DON Raper has been on the board of directors of a Northallerton family business for longer than most people work.
Mr Raper, 81, this week celebrated 68 years at Barker's department store in Northallerton and 55 years on its board. He started aged 13 as a Saturday delivery boy and became full-time in 1934.
"I was taught the trade by Les Barker," he said. "He would take me around the factories buying footwear and taught me that in retail there is always a place for quality."
He said he had stayed so long because he enjoyed his job and joked that he needed cash to support his hobby.
"I have four racehorses in training," he said. "They don't keep me so I have to work to keep them."
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