An Arbroath High Street shop is set to close as its owner retires after more than a decade.
Ian Rae, 65, is stepping down from running Angus Country Sports, which specialises in fishing and hunting equipment.
Ian, who worked in the oil industry before taking on the shop, plans to auction off goods from the store ahead of its closure towards the end of this year.
With no new operator yet found, the shop is likely to shut for good.
Ian said: “The plan is to be retired on November 1, which is exactly 11 years since I took the shop on.
“Pentland Auctions will come and take everything away on September 1.
‘Bittersweet’ moment as Angus Country Sports to close
“The only things I’ll hang onto will be the guns and ammunition because they’re on my certificate.
“I worked offshore and had my own company doing contracting, but in 2014 it all went a bit pear-shaped.
“I was kicking my heels for a while, and the tackle shop came up for sale.
“I was never going to get rich doing it, but I’ve made some good friends and I’ve enjoyed it.”
Closing the shop is a “bittersweet” moment for Ian, who decided it was the right time due to receiving several pensions.
The Brechin resident has enjoyed serving locals and visitors to Arbroath, which he describes as a “very well-renowned fishing area”.
He said: “Guys used to come up from Newcastle to fish all weekend.
“They would finish work on a Friday night, drive up to Arbroath, sleep in their car at the harbour, and then go back to work on the Monday.
“The sea fishing has always been the biggest part of it.
“We’ve got some good freshwater lochs around about as well and some rivers.
“It’s provided a service for the locals as well and we’ve had a good clientele.
“It will be a shame if there is nothing in the town.
“I do a bit with the game shooters and dear stalkers on the estates.
“When I was really working at it, I had a £28,000 turnover on second-hand guns, which is not bad going for a year.”
Arbroath shop owner to take up fishing in retirement
Ian hopes to enjoy more outdoor pursuits himself when he retires.
He added: “I haven’t been fishing for a long time or hit a golf ball in a decade.
“I’ll probably do a bit more shooting.
“I might even go on holiday because I almost remember that, and I’ll walk the dog.
“I don’t want to be standing behind the counter wishing to hell I had done this five years ago.”
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