A change of hands at Hassocks Hardware

After 33 years, highly-respected local figure, Colin Mansfield, has retired, and Hassocks Hardware now has new owners. Colin has stayed local and intends to stay local. Manager, Sam Livings, explains: “He was 69 and always said he preferred to leave in good health. He wanted to enjoy his retirement after working six days a week for 33 years!”

Last year, at the start of the first lockdown, Tony - Colin’s assistant for 32 years and also a Hassocks man – retired after many years’ service. “Tony walked into the shop six months after Colin opened, got a job, and stayed 32 years,” Sam recalls, and adds, “it’s so nice to see them both in good health and being able to enjoy their retirement. They both deserve it after serving the community in such a dedicated way.”

The shop is now co-owned by Mark Deacon and Duncan Fisher. “Duncan has been a good friend to the shop and Colin for many years,” explains Sam. Duncan was a sales rep and after Colin mentioned the sale to him, Duncan knew he was interested and then approached Mark. They decided to become co-owners, forming Hassocks Hardware Limited. “They wanted to keep the same name as it has become cemented into village culture,” says Sam.

Sam has worked at the shop for about six years, alongside James Porter. “When I came here to work from a large chain, I learned all about the products and got to know the customers. Listening to the customers, the reputation of the store is high: we’ll have what you need,” says Sam, “and if we don’t, we’ll order it. With the suppliers Mark has brought in, many orders now come next day. It’s amazing.”

Mark owned a DIY shop in Heathfield for 25 years, having started there as a Saturday boy when he was 15 years old. He has extensive contacts within the industry. “We’ll find out what people are asking for, and play to what people want,” says Mark. The shop will now be stocking plants, soda stream canisters and there are plans for a small motoring section.
“We’ve been very well-received,” says Duncan, who lives in Eastbourne. “Everyone’s been very friendly, and our priority is to serve the village, providing a personal service to customers and high-quality goods at the right prices. Colin left the shop in a great position, and we want to keep it that way.”

The new team wish Colin and Tony well for their retirement. They are enjoying settling into the village. “It’s a wonderful village with lovely people,” says Mark. “People have remained loyal to the shop, hoping the reputation will remain the same, and it has, and it will do.”

Hassocks High Street memories

A recent old photograph in Hassocks Life triggered memories for local resident David Andrews.
Seeing the photo of Hassocks Motors in the March edition of Hassocks Life, before it became National Tyres, reminded me of the time that I worked there as a petrol pump attendant from July 1969 until Christmas 1970.

By the time I started, David Hitches was the owner, and he lived in Underhill Lane with his wife and three young children. He had been a reasonably successful racing driver in the late 1950s and managed both the sales and servicing side of this small British Leyland garage.

Initially selling Mobil fuels and lubricants, we switched to a lesser known brand, Trident, at the beginning of 1970. I wonder if any of the older residents of Hassocks can remember this. A gallon (4.55L) of 4 Star was 6 shillings (30p), so 7p a litre sounds reasonable by today’s prices.

It is still obvious from the photos that two of the three workshop bays were converted into additional showroom space, which enabled 3 or 4 new cars to be displayed inside.

These included the revolutionary Austin Maxi, with its five-speed gearbox, the MG Midget, and different Mini variants including the sporty Cooper, retailing at around £600 brand new! Used stock from £150 upwards was displayed on the forecourt.

Dame Vera Lynn and her husband Harry were regular customers. On one occasion, Harry phoned to say that they had a flat tyre on their Bentley, so I was despatched in the workshop van to their home in Ditchling, to remove the offending wheel and replace it with the spare. This proved to be quite a challenge, as I was used to changing wheels on much smaller cars. I was quite skinny in those days, and Harry rewarded my efforts with a “Five Bob” (25p) tip and the advice to buy myself a couple of pints of Guinness!

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Hassocks was a much smaller community in those days, all the wide range of retail outlets were occupied and busy, the Big Four banks were all present, and charity shops had not been invented!