Their chairman said it was an old-established firm with a very substantial wholesale trade in food commodities, notably sugar and a chain of over 100 retail grocery shops.

Having survived the Second World War, Listers continued to benefit from its reputation for durable, reliable high-quality engines, and its pedigree as an old-established firm.

From there he went as an assistant solicitor to Tynemouth county borough council, returning to Bishop Auckland after the war to take over an old-established firm of solicitors which had belonged to Colonel Dowling and which later merged with Ernest Proud's old practice.