Decade of success for computer shop

Rod Rigg, from Birkenshaw, was technician at Birkby Plastics when he suffered a heart attack fifteen years ago, and was told by his GP that his working days were over.

He said: “My interest in computers started when I was waiting for an operation after I had the heart attack. I had a lot of time on my hands, so I started learning about computers.

“The only thing I knew about them before was how to turn one on – before long, I had learned quite a bit – you could say I caught the ‘bug’!”

Once he had had the operation, Rod was taking apart and rebuilding computers, and started selling parts at Sunday markets and car boot sales, where he realised it was a good way of making a living.

Rod and wife Elaine opened PC Trading Post in Bradford Road, Cleckheaton, in January 2003, and are regularly helped out by their son, Phyllip.

“We’re quite a good team here,” said Rod, 55. “Elaine and Phyllip are quite good at software and helping people with anti-virus programming, while I am more into the electronics-side of things.”

On being asked the secret of his success, Rod said: “I’m a believer in being honest with people – I think if you try and make a fast buck off someone, it’s not better in the long-run.

“We have plans for the future – and we are looking into the possibility of expanding into mobile phones.