Obituary: B&Q's oldest employee Syd Prior

Syd was a much loved member of the B&Q team, having been with the retailer for 20 years, starting as a sprightly 76 year old.

Born in Horsham, West Sussex on November 1914, Syd attended boarding school until he was 13 and entered a career at the Liverpool Navy School. Unfortunately his stint there was cut short as he lasted just two days at the school due to a problem with his inner ear which put an end to his dreams of a career at sea.

However, when the Second World War broke out he joined the Royal Corps of Signalmen. Upon his return after the war had ended he became a salesman for a machinery company until his first retirement in 1979. 

It was only post-retirement that Syd had his first taste of retail when he started helping out his nephew who had a grocery business in Covent Garden.

The stint at the grocers ended when his nephew emigrated. But Syd quickly found a new opportunity in retail after bumping into an old friend at his local Victory Service social club. His friend happened to be the manager of the Wimbledon branch of B&Q. 

The next day Syd was working in the garden section thinking it would be nice hobby for a year or two. But 20 years later he found that he was still with the DIY specialist and loving it more than ever.

He became a meeter and greeter at B&Q’s New Malden branch working on Wednesdays from 10am to 4pm and was honoured to open the new store back in 2009. Syd was forced to hang up his famous orange apron last year due to poor health.  

Syd was a well-loved character who said that plenty of lunches out and nights at the theatre kept him young.

He said of his role: “Working with people of all ages gives youngsters the chance to learn a little from an old timer like myself, and they help to keep me young at heart!”

B&Q New Malden store manager Arno Cohen said: “He was a much loved colourful character who was popular with the whole team and customers. Syd was a dedicated worker who was part of the B&Q team for over two decades. He will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.”