THEY have served thousands of customers over the past 60 years – and now twins Martin and Frank McDowell have called it a day.

It’s the end of an era for them and also for Mirehouse where the McDowell family has run the newsagents since August 1955 (including the post office from 1957).

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Martin, 69, speaking at his Moresby Parks home.

“We will miss all of our customers and having a friendly crack with them, as well as the staff.”

He says the secret of running a long and successful business is “you get out what you put in”.

“It’s hard work because it’s long hours, seven days a week and for years we didn’t have a holiday and missed our children.

“But it’s given us a good living for 60 years and been very rewarding,” said Martin.

“We were told to run it by our parents like a well-oiled ship and we did just that.”

Their parents James and Mary started the business selling papers at the bus station before getting a shop at the Ginns, moving to Mirehouse when the twins were nine.

The brothers used to serve in the shop – standing on a Cartmell’s lemonade box!

Frank, who lives at Hillcrest, took over as postmaster from his father in 1977.

And he says the business has changed completely since the early days.

“In 1983 we were one of the first in the country to computerise our news system which was a godsend,” he said.

“But one of the worst things was Sunday opening of supermarkets, that had a huge detrimental affect on small retailers.”

The twins have nothing but praise for the hardworking and loyal staff.

“Our staff have been unbelievable over the years,” said Frank.

“Michelle Carr started as a teenager and was still with us after 37 years, Anita Doran was with us for 20 years, Becky Elliott 15 years, while Susan Bennett and Michelle Hughes around eight years.”

“We’ve had a good repartee with the staff, you treat them fairly and they treat you fairly,” added Martin.

“I would also like to mention thanks to Liz, Brenda, Barbara and Dawn.”

The family of Mick Parr, one of the McDowell’s delivery boys as a teenager, has in fact taken over the family business.

Mr Parr’s son Graeme and partner Sarah, of St Bees, are now in charge.

“We wish them well for the future and would like all our friends and customers to support them,” said Frank.

“Lots of our customers have now become friends.”

Martin sadly lost his wife Gillian to cancer in 2013. She had worked in the shop a number of years herself and was much-loved and missed by customers.

Martin plans to spend retirement enjoying holidays, gardening, walking and spending time with his son and daughter Simon and Claire and grandchildren Daniel, Jason, Fenton and Niamh.

Frank also plans to take it easy spending time with wife Linda, children Stephen, Catherine and Nichola and grandchildren Jake, Josh, Toby and Poppy.