TWO long-serving employees who started working for a leading South Lakeland company as teenagers are hanging up their overalls for the final time at the end of this month.

Keith Duckett and Peter Robinson have worked at Burneside-based James Cropper all of their working lives and have notched up almost a century of service between them.

Sir James Cropper visited the mill last Friday to personally thank the two men for their loyal and devoted commitment to the company

Mr Duckett, who has worked for James Cropper since he was just 15, has served the business for nearly 50 years. He started as an apprentice fitter in 1967 and, after completing a mechanical engineering craft practice course at the Allen Technical College in Kendal, worked as a maintenance craftsperson in the engineering team.

“I’ve really enjoyed all my years working at James Cropper, which not everyone can say after nearly 50 years!" said Mr Duckett. "I’ll always have very fond memories of my time at the mill, but I’m equally looking forward to making new ones in my retirement. I have a keen interest in biking, wildlife and cricket, and with the arrival of a new grandson I am sure that I will have a lot on my plate!”

Mr Robinson who, like Sir James, is the fifth generation of his family to work at the paper mill in Burneside, joined the business when he was 16 as a paper testing assistant. At that time, his father, two brothers, two sisters-in-law, two cousins and uncle were all working for the business.

He has worked across all four paper machines in the course of his 47 year career, and ends his time as machineman on PM4, with responsibility for running the largest paper machine at the mill.

Being the last of the Robinson’s to work at the mill, his departure marks the end of an era.

“It was a real honour to get a personal thank you from Sir James," said Mr Robinson. "Over the years, he has always taken a real interest in the people working at the mill. There is a huge sense of community here at James Cropper and it is the people that I will miss the most. I have worked with hundreds of individuals over the years and have a lot happy memories.”

“I plan to reignite my long-standing interest in bird watching and photography in my retirement, and have recently purchased a digital SLR camera that I am planning to make full use of both at home and abroad. My wife and I have already planned a trip to Iceland in a few weeks’ time, and then later in the year we are visiting the Kruger National Park in South Africa.”

Sir James Cropper, honorary president of the company and the great, great, grandson of the mill’s founder, said: “We’re very lucky at James Cropper to have many long-serving and committed employees, but it’s truly remarkable to have two such loyal and hardworking staff members reach such a milestone in the same month. I want to take this opportunity to thank them wholeheartedly for their dedication and effort over the years."

“Keith and Peter represent what James Cropper is all about – hard work, loyalty and, above all, passion. The company has changed much over the years that they've worked here, with new machinery, working processes and techniques. Their long service is testament to our employees' commitment to be forward-thinking and embrace innovation.”