a terminal illness, lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis. The hospital doctors think it could be through numerous things I have done in the past.
“When I left school I was a mechanic. Since doing watch and clock repairs I have been working with chemicals. I smoked when I first started at the garage for about five years.
“But I have not smoked for 50 years, since my early 20s.
“My life expectancy is open-ended. I had the news about three years ago.
“A man who worked for us for 25 years was going to buy the business off us, but he changed his mind.
“I was semi-retired and have come to run it until it sells. If it doesn’t sell within a month or two I shall probably close it down. I am hoping it sells.
“Most of the customers are saying, ‘You can’t retire.’ I am very respected. I am very versatile. It is not just watch repairing, I also do jewellery repairing and engraving.”
Ken plans to spend more time in his static caravan in Llandudno. He said he has enjoyed working in Cheadle. “Shops close, but new ones have popped up just lately,” he said.
“There are a few more variety shops, rather than the normal charity shops and hairdressers.
“It is a nice little town. It gets very busy in the week. We get a lot of tourists visiting Alton Towers. I had two from London yesterday who came in to have their jewellery repaired. I do them while they wait.
“I would like the shop to remain a jewellers if possible.”
Fellow traders will be sad when Ken closes his shop for the last time. Paul Plant, aged 53, of Cheadle PC Repairs, next door to Ken’s shop, said: “I will be very sad to see him go. He is a good neighbour. He has helped bring customers to my shop. I would like it to remain a jewellers and watchmaking business.”
Jenny Clayton, of Jenny’s Takeout in Cross Street, added: “Ken is a lovely bloke. He puts himself out for you. He is the salt of the earth and will do anything for you. He has a heart of gold.”
It is a busy shop. The accountant said it is the most profitable business on his books
Jeweller Ken Riley