KING BRIAN ENDS HIS REIGN

The man known to thousands as King Brian has handed in his retail crown after 53 years of customer service.

Hills resident Brian McCombe was a teenager when he took his first job with Eric Anderson’s in Blacktown in 1967.

While the owners and shop name changed over the decades (Homecrafts and Chandlers) he was bestowed his crown in 1992.

For nearly a decade King Brian was on television and selling TVs and video recorders for Electronic Sales and Service Blacktown.

“The owner of the new store didn’t want to do the ads so they asked me,” he said.

“The first ad went to air on the Queen’s Birthday weekend in 1992 so they stuck a crown on my head and called me King Brian and it stuck.”

After the store closed its doors “King Brian” joined the Good Guys where he worked over the past 18 years before his recent retirement.

During his 53 years in retail he has won numerous business and service awards from within and outside the industry.

One of his proudest achievements was his 13-year involvement in the Brian McCombe Kidney Health Golf Day which raised thousands of dollars to aid kidney research and health programs.

He has always been an entertainer and now loves his involvement in two groups for older entertainers, The Debonairs and the Ecidnas.

“I started a band at the age of 14 played many parties and weddings,” he said.

While he is looking forward to spending more time with his two children and grandchildren and friends he will miss his customers.

“I am very lucky to have made so many friends over the years,” he said.