Devoted Lindsay clocks up 49 years at Sheffield Forgemasters

1966 was the year when Cassius Clay beat Henry Cooper, England won the World Cup, mini skirts were the height of fashion, Harold Wilson and the Labour Party won the general election, the first episode of Star Trek was aired and I'm a believer by The Monkees was in the charts.

It was also the year that a young Lindsay Ward walked though the gates as a 15-year-old for his first day at the then Firth Brown - later to become Sheffield Forgemasters.

Now nearly half a century later Lindsay, who has clocked up an amazing 49 years’ service having started on 12 April 1966 and spent his entire working career there, has served his last days in the machine shops at the Brightside Lane base.

The 64-year-old from Parson Cross in Sheffield has retired from Forgemasters and was given a special send off by his colleagues.

Lindsay said: "I will always remember the numerous experiences at the company including the amalgamation of Firth Brown with British Steel's River Don Works which went on to form Sheffield Forgemasters in 1982, to the clean-up operation following the 2007 floods.

"I really liked my job and seeing the finished article go out of the machine shops. Our products go all over the world. We worked hard and had a good laugh, that's really important and probably kept me there so long. Every day could be different working on many different machines.

"Forgemasters has developed into a different company since I started there. It has had to diversify to compete and stay ahead of global competition.

"For the last six months I have been passing my knowledge onto the next generation and training up a younger member of staff to take over. Engineering is still a good career to be involved in."

Lindsay, whose dad worked at Firth Brown for more than 40 years, was presented with gift from colleagues including a cash collection and a Citizen watch.

Steve Marshall, general manager Machine Shops at Sheffield Forgemasters said: “Lindsay's skills will be sorely missed from the South Machine Shop where he served as a Roll Grinder, Centre Lathe Turner and Vertical Boring Operative.

"The length of service is unbelievable and something that is a rarity in modern times. For Lindsay to spend his entire working life with us is a testament to the passion and dedication he had for the job.

"Lindsay was an extremely popular member of our team and was always willing to help both work mates and the business when required. He will be sorely missed but we wish him well in his retirement.”

Lindsay is looking forward to spending his retirement with wife Carole, his two daughters and three grandchildren.

He added: "They will all keep me busy! In between, I like gardening and going to the coast. I've not had chance to miss work yet as it seems like I'm still on holiday but it will be strange not to report for my shift again, as I really liked working there."

Clocking off...(left to right) Forgemasters' chief inspector Tony Clark with Lindsay Ward on his last day at Sheffield Forgemasters.