Shop trolley connoisseur wheels off after 25 years

Few people are as enthusiastic about shopping trolleys as a man who has just retired after being the chief trolley collector at a supermarket for 25 years.

Tony Johnson, 67, is officially off his trolley duty at Tesco in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, having landed the job he "loves" many years ago.

He worked at two stores in the town, starting off on the tills before moving to four-wheeled duties.

A colleague described Johnson as the "trolley connoisseur", although he admitted the only thing he intended to wheel around in his retirement was a lawn-mower.

His lengthy trolley service began after a manager asked if he would like to be moved from checkout duties to trolleys.

"Nobody else seemed keen... but I've absolutely loved it from day one," Johnson said.

He has worked at two stores in Wisbech but said when the shop moved to a new site in the town, the trolley ranks were undercover, which was "definitely a bonus".

"In the other one, I'd go out in the snow, blizzards and stuff like that, but you just get on with it."

It is not just about moving trolleys, though.

His job has involved jump-starting vehicles stuck in the car park and reuniting people with belongings left accidentally in trolleys including wallets, walking sticks, phones and "a lot of cucumbers".

"It's amazing what you find in a trolley," he laughed.

As he retired, colleagues spoke fondly about their trolley man.

Julie Bushby said: "He is the trolley connoisseur of Tesco... we all love him and customers love him - he's one of the massive faces of Tesco's.

Jenny Thorpe added: "They all think the world of him here."

She said a collection for Johnson bought vouchers for a DIY store as "he's going to do his gardening now".

That will involve pushing a lawn-mower - rather than trolleys, of course.

Whoever takes over as chief trolley pusher, Bushby said they would have "big boots to fill".

Johnson intends to keep shopping at the Wisbech store, but his wife Sue admitted as he preferred pushing lawn-mowers rather than vacuum cleaners so she did not expect too much extra help in the house.

When asked who would be pushing the trolley on subsequent supermarket visits, his wife said: "He will - my trolley days are over."

Johnson replied: "That should be my line."

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