A much-loved Mold Market trader who has spent almost 60 years in the trade has finally retired at the age of 77.
Mike Bradbury, a familiar face to generations of shoppers, called time on his stall at Mold Market on Saturday, August 29.
Mike has been a market trader since 1967 and estimates he has spent around 30 to 40 years trading in Mold, selling cups, mugs, bone china and other ceramics through his family business, Bradbury’s.
His connection to the trade stretches back even further, with generations of the Bradbury family involved in the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent.
Mike, who was born and raised near Trentham Gardens in Stoke, initially worked for his father, who was a pottery wholesaler, while his grandfather was a manufacturer.
He said: “My grandfather, he was one of two brothers, and they decorated ware. In 1917, they registered the business as ‘Bradbury Brothers’,
“So it’s been going for a long time. Then my father took over.”
Mike began trading himself in 1967, initially working at markets around the Stoke area before the family expanded into North Wales.
His father bought a stall in Wrexham’s old vegetable market, where Mike remembers trading both indoors and outdoors.
He said: “That was fantastic, that was.”
For a time, Mike would make the journey between Stoke and Wrexham almost every day before eventually deciding to settle in North Wales.
Mike has now lived in Gresford for decades and said the move was an easy one to make.
He said: “I absolutely love it here. I thought, let’s go over there. It was costing me a fortune in fuel.”
Over the years, Mold became a particularly important part of his working life. He believes he became one of the market’s longest-serving traders.
But more than the stall itself, it was the relationships Mike built with generations that kept him returning.
He said: “The people of Mold are fantastic people. They really have done me proud over the years.
“They’ve been so good. They’ve bought off me for years.”
Some customers had known Mike for much of their lives, including one woman who recognised him from visiting Holywell Market as a child with her mother.
Mike said: “I’ve certainly enjoyed it. I’ve got nothing to regret about it, but my body tells me it’s time to retire now.”
Despite continuing to work well beyond the age many people retire, Mike said he would have stayed even longer had his health allowed.
He said: “If my bones were better and the balance was better, I’d have carried on.
“But I was at the stage where Sundays after the Saturday, I’m good for nothing.”
His personality and banter also became part of the experience for regular customers, something Mold Market highlighted when announcing his retirement.
Mike said: “I loved it, and they loved it back.”
That affection was particularly apparent during his final days on the market. Customers turned up to say goodbye, bringing cards and retirement gifts including a bottle of whisky and four cans of Guinness.
He said: “I was very touched with the people who came to see me. It was lovely.”
Mike’s wife Marlene also has a long history of working in Mold, having run Granny B’s café in the People’s Market for around 18 years before retiring herself around 14 years ago.
Now Mike is getting used to joining her in retirement. For now, he plans to relax, spend time with Marlene and friends and see what retirement brings.
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He said: “I’ve always got an active mind, so you never know what I’ll get up to.”
Reflecting on what he will leave behind, there was little hesitation about what mattered most.
Mike said: “Customers and traders. Definitely, without a doubt.”
And after decades serving shoppers across North Wales, he had a final message for those who supported Bradbury’s over the years.
He said: “The customers have been absolutely fantastic, thank you for everything. I’ll miss you all.”
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