“1981 I started [working at the store],” he told Wales Online. “I enjoy my work, meeting the people who come in. It’s wonderful when people tell me their stories.”

Mr Buttress adds he is “well known all over the place”, he often greets customers as they come into the store and stops to chat to customers.

“I enjoy coming to work, I always have,” he adds. “I’ve been working since I was 13 and I enjoy working.”

A Sainsbury's spokesman said: “Reg is a fantastic colleague. His wonderful personality and energy is an inspiration to us all.

“Our customers love seeing and chatting to him and it will be a very sad day when he retires in September.

“We are extremely grateful to him for his hard work, dedication and commitment to Sainsbury’s over the past 35 years.”