It’s a career that has suited Ron Kinslow for more than 50 years, but possibly Kent’s longest-serving tailor has now rolled up the tape measure for good.

The 68-year-old outfitter who has been a familiar face in Maidstone stores since 1969 has now retired from the trade.

Ron, from Foxden Drive, retired on Thursday and first came across the profession by chance at the age of 15.

"I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t have any idea what I was going to do when I left school,” he admitted.

“I was in a bit of a quandary as I didn’t pass any exams and only the posh kids went to university.

“I happened to be walking along Week Street. There was an advertisement for a junior salesman in the window of Burton. I went in, had the interview about a week later and started the job in 1969.

“I did also go for a job in Aylesford, working at the paper mill, but I didn’t get it as I couldn’t work with big machinery.

“My vision sort of decided what job I could do, because I’m visually impaired.”

Ron has an eye disorder called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), caused when he was born three months premature.

Weighing no more than a bag of sugar, he was given too much oxygen treatment as a baby, which killed the nerve in the back of his eye.

This made Ron blind in the left eye, but saved his life.

“But it hasn’t stopped me in doing what I want to do, and was a small price to pay.” he adds.

Ron started his career at Burton men’s clothing and suit shop.

His role was to serve and help customers with their ‘suiting requirements’, providing measuring and fitting expertise.

From there he has worked at multiple menswear stores throughout the decades, including John Collier and Hepworths in Week Street, Simmonds in Gabriel’s Hill and his last job, Skopes within House of Fraser in Fremlin Walk.

Over the years, Ron has witnessed many changes in fashion trends and shopping habits.

“I think online has made a massive difference to the retail industry, and Covid has not helped.

“A lot of people probably think: ‘Why should I go into a shop when I don’t get the proper service? I might as well buy online’.

“People’s habits have changed, and I think online is unfortunately the way it’s going.

“There are certain people that will always like to dress smart, and there are others that are not too bothered.

“But I believe there’s always going to be a niche there, even though that niche is getting smaller and smaller.”

He added: “I’m old-school when I when I serve people, and it doesn’t matter what age group.

“When you serve older customers, they tend to like a bit of what I call ‘old fashioned banter’ - you can have a joke with them.

“In the past I’ve had about six or seven letters where customers have actually written to the management and said how pleased they were.

“Sometimes they would also put a £25 bonus in your wages!”

“You don’t see people walking down Maidstone High Street suited and booted, back in the 70s it was a lot different.” Ron reflects.

“When I first started work, I would wait in the doorway for Burton to open.

“Imagine this...watching people go by, and nine times out of 10 they were fully suited and booted.

“Whereas now when you stand in Week Street and see someone in a suit, they really stand out.

“I think myself lucky that I’ve gone through a period of time, where I’ve seen in my view, the best of retail.”

Ron also remembers the times he has served some familiar names, including comedian and actor Vic Reeves.

“I’ve spoken to him. I didn’t sell him anything, but we had a chat.”

He added: “I did serve Bruce Forsyth’s daughter, I believe at the time she was in the musical production of Guys and Dolls.

“I had a chat with her in Hepworths...a long time ago!”

“A lot of time the most interesting people are the older individuals, because they’ve got a story to tell.

“The other day I had a chap come in, he doesn’t buy anything, he just comes in and talks to me.

“He is always so smartly dressed, and tells me he is 99 years old, and will turn 100 in June.”

From £4, 19 shillings and 11 pence per week handed to him in a little brown envelope to £160 a week part-time, Ron adds: “Money isn’t everything, and there’s nothing worse than being paid a massive wage, but hating every minute.

“You’ve got to be happy in what you do, and I’ve always been quite happy in what I do.”