CYN and Kevin Mahon are retiring from Sainsbury’s next week with a combined service of 83 years.

But despite working for the same company for about four decades, they are looking forward to spending more time together.

The Mahons, both 61, married in 1977 after meeting in Sainsbury's Slough store, when she was on the checkout and he was a trainee manager.

But since 1976 they have only worked in the same store for the past six months, when Mr Mahon moved over to the Chippenham store from Melksham.

“We don’t see very much of each other as we do different roles,” said Mr Mahon, who goes by his middle name but is known by some as Tom.

Mrs Mahon was sent as a store trainer when the Chippenham store opened in 1990, and the couple have lived in Moss Mead in Chippenham ever since.

She started out with Sainsbury’s at age 15 as a produce assistant and has had many roles, latterly team leader on health and beauty, but said she has most enjoyed training other people up.

“When I started we didn’t trade on Mondays, we finished at 4pm on Saturdays and there were no late nights," she said.

“There were no computers and when we had all the power cuts in the ‘70s we didn’t have a back-up generator but we stayed open; we had torches and we wound the handle to work the tills.

"We’ve seen different products come in and thought, how on earth do you cook this? Starfruit, kiwis, avocados, rambutan (spiky red fruit from Southeast Asia) – people going on their holidays and coming back wanting things they’ve tried.”

Mr Mahon started at age 18 as a management trainee in 1972 and is now commercial manager. He said: “What I have most liked is the people, a broad mix, good banter. The people make the job.

“I’m looking forward to having Saturdays off. I will not be going shopping, I detest shopping with a vengeance.”

Mrs Mahon said she will be going in for coffee and to help out with fundraising events.

They will also be spending a lot of time travelling and seeing family, in Ireland and Vancouver. They will be having their retirement party on May 1.