LES Sterry is celebrating 50 years with the same company, although his connections with it go back even further.

Les started off driving lorries for what is now Leeways Packaging in Churcham and reckons he’s done every job around the factory since.

The firm, which developed out of Leeway Joinery – which is still in existence – and RT and KL Walding, was established by Trevor Walding and is still run by the family.

Les said: “It’s different to most places – it’s very family-orientated and everyone knows everyone.

“In 50 years I can count the number of bad words I’ve had with the boss on the fingers of one hand.”

He first worked for the Walding family in 1965 making pallets in a tin shed behind the family home and left to take up another job after 18 months.

“The founder came knocking on my door one Sunday and asked if I wanted a job and I’ve been here ever since.

“I came back as a lorry driver and was driving up to London five days a week – at 48mph – taking parts from Rank’s in Mitcheldean.

“Since then I’ve done everything – maintenance engineer, health and safety, audits, site management, in the warehouse, setting up new projects and machinery installation.”

Les lives in Huntley with his wife Connie, who has worked for the company for 26 years, and has many memories of working for Leeways.

He said: “I’ll never forget years ago when we had the factory in Newent and the sewer system would block regularly.

“The founder would ring me to help him sort it out but he was always first down the manhole.

“I lived in the house (next to Churchman factory) so I had 18 years of 24 hours a day when access was needed.

“I still get early morning calls.”

Having reached the 50-year milestone Les is now looking to retire and spend more time on his hobbies of photography and aircraft.

The company currently employs 125 people at Churcham although more will be taken on for the summer peak.

It works with some of the country’s biggest names in the food industry – for example providing the inserts for boxes of Thornton’s chocolates and McVities biscuit assortments.

Some 99.1 per cent of the material used in the manufacturing process is recycled.