Gordon Brown

Quite a character, I think is a polite way of putting it.

He had a real passion for the business.

Quite clearly a superb retail brain, which he developed over the years.

50 years that he was in charge of the business.

A master of the shop floor, really understood the shop floor, how products should be displayed, how it should be priced.

But he was a bit short-tempered at times.

And managers and staff found that out.

Any particular moments spring to mind?

Very much so.

When I started, I spent a few days going around the stores in the Midlands with JK.

And I remember him picking up one particular thing.

It was a teapot with a lid, a separate lid.

And I looked at it and he said, we shouldn't be selling this.

And I said, why not?

There's no hole in the lid.

He said, if you put hot water on that and try and pour it, it'll splutter all over the place.

It was taken out of sale immediately.

But he had that eye for detail, which was so important in retail.

Quite different.

He had a really good understanding of people.