The closure of J H Wand in North Street, one of the best known shops in the town centre for almost half a century, is a reminder of one man’s triumph over adversity in forging a successful business career and eventually being honoured by the Queen. 

John Holliday Wand, always known as Jack, was born at Rippingale, near Bourne, on 4th January 1925 and although he was walking and running at ten months, a year later he contracted poliomyelitis, then known as infantile paralysis, and which left his left leg paralysed. He was taken to school in a pushchair at the age of four but soon learned to ride a three-wheeled tricycle and later a bicycle, modified from free wheel to fixed gear to enable him ride that using his sound leg, and soon he was keeping up with the other children for the first time. 

Often taunted about his disability, Jack concentrated on his lessons and when he was eleven, passed the scholarship for a place at grammar school but never went there because of their reluctance to accept a disabled child, a setback that made him more confident to succeed and so set about fitting himself for a life of work. 

From then on, he took every opportunity that came along to increase his skills, as a carpenter, baker and notably, in the electronics industry which was then still in its infancy, becoming apprenticed to Edward Pearce and Company at No 32 North Street, which had a thriving radio business when the wireless was the main source of entertainment in the home and was soon learning to repair receivers and charge the accumulators needed to power them.  

He took over the amplifier rental side of the business, always willing to work long hours if the equipment was needed for an evening dance or weekend garden fete and then in 1947, he visited the Radio Olympia exhibition in London which was promoting the new television sets that were just coming on to the market and he was so entranced by what he saw during the trip that it was to change his life.

Public attitudes towards the new invention were not good and there was even a belief that they could harm the eyesight but Jack saw the possibilities and vowed to take the idea back to Bourne.  

In April 1948, he left Edward Pearce to set up on his own and with his £15 in savings, built his own workshop premises in the back garden at Rippingale with lengths of wood and sections of zinc sheeting purchased from Bourne market and although little more than a shed, it was perfect for his needs and as the electrical and radio work began coming in, Jack realised that he had made the right decision.  

From then on, hard work again brought its reward. In 1950, he built what was believed to be the first television set in Lincolnshire and ten years later he opened his first shop in Billingborough, selling hardware and electrical appliances as well as radio and television sets which were now becoming popular and then in 1971, he rented the former ironmonger’s premises in North Street, Bourne, for a similar purpose, eventually purchasing both properties outright and soon business was booming and Wand had become a household name. 

He was also leading a full social life. Jack always loved music and had become a talented pianist after teaching himself to play and was always ready to entertain at parties, fetes and galas and even providing the accompaniment to the regular ballroom dancing lessons in the village hall. He was also organising parties and other events, often in aid of charity and to raise money for the armed forces comforts funds during the Second World War. 

But work invariably came first and during the 50 years he ran the business, the J H Wand Group had grown into a large company with a multi-million pound turnover employing more than 60 people and in 1999 he was awarded the MBE in the New Year Honours List for services to the electronics industry. 

In March 1949, he had married Jessie Mason at the village church in Rippingale and they had three sons, John (1950) and twins Paul and Trevor (1963) and a daughter, Jane (1956). He retired in 1991 but the family name continued over the shop in North Street, run by Trevor who expanded the electrical service considerably, while John and Paul pursued their own business interests based on the enthusiasm passed on by their father, and Jane worked as a teacher. 

Jack and Jessie retired to their bungalow home in Maple Gardens, but he still pursued his interest in music although the piano he once favoured was replaced by an electronic organ which he played at many functions for old people, notably the annual Christmas parties at the Digby Court retirement home and Stanton Close sheltered housing complex.  

He could also be seen around the town most days, usually in the Burghley Arcade where he and his old friends, many of them in disabled cars and scooters, gathered to chat about the weather and old times, always ready with a cheery wave to friends and acquaintances who passed by for Jack had become very much a part of Bourne and was greatly missed when he died at home on Saturday 12th October 2013, aged 88. 

Trevor Wand said that the closure of the North Street shop was a direct result of the increasing level of the business rate which is making times difficult for all local traders coupled with the rising popularity of Internet shopping that has reduced sales in many town centre shops. 

Negotiations are now proceeding for the sale of the entire North Street site to the Weatherspoon pub and restaurant chain but the Town and Country electrical business will continue trading from the premises at the rear with an access from Meadowgate although relocation is also being pursued. 

“This is a sad moment for us all”, said Trevor, “but times change and we must change with them no matter how hard a decision that is to make.”