A man who steered the Walter Burgess Ford dealership to success - went to work on his 90th birthday.

Richard Etherington has clocked up an incredible 70 years working at the Keighley dealership.

On three days a week Mr Etherington - Dick to his friends - of Oakworth Road, Keighley, calls in as a consultant at the showrooms in Hanover Street, in the centre of town.

Mr Etherington celebrated his milestone of a birthday last Saturday at the home of his daughter, Netia.

He says: "All my relatives from Durham, Cumberland and Northumberland came over. It was nice of them to come. We hadn't seen them for ages. It was nice to get back in touch with them all. I had a very, very nice day."

Mr Etherington came to Keighley from his home in Preston in 1930 after being refused entry into the police force, his chosen profession.

He says: "I wanted to be a policemen. However, when I went to get measured I was half an inch too short. That really upset me."

After getting a job with Ford in Preston he was transferred at the age of 21 to take over Burgess's.

He says that his former boss, Mr Bradshaw, told him he would not make a success of it. Mr Etherington says this is what spurred him on. He adds: "That really got my back up."

It was not until 1968 that the present Burgess showroom was built. When Mr Etherington arrived in Keighley it was a very different story.

He says: "It was a broken down firm. A wooden shed.

"I was just promised "Get it going and we will pay you."

Mr Etherington, admits he was a stubborn and ambitious worker, and often worked 12 hours a day, frequently thinking up new adaptions to Fords to suit the needs of the buyer.

His maverick approach to sales proved to be a great success and bosses at Ford HQ started to pay attention.

He says: "If I came up with any ideas at all they would listen. Thay have been my best friends."

Mr Etherington's devotion to the business and tireless hard work paid off, as in 1972 Burgess' was the biggest dealer in Great Britain.

In 1936 Mr Etherington joined the Keighley special constabulary and served with them for 38 years.

His commitment to the force promoted him to the position of Deputy Divisional Commandant.

He was a long-time Rotarian and Mason, with stints as secretary and president of the Rotary club.

Mr Etherington's wife, Edna, died in 1981 and, like her husband, heavily involved herself in the community. Mrs Etherington was twice president of the Keighley Inner Wheel.

Mr Etherington says: "We enjoyed working for the community, we really did."

Of his weekly work he says: "I tell them anything they want to know. I'm here more as a consultant now than anything."

He admits, however, that he is slowing down. Of his involvement in Burgess he says: "I'm interested but I'm not going to kill myself."

He adds, with a glint in his eye: "It's been my baby."

Mr Etherington says the car industry has changed out of all recognition from when he started at Burgess' with a staff of only 12.

Today the garage employs over 50 people.

He says: "I couldn't tell you the price of a car because tomorrow they will have taken £1,000 off."

Mr Etherington was joined at the Haworth British Legion Club on Wednesday night by around 50 friends.

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