Information on Loughborough

Longest serving market manager retires after 30 years

Posted on 29/01/2010
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The man who has organised Loughborough’s markets and popular annual street fair for the past 30 years is retiring.

Mick Jackson (58), who is the town’s longest ever serving markets and fairs manager, will this week say goodbye to colleagues at Charnwood Borough Council. His last working day will be on Saturday.

He has been instrumental in ensuring that the Loughborough fair – which has been enjoyed by thousands – has taken place and run smoothly over the years.

As well as supporting, organising and overseeing the town’s popular retail markets, he also helped establish the Farmers’, bric-a-brac and Christmas craft themed markets.

He is the fifth person to manage the market in the past 130 years, a remarkable statistic in itself and an achievement unlikely to be matched. Prior to Mick, Samuel Heath worked as market superintendent from 1927 until 1956.

Mick said: “I will miss the different characters you meet in the market the most.

“I have also got to know and respect the showmen and their families over the years and watched many of the children grow up and take over the reins of operating the fairground equipment.”

Mick’s career started off in his home town of Burnley, where he worked as an administrative assistant for its market.

He then helped look after Bury Metropolitan Market, before coming to Loughborough.

He says that over the years he has seen the area in town covered by the market expand and witnessed changes in the types of goods provided by stallholders.

He said: “Years ago there was a real emphasis on the bread and butter things such as fruit and veg, women’s clothing, knitwear etc.

“These things are still there, but now there are more stalls selling things like crafts, household goods, different types of food and jewellery.

“Another thing I have noticed is that the weather has become more inclement over the years.

“There have been occasions when I have been called at 1.30am on market days due to severe weather conditions, particularly strong winds, and had to make decisions about how and if the market could be run in accordance with a severe weather policy.”

He said that some of the greatest challenges he faced included having to reorganise the market during the major sewer works in the early 1980s and reorganising the fair and market during the major pedestrianisation programme in the town centre, which involved a great deal of planning.

Peter Lewis, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure at Charnwood Borough Council, said: “We all of us recognise the importance of the market in our town. It can give us that sense of pride at this special place at the very centre of town - a real meeting place for everyone who enjoys the noise and hustle that is Loughborough market place.

“Twice a week the town bustles and hums – it’s our busiest shopping day.

“Mick Jackson has been the man of action to cope with every crisis, storm, flood and tempest, day and often well into the night.

“People like Mick become part of our collective memory of ‘good people’ and we thank him most sincerely for doing more than ‘just a job’. Mick has been a Man for All Seasons. He will be truly missed.”

Roger Bradley, a member of the Loughborough Branch of the Market Traders Federation who has run a stall for the past 40 years, said: “I have known Mick for a long time.

“He has been very nice to work with and has been very good at doing what is a difficult job.

“I wish him the best of luck for the future.”

Keen golfer Mick has been a member of Lingdale Golf Club in Woodhouse Eaves for the past 30 years and plays table tennis in the Loughborough League.

He now plans to move to the Lake District to enjoy the countryside and focus on his walking and golf pursuits.

He also intends to take up painting and photography.

Mick is being succeeded by Michael Bird who helped to win the prestigious ‘Market of the Year’ award for Nuneaton Market last year, so rest assured the job is going to another manager with a commitment and passion for delivering an excellent market in Loughborough.