Telford's longest serving funeral director retires
The longest serving funeral director in Shropshire is hanging up his hat after serving the county for nearly 60 years.
John Tranter of L Tranter & Son in St Georges joined his father and grandfather at the West Street premises in 1960, where he continued to work full time until January of this year.
On leaving school John started an apprenticeship as a Draughtsman at The Lilleshall Company but was unable to complete his training due to contracting tuberculosis. After two years in hospital, he was unable to return to his apprenticeship, so took the decision to join the family business, which was started in 1898.
Symon Tranter, fifth generation of the Tranter family to run the company, said: “My father has dedicated his whole working life to the families we have served, often working seven days a week and being on call 24 hours a day.
"These days we operate an out of hours rota system covered by our dedicated team, but for many years before this dad covered 24 hours a day on his own.
"I feel privileged to have worked alongside my father for nearly 30 years and have learned almost everything I know from him.
"On behalf of all of our team I would like to wish him a long and enjoyable retirement.”
John said that there had been many changes over the last 56 years, including the expansion of the business which employees 20 people in St Georges, Donnington and Newport.
