John Forsey Guns to close after 66 years as founder retires

From socks and sportswear to shotguns

After 66 years in the gun trade, John Forsey is closing his Welling shop on 31 December and, at 87 years of age, putting his feet up at last.

Mr Forsey opened his first shop at No 103 in Welling in 1959, trading as Gentry’s. The business began as an improbable mix of sportswear, fishing tackle, air rifles and tobacco, with boxing champion Henry Cooper among early customers buying his socks there.

Trusted name in the shooting community

From those eccentric beginnings, Mr Forsey built a business on a simple principle: “Without the customer, you have no business, you have nothing.”

When Gentry’s closed in the early 1990s, Mr Forsey restarted in 1994 as John Forsey Guns. With his team – Phil Jackson, Luke Webb and Sue Nichol – that ethos has been maintained, earning the shop a reputation for knowledge and service that made it a local landmark for the shooting community.

John Forsey’s lifetime of dedication

Beyond the counter, Mr Forsey has been a passionate member of the Kent Wildfowlers since the early 1960s, working throughout his career to promote the club and encourage younger shots.

A fond farewell

Announcing his retirement, the gun trade legend thanked customers, suppliers and competitors, saying their relationships had “always made us strong”. He praised his team as “simply the best”. But his final thanks went to his dear, late wife, Anne:

“I know what she would say: ‘Wild fowling spoken here.’”

Have a news story to share?

Contact our group news editor Hollis Butler at hollis.butler@twsgroup.com. We aim to respond to all genuine news tips and respect source confidentiality.