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Ilkley hardware store founder Ralph Morten dies

Published: 28 October 2013
Ralph Morten, founder of the Ilkley, West Yorkshire hardware independent RW Morten, has passed away at the age of 101.
Mr Morten established the business in 1937, since when it has come to be known as 'Yorkshire's famous hardware store', selling DIY, hardware, ironmongery, garden tools and housewares both from the shop and online, and employing 26 staff. Mr Morten retired in 1977 and sold the shop on.

Current owner Stephen Senior told diyweek.net: "He was an exceptionally clever man. He was brilliant at engineering, he could make anything from scratch. His great passion in life was making clocks, he'd make all the screws and bolts for them, everything.

"He started out as a self-trained plumber, but at 27 he decided he wanted a shop and found one in Ilkley. He got married to his wife Barbara on October 16 1937 in the morning, and in the afternoon they had the first day of trading in the shop.

"During the war he went off to serve king and country and was in the D-Day landings, and Mrs Morten and her sister looked after the shop. When he came back it went from strength to strength."

Mr Senior's late father, Brian Senior, and Keith Hart - both of whom had worked in the shop since they were 14 - bought the business from Mr Morten when he retired. Stephen Senior also joined in due course and has now worked at RW Morten for some 30 years. Mr Hart retired around 20 years ago, and Brian Senior passed away in 2002.

Comments

Published prior to March 2014
By David Woods-Taylor
We make a point of popping in here on our way to the Lake District. Even if we don't need anything the huge range of things usually means we will buy something useful that is difficult to get elsewhere. It was really interesting to read about the remarkable Morten family and their successors,the Senior's. We have always had friendly, polite informed service everytime. Thank you very much to all current and former Morteneers. Keep up the excellent work. It is very much appreciated by us, and I'm sure by many others.
Published prior to March 2014
By Barbara Jordan
On behalf of Steve Senior and Dave Jowett I'd like to thank you for your comments. We do our best - or at least try to - for everyone who comes in to the shop or visits our website. Thanks again.
(I work on our website and in the shop)
Published prior to March 2014
By Steve Lee
Proactive, reactive, interactive - Ralph Morten would probably cringe at todays buzzwords, even though they all apply to this fantastic shop (yep, it's a shop, not just a business). His high values on service live on.
Published prior to March 2014
By Martin Hale
With the advent of the "DIY shed" would anyone today have the guts to open a store like Morten's? I used to call here as a rep some 30 years ago; special then and even more special in it's way today. RIP Mr. Ralph Morten.

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