HE HAS spent the last 44 years helping thousands of grieving families lay their loved ones to rest.
Now funeral director Julian Colmer will finally be putting his feet up after he retired on his birthday with a send-off from family, friends and colleagues.
Julian, who turned 65, has been working at A H Rogers and Sons funeral directors in Market Street, Eastleigh for the past 26 years, during which time he has organised about 15,000 funerals.
But it was only by his marriage that he ever entered the trade in the first place after marrying wife Joyce and taking her place in her father’s business, Matthews Funeral Directors in Woolston, as women were not allowed to work as funeral directors at that time.
Julian, of Church Street, Micheldever, now plans to enjoy his retirement by travelling and making wine and cider.
Colleagues past and present and family were there to see the father-of-two, described as “a true professional” say his goodbyes and receive a watch from the company.
Richard Van Nes, deputy operations director and south regional director for Funeral Partners, which runs A H Rogers and Sons, said: “To the the many thousands of families that Julian has served he has made a real difference and we will miss his presence and his experience.”