FEW people in the modern world spend their entire working life in the same town, let alone in the same road.

John Sanders, who died on August 8, was the rare exception. He started work in 1950 at Luce & Silvers’ Tudor House in New Road, Bromsgrove, and he ended his career 60 years later no more than a stone’s throw away.

John Sanders was born in Bristol on January 29, 1932. His family moved to Coventry during the war because of his father’s occupation as a fireman. After the war, the family moved to Kidderminster where his father was appointed Fire Chief.

John was the youngest of four children and his memories of his childhood were entirely positive. As a young man he played rugby – as hooker - for Worcestershire. He also enjoyed rowing and playing fives.

He finished his schooldays at King Charles Grammar School in Kidderminster where he won the ‘Merit Cup’ and although his ‘A’-Levels secured him a place at Leeds University to study economics, he chose instead to enter the world of work. His decision to become a chartered surveyor had been inspired by his brother-in-law.

John Sanders started work at Luce & Silvers in 1950 and embarked upon his professional exams – in those days an arduous process. He specialised in agricultural matters.

He married Diana Grove in 1956, shortly before joining the Royal Engineers for his National Service. He often joked that his timing was perfect because married men were paid substantially more upon enlistment. He concluded his National Service in 1958 as a commissioned officer having spent a significant period re-drawing the maps of West Germany.

In 1962, John became a partner of Luce & Silvers and in 1973 he played a leading role in the merger of Luce & Silvers and G Herbert Banks to create the firm of Banks & Silvers. In 1988, Banks & Silvers was bought out by General Accident (GA). In 1991, having served the customary three years with GA, he started his own firm of John Sanders in conjunction with his son, Christian John Sanders.

John Sanders’ great loves were his home in the village of Bishampton, his family – he had three sons – and Golden Retriever dogs.

Diana and John celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary in June. His knowledge of the county of Worcestershire was encyclopaedic and he will be fondly remembered for his entertaining auctions and by the many farming families that he advised over more than half a century.