Addie Miller visits with longtime local Gordon Johnson
Who doesn’t know Gordon Johnson? You can see him every morning between 8:30 and 9:00 making the rounds through town on his scooter, saying hello and giving everyone a bit of friendly jib.
During summer when his fruit trees are laden you may even see him with bags of plums in tow, giving them away to lucky friends. Perhaps though, the reason everyone knows Gordon is that he worked for 41 years in the menswear department at Pain and Kershaw.
Gordon came to Martinborough when he was thirteen to live with his Aunt and Uncle, Ella and Bob George. Gordon can’t imagine living anywhere else. Martinborough is in his heart, it is his home. He remembers playing rugby for Martinborough when the team changed in the Martinborough Pub. Practice consisted of running to the bridge and back. Saturday during the game was the only time they touched the rugby ball.
When Gordon graduated from high school he started working in the shearing sheds. One day after work filthy and smelling of sheep he popped into Pain and Kershaw where Harry Kershaw asked Gordon if he wanted a job.
Gordon went home to consult his Aunt before accepting and decided to ask how much he would be paid. The following day Harry told him he’d pay him 3 pounds, 6 shillings, and 6 pence a week, Gordon said ‘Ha, that’s what I make a day in the woolshed! I’ll take it!’ and thus began a long career at Pain and Kershaw until his retirement in 1994.
The connection between Kershaw and Gordon didn’t just start when he took the job but Gordon remembers to this day Harry telling him that he knew Gordon’s father who was killed in WWII. Harry told Gordon that they were in the same company in Egypt during the war and that Gordon’s father (an ex pastry chef) made the best scones around.
It’s lovely to talk to Gordon, taking a trip down Martinborough’s memory lane. Gordon’s life unfolded in this little town; married, raised a family, worked, and served as a volunteer fireman for 25 years. One of his daughters wants him to move in with her, but he says he won’t leave even if his life depends on it, and I believe him.
