A TROWBRIDGE man who suffered a serious stroke says he has been given a new lease of life after taking over a record stall.

Philip Bath, 54, of Trowbridge, took over the old Hero’s Records stall five weeks ago from Gordon McRae, 65, who retired after 23 years of selling his stock there.

Mr Bath works at the newly named Dead Records in Castle Place Market alongside his friends Terry Hunt, 60, and Martin Bray, 52.

The new stall owner used to work for the Tourist Information Centre at the town council, but after having a stroke in March 2015 and taking 6 months off, he was forced to rethink his career.

“Gordon was thinking of retiring so I made him an offer and we shook on it. I bought all these old records off of Gordon and I do not regret it at all,” said Mr Bath.

“This has given me a new lease of life after my stroke. It was a very difficult time for me. I was very tired and run down, but the council were so good to me when I was ill.

“They allowed me to do a staggered return but after a while it was just too much for me. I needed to do something that was more easy-going because I just wasn’t up to it after the stroke.”

When asked about the name change, Mr Bath said he wanted something different, something quirky and eye-catching.

“I got the name from the American jam band, the Grateful Dead, actually,” he said.

“I have wanted to do something like this for a very long time.

“When I worked for the town council, the idea of running my own business kept gnawing away at me.

“I had to seize on it when the opportunity presented itself.”

Mr McRae will continue to trade under the name of Hero’s Records online.

“Gordon gave me some good advice about how to succeed. He has a wealth of experience. I want to keep this place going in the same vein that he did,” said Mr Bath.

“I want to make my own mark on the place. Everyone knows that there is a record stall here, so that’s a good place to start.

“Gordon didn’t work on Wednesdays but we are here from Monday-Saturday from 9am-4pm.

“Every week apart from the very first week, we have made a profit, so it has been an encouraging start

“I hope to be here for 23 years or more.” For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Philip4000/