An engineer and welder known widely in Ealing is retiring after 34 years of being part of their ‘close-knit community’.

Reginald Cole, 84, is recognised for Reginald Cole & Co Ltd who specialise in bespoke gates and railings, welding and general metal work and is based in Haven Green in a building colloquially called The Stables.

The community stalwart, after 70 years altogether in work, is packing up his things when the lease runs out on Wednesday (September 17)  due to the financial struggle of keeping the company.

Mr Cole said: “I left school at 14, did an apprenticeship in sheet metal, spent three years in the Air Force and worked in various factories.

“I always wanted to start up on my own and moved in here in 1980. My wife Win helped, she was secretary but died in 1989.

“It is a bit of a family thing, my son Alan Cole works here as well and my daughter Julie White-Cole is now the secretary by name.”

He said when they started they worked for Ealing Council making gates and railings and the business was prosperous.

They even did a job for Buckingham Palace about 10 years ago, however around 2010 things began to go downhill due to the recession.

Clients are now usually individuals from Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham and the 84-year-old said what is unique about his business is that it is a factory in the middle of a conservation area which used to be a stables in the 1700s.

Mr Cole added: “I don’t know what’s next for me. I might have a dabble in charity work as my daughter is a trustee for the RSPCA and works as a carer. I will just take it as it comes I suppose.

“I have enjoyed the community and the letters of recommendation you get, with people saying well done and you’ve done an excellent job. It gives you a lot of pleasure seeing people satisfied.”

The Stables is under threat of demolition in order to be made into a block of 21 apartments.

Ealing Council’s planning committee are due to make their decision at a meeting on September 24.