A WELL-KNOWN Bolton family business is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

R & J Howarth Ltd (Howarth Jewellers) has branches in Mawdsley Street, Bolton, and Market Street, Little Lever.

It was founded in February 1958 by 23-year-old Roger Howarth, a time-served watch repairer and a Fellow of the British Horological Institute.

Initially he worked from home doing watch repairs before opening a small workshop in Corporation Street, Bolton, in 1959.

The independent business, which also involved his wife Joyce, moved to Mawdsley Street in 1978 and twin sons Mike and Carl joined the following year - Mike as a watchmaker and Carl as a jeweller.

Both served their time and qualified at college. Daughters Gwen and Janet have also been involved.

Janet is a gemologist and a fellow of the Gemological Association. Gwen was one of the country's few lady watchmakers.

Roger and Joyce are semi-retired and the shops are run by Mike and Carl, who are 34.

The Little Lever branch is run by Mike, who has established a jewellery web site on the Internet.

"In our watch-repairing heyday in the 1960s we repaired 50pc of the watches in Bolton," Roger said.

The anniversary is being celebrated with a 20pc sale throughout March and an open day on Saturday, March 7.

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