ROBERT ‘Bobby’ Pike was born in Victoria Hospital Old Town at Swindon in Wiltshire on 13 August 1954. This month he turns 70 and has finally decided to hang up his kneepads after 48 years serving the industry.

His colleagues have calculated he’s probably laid about 1.2 million sq m of flooring in his career.
He was educated at grammar school and left at 15 to work in Wises Cake Factory until he wanted a change in career. He worked for Marley Flooring between 1976-1979; Variety Flooring between 1980 -1990; New County/Phoenix between 1990-1993; Selectline Swindon between 1993-2014; Hallmark Flooring Devizes between 2015-2018; and finally Market Place Flooring Devizes from 2015.

Neil Fautley, Bobby’s boss, says: ‘He’s one of a kind, very old school and wants to do things the right way, from dealing with the customer in the shop, to the measuring up at the location and putting the product on the floor.’

Nothing is any trouble to him, says Neil. ‘He wants to please everyone all the time. His knowledge is so vast he can still remember codes and products from when he started. He’s looking to move away to enjoy his retirement so I just hope they sell Guinness wherever he lays his beanie hat. Speaking of which, it only comes off in May when the weather gets better. Top bloke, top colleague, top worker. We’re going to miss him.’
www.marketplaceflooring.co.uk