THINGS have certainly changed since Doug Humphrey took over his father’s business as a coal merchant in Colchester.

When his father died suddenly in 1953, the coal was still transported using the firm’s four horses and almost everyone living in the surrounding streets of New Town needed the solid fuel to warm their homes.

These days D Humphrey and Sons, in Artillery Street, has swapped the horses for two articulated lorries, delivering across Essex and a machine does much of the work.

Mr Humphrey, 84, said: “I much preferred the old days. When I was about 14, I used to get on the horse’s back, ride it to East Street, load up the coal, bring it back and still be at school on time.

“I used to be able to carry two of those big bags of coal, on top of each other, but now I can’t carry half a bag!”

Mr Humphrey’s father bought the land for the coal yard in 1936. At the time he employed about six people, mainly family members. It is now worked on by two of Mr Humphrey’s sons, Stephen and Stuart.

Although the past 30 years have been dominated by gas central heating, the fashion for multi-fuel burners has seen business increase again.

The company supplies between 700 and 1,000 residential and business customers, currently taking about 100 orders a week, a number which will rise as the winter sets in.

The price of coal, of which the company sells nine types, has risen recently and tends to rise during the winter.

Customers generally receive orders every fortnight and in the winter, the yard is open for people to come and buy coal direct.

Sadly, supplying pubs, which used to be a big part of the business, has slowed down greatly, because so many are closing down.

Stephen Humphrey works in the coal yard, filling up bags and loading the lorries, while Stuart delivers the coal to customers.

Although Doug Humphrey’s ill health means he can no longer be hands-on, his 82-year-old wife, Grace, still does the book keeping, as well as taking orders over the telephone.

With no thoughts of retiring, she thoroughly enjoys her role.

Mrs Humphrey, whose mother used to buy coal from her father-in-law, asked: “What would I do if I retired?

“I have always loved doing this. The only thing I do not do is work on the computer.

“I have always worked in an office and I used to do chartered accountancy when I first left school.”

The couple, who celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in September, have no intention of slowing down just yet but understand things will have to change eventually.

Stephen said: “A great part of the business is meeting customers. We get to know them as friends and have a little chin wag and a cup of tea when we make deliveries.

“It becomes a way of life. It’s a good life.”