RHODES Hardware in Haworth closed its doors for the last time on Saturday after 61 years of dedicated service to our community by two generations of the family, helped by many assistants over the years.

“More than just a hardware store” hardly does this village institution justice.

I took the photo of Julie, daughter of the founders, on the last day of trading.

I first visited the store when I moved to the area in 1985 with my daughter in a baby carrier on my back – she is 40 now and I have been visiting regularly ever since. I found everything I ever needed to run and maintain my house, car, camper, garden, birds, chickens and church woodwork (and buy my Christmas presents!).

Over the years Rhodes became at times more like a community centre, where you could always stop for a chat and bump into people to catch up on news.

On behalf of the Worth Valley community, many thanks to Julie and her parents.

We will all miss you – best wishes for your retirement!

Mike Hopkinson, Oxenhope