Ray hanging up his tape after 40 years

Aug 9 2008 by Jon Tunney, The Journal

A MENSWEAR shop owner is hanging up his measuring tape after more than 40 years in the business.

Ray Johnson is selling his Ray’s Menswear store in Alnwick, Northumberland, after starting work on the site in 1964.

Ray, 59, of West View, North Sunderland, bought the shop in 1983, giving him a total of 44 years at the Bondgate Without site.

But since learning of his decision to close, the dismayed people of Alnwick have trooped into the store and urged Ray to reconsider.

He said: “I am finally going. Most of the town can not believe it.

“The people of Alnwick have been absolutely terrific.

“They have supported me and I will always be eternally grateful for that.

“It was always the plan to do 25 years and then stop. I suddenly found I have done the 25 years and, unfortunately, I have to stop doing this.”

Berwick-born Ray grew up in Wooperton and developed his love of clothing while at school in Wooler.

He said: “At one stage I was the only pupil at Glendale Middle School who had a pair of burgundy winklepickers.”

On leaving school at 15, he took a job as a junior salesman at Hepworth in Alnwick.

Several postings followed at the chain’s other stores, including Newcastle, before Ray was asked if he wanted to become manager at Alnwick. By 1982, Hepworth was suffering from increased competition but the Alnwick branch was one of the few to avoid the axe, so successful was it under Ray.

Along with some of the other long- serving store managers, Ray was offered the chance to take on the store’s lease.

He agreed and decided the only way to succeed was to go for high-brow clothing lines, stocking brand names such as Calvin Klein, Hugo Boss and Marco Polo.

Not only popular with the ordinary shopper, Ray’s Menswear has also attracted a number of celebrities.

It has welcomed the likes of Gregor Fisher, star of Rab C Nesbitt, and The Weakest Link’s Anne Robinson.

Ray, who lives with partner Ken Lawrie, one of two colleagues at the shop, is yet to decide what to do in his retirement.

But he is certain that he wants the shop to remain a menswear outlet.

He said: “It is hard to imagine this shop not selling clothes, it has sold men’s clothes since before the last war.

“It would be strange to see it selling something else.”