The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Paul Easey is approaching retirement in two years’ time with a little trepidation.
After 46 years cycling to work at what is now Bakkavor Meals Spalding, he accepts that the change is going to hit him quite hard. But he will look back on a career based in West Marsh Road with pride and fondness.
It was a career determined by his late mother.
“She got me the interview for apprentice electrician,” said Paul (63), who went to Gleed Boys’ School. “I’m pleased she did!
“The job hasn’t really changed that much for me – I’m still in the same workshop.
“My wife always calls me a bit boring for having been here so long, but I’ve always been contented. I don’t like change.”
Paul and Kathy married 43 years ago and they have two children and four grandchildren. They live in Pinchbeck Road – handy for Paul’s two-wheeled commute to work.
He remembers Geest (as it was when he started) having its own tradespeople.
He said: “We used to go round all the bosses’ houses and there was a lot of depot work all over the country, which was very interesting.
“I trained as an insulation electrician as we’d build our own cold stores and sheds then. It’s more of a maintenance role now.
“The company has obviously changed a lot. The big part of the business then was bananas. They had their own ships, three I think.
“There was also woodsaw mills, an industrial truck manufacturing division, our own pre-pack department and a computer centre with computers the size of a living room!”
For the vast majority of his employment, Paul has been one half of what is known as “The Two Pauls” with his “partner in crime” Paul Kendrick, who was also recognised recently for his long service.
He said: “We must have had 50 or 60 people in our section when I started. Now there’s two of us and our manager, Andrea Watt.
“I’ve been one of the lucky ones. A lot of people have been made redundant and we’re two of the ones left.
“I’ve enjoyed it all. It’s quite varied in my work. We never know what sort of job we’re going to be doing from one day to the next.
“I expect I’m going to miss it quite badly when I do retire.”
Paul is the longest-serving employee at Bakkavor Meals Spalding and was among 54 Bakkavor staff members from across the country (including Spalding and Sutton Bridge) acknowledged with a bottle of Champagne and a certificate for completing at least 30 years’ service.
Ágúst Gudmundsson, CEO and founder of Bakkavor, said, “These awards provide an opportunity for the business to show our appreciation to long serving employees for all their hard work and commitment to the business.
“It is their loyalty, valuable input and teamwork that have helped us to be where we are today and celebrate our 30th milestone.”
