A FAMILY business dating back more than a century will change hands and open under new management tomorrow (Friday).

JS Main and Sons, based on Haddington’s High Street, has been in the Main family and in Haddington for more than 100 years and in its current home since 1926, having previously been based on Market Street and St Anne’s Place.

John Main hands over the keys to Jamie McDonald and Alison Foster tomorrow and wished them well with the business, which will keep the same name.

John, of Acredales, said: “Hopefully, things will work out fine for them and if they get the same support from the public in Haddington that we have had then they will be OK. That is one thing we have been pleased with over the years.

“There have been so many nice people and that is one thing we will certainly miss – getting a good chat with people as well as the business.”

A stock take is being carried out today (Thursday) and John, who has worked in the business for 45 years, thanked kind-hearted people for popping in and wishing him all the best throughout the week.

He said: “It’s been very nice and lot of folk have been in and given good wishes.”

The saddler’s has been a firm fixture in the town and was originally formed by John’s grandfather James Smith Main, who took over from another saddler.

The family’s connection with the town actually goes back even further, with John’s great-grandfather a shoemaker and his great-great-grandfather a tanner.

John joined the business along with his brother Tom, who sadly passed away in 2009. Following his retirement, John and his wife Moira are looking to forward to spending more time with their family, including children Alasdair, Joanna and Susan.

John added: “I’ve got things that I will be doing apart from catching up with holidays.

“It will take a wee while to get used to. I’ve been there for 45 years but I’m sure we will manage.”