No one expects to be tied up, threatened with a knife, or held at gunpoint doing a job they love.

But that’s exactly what happened at points during Kevin Foreman’s career as branch manager of Martin Newsagents, now Morrisons Daily, in Larkfield.

On Sunday, the 65-year-old is giving up his 4am starts after 44 years at the branch, and 51 years with the company, having started as a paperboy aged 14.

“I’ve given my whole life to the retail trade, and I’ve loved every minute of it except from the lows,” he said.

Although his shift doesn’t start until 6am, throughout his career he has begun his day early to greet those doing the paper round because he says, “there’s nothing worse than getting the papers late”.

Once the papers are on their way, Kevin, who lives above the shop, stays on working because he loves the early mornings.

He said: “I go down, let the papers in and while I’m there I get ahead. I can get more done in my own time and it makes my job easier.

“Some people think I’m nuts, but if you enjoy what you do, there’s no harm in doing overtime.”

Despite his love of the job, Kevin nearly gave up after experiencing three traumatic robberies.

Recalling the incidents, he said: “The worst times in the shop were when I had a gun in my back when they were trying to rob the safe.

“During another time, two people came into the shop early in the morning and were waving a knife at my face, obviously high on drugs - I was more worried because I had a load of staff with me as well.

“But the worst thing that happened, took place at half-past-five in the morning when I was by myself.

“I was actually tied to a railing on the shelving out the back, it was horrible because there was nothing I could do.

“You’re just there and you think – how long am I going to be here? It was really horrible because you just felt helpless.”

Although the attacks were deeply upsetting for Kevin, it did not deter him from coming back to work the very next day.

“I nearly gave up then because I lost a lot of weight and I really got ill then – but you can’t let them win,” he added.

And while it took him a while to move forward, it was his love for the job which saw him push through.

Now, more than a decade on from the robberies, he hasn’t forgotten those three events but what stands out to him more is the “good times”.

Back in the early days of his career, the dad-of-two remembers the fun of doing relief work at a branch of Martins Newsagents in Devon.

He said: “Because I was young it was nice to travel around stay in hotels and see other branches. I loved that, it was one of the best jobs going.”

While on other occasions he reflects on treating his staff to a night out in London to see Grease the musical, travelling in a limo.

And despite working at different branches, in 1980 he became the manager of the shop in Larkfield, where he has been ever since.

Throughout the years, the shop has changed from a Martin Newsagents to Martin McColls, and more recently, into a Morrisons Daily which he says has been a “big step”.

Talking of this change he said: “Martin Newsagents was lovely - it was a family. It’s still nice with Morrisons but it’s more business.”

Now he has made the decision to retire after 51 years to look after his health saying “it’s time to move on”.

The shop manager, who has 13 members of staff, said: “It’s very sad but it’s the right time to go.

“The staff have been absolutely brilliant and really helpful - it’s a great team.

“Now I need to spend time with my family and the grandkids and watch them play football.”

The 65-year-old, whose last day is on Sunday, plans to take a month off before looking for a part-time job until he reaches official retirement age.

“I actually loved every minute of being a manager - it’s been hard but it’s nice to go to work and enjoy it but now it’s time to go,” he added.