A popular shopkeeper described as “the kindest man you could ever meet” who ran his hardware store for 67 years has died.
Henry Fairley worked at the H E Harrington business in York Street, Broadstairs for almost seven decades but has passed away aged 87.
The ironmonger and hardware store has been running since 1892 and it is rumoured that a visit from Ronnie Barker inspired the iconic Two Ronnies’ ‘Four Candles’ sketch in 1976.
After battling a few illnesses, including a chest infection and a spell in hospital, the shopkeeper died at home in his chair on June 1, “exactly how he would have wanted”.
His lifelong friend, Kevin Andrews, told KentOnline: “He was the kindest, most gentlemanly man you could ever meet.
“There wasn’t a bad bone in his body.
“He was always in the shop – never took a day off.
“Everybody knew him. He was so well-known in the area.
“He was just a lovely person.
“Over the last few months, he’s got older and spent less time in the shop.
“He still carried on doing the book work and the ordering right up until about five or six weeks ago.”
A long message paying tribute to Mr Fairley has been left in his shop window along with several floral tributes in the doorway.
Henry moved to Broadstairs in 1957 with his dad Jim, brother – also named Jim – and stepmother Sue.
The family took over the shop, and he continued running it himself after his parents and then his brother’s death 13 years ago.
Mr Andrews, now 63, met Henry when he started working at H E Harrington during the school holidays at 15.
He recalled: “He never married, and he treated me like a son, to be honest.
“I started working Saturdays and did that for about 10 years.
“Even when I started my own business, I carried on working there.”
Ronnie Corbett owned a holiday home around the corner from the store and was a regular visitor.
It is thought that while visiting Corbett at the seaside retreat, Barker was inspired to write Four Candles due to the huge range of items sold there.
Mr Andrews added: “Harringtons was Henry’s life.
“He was well known in the area as ‘Mr Harrington’ even though his surname was in fact Fairley.
“He was and will always be one of Broadstairs’ characters.”
The store will be closed for the time being until Henry’s estate is dealt with, but is set to reopen in the near future.
A get-together for those who knew him is being organised by Mr Andrews, with details to be shared soon.
