Tell us about your role: I joined the company in the summer of 1980 when I was 19 after studying at Reaseheath College and working for a short time on a local farm. Farm work didn’t suit me and a contact suggested that I speak to one of the directors at Boughey, Mike Forrester, and he offered me a job.
My first day wasn’t too exciting as I remember being stuck in a container all day unloading stock! I’ve worked in the warehouse operation for the whole of my career as an Operative and Warehouse Supervisor. I work on a 6.00am – 2.00pm, 2.00pm – 10.00pm rotating shift pattern.
Reflections on completing 40 years’ loyal service: The biggest change has definitely been technology. Being able to control stock by computerisation has made a huge difference. It used to be all manual and memory, problem-solving and looking for missing stock, but that’s not the case today. The quality of warehouse racking has massively improved too.
I’ve always worked hard to forge good relationships with our customers. This led to me visiting a customer in the United States a number of years ago. He came here regularly from the US to conduct stocktakes with us and he was an avid walker, like me, and joined me and some mates on a trip to the Lake District one weekend. In return, he invited me over to where he lived in Maine where we enjoyed fantastic walking and also some hair-raising white-water rafting.
I’ve never thought about leaving the company as everything has gone really well over the years and I really enjoy the short commute from my home in Tarporley to Wardle.
