After 17 years on the job the 69-year-old will fix his last pair of shoes and cut his final key at the end of the month.

Bob started work at the business in 1982, when the shop was located in the town centre.

Seven years later he moved to the National Centre where he has been for the past 11 years.

Bob said he never imagined himself working as a cobbler and when he first purchased the business his plan was to put a manager in.

Five years passed.

“I taught myself, learning at the shop. In its own way it is very involving and intricate, there are always a variety of problems to be solved.

“It has kept me young,” Bob said.

Based in Sydney as an engineer Bob said he became fed up with the city lifestyle and the corporate world.

He said he had been through Mudgee a few times on his way out to the mines but it wasn’t until his wife was with him he decided to make a move.

“My wife came on a business trip and we stopped down at Robertson Park for lunch. She decided she could come and live here so I brought the business.”

Bob’s wife, Dee took a job with Spruce’s Pharmacy a few years after they had moved.

Dee will also retire this month.

“It’s been a mutual decision but I have really enjoyed my time there, the team has been wonderful and I have really enjoyed looking after the customers,” Dee said.

For Bob working with the general public was an interesting challenge at first.

“I had never had to deal with the general public before. For some people bringing along their shoes is a social outing, its more about coming along and having a chat,” Bob said.

A highlight of his career was when Bob was awarded the Veterans Affairs official repairer 12-years ago.

“I get work from everywhere. People who have moved send it to me. From Perth, Broken Hill, Sydney, they come from everywhere,” Bob said.

With no one to take over the business, the Country Cobblers doors will shut on July 31.

“The youngsters are just not interested these days.

“No one is really interested in the business but I have had a few people interested in the equipment,” Bob said.

Dee said the couple would be travelling, getting involved in voluntary work and focusing on a few projects around the home during their retirement.

“We are also going to be seeing our sons a lot more often, our first trip during our retirement will be to the Northern Territory to visit our youngest son at the end of August,” Dee said.