A HARD-WORKER is finally going to put his feet up as he retires following more than five decades of working for the same company.

Roger Frampton, 67, from Halstead, has retired after 53 years of service to J S Wright and Sons Ltd.

Beginning work for T and AJ Mann in Earls Colne after leaving school, Roger eventually moved to the existing J S Wright and Sons’ yard in Great Leighs in 1982 when the company took over T and AJ Mann.

The company is the world’s largest and oldest established company supplying English cricket bat willow.

Roger said: “It all just started when I left school. My mate asked if I wanted a job, so I joined T and AJ Mann.

“They then obviously got bought out, which was the best thing that could have happened, as T and AJ were really going downhill sadly.

“But never did I envisage working for them for so long, and the time has absolutely flown by, it does not feel like 53 years.

“I did so much, from turning the wood at the turnery by hand, before we had machines, to grading the wood.

“The company treated me really well, and it was just something I loved doing.”

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Director of J S Wright and Sons Jeremy Ruggles had high praise for Roger after working with him for 35 years.

He said: “Roger could do every job in the yard to a high level, not only a hard worker but he has hardly ever been off sick in all those years.

“He was always very obliging, and we had very few cross words in all that time.

“It is sad to see him go, as he is a key worker and a great chap, but the company wish him and his wife, Carolyn, a long and happy retirement and thank him for all his hard and skilled work.”

Now, Roger and Carolyn, who retired on the same day, hope to do plenty of things together with their new-found time.

He said: “We love walking and both support Ipswich and are always going to the football.

“We are going to the Lake District soon and have a cruise in September too, which will be lovely.”