Myron Hunka closes its North Parade jewellery firm after 49 years

Myron Hunka, based on North Parade, has closed its doors after being run by two men, owner Myron Hunka, 73, himself and colleague Peter Hollings, 65, since 1973. Both have decided to retire at the same time.

The firm’s services included being commissioned to make jewellery items for customers, buying old gold and repairing watches and fitting batteries.

Myron Hunka at his desk at the workshop in North Parade

They initially rented a working space from Bradford jewellers Fattorini’s for five years in the 1970s and carried out work for them.

Myron Hunka moved to a workshop in Godwin Street where they stayed for 30 years, before moving to their final site on North Parade in 2007.

Mr Hunka says they did not need to advertise over the decades as they received constant work through word of mouth from their customers.

Myron Hunka takes a look at a ring which features the Bradford coat of arms

The business has been commissioned to make different items of jewellery for customers including a two-inch high model of rugby league’s Challenge Cup.

They have blended the two wedding rings together of couples after one customer’s spouse had died.

Mr Hunka says they even made earrings out of diamonds from a woman from London after the firm was recommended to her by a woman she had spoken to on a bus in the capital.

The jewellery business is shutting after 49 years of trading

The business has raised several thousands of pounds for the Bradford Burns Unit after donating money raised through customers having their jewellery cleaned and checked by them.

Mr Hunka says it was emotional to close for good on June 30.

He said: “It’s a bit sad that we’re stopping.

“It is the end of an era, but it has to end sometime.

Inside the Myron Hunka workshop which shuts its doors for good on June 30

“We have had some lovely messages from people. Peter and I both went to Bradford College of Art and there were a couple of years that separated us.

“It’s been teamwork between Peter and me over the years.

“There are not as many people doing our specialist jewellery work in Bradford anymore.

“It’s been continuous work for us. People have been happy with us and we’ve been happy doing it. Generations of the same families have come to us.

Myron Hunka next to a Telegraph & Argus article on the firm's fundraising for the Bradford Burns Unit in 2009

“We started raising money for the Burns Unit after we had people coming in who were injured in the fire. We were touched by that.”

He added the business has only had one burglary over the years, which saw the perpetrators gain entry through the building’s roof at North Parade.