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Dyce man celebrates 50 years on the job

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A Dyce man is celebrating a major milestone having clocked up a career spanning half a century at dandy roll manufacturer Woollard and Henry.

Davie Watson, 65, was presented with Samsonite luggage and a share in a racehorse as he marked 50 years since he first walked through the factory doors.

He joined Woollard and Henry in 1965 straight out of school as an apprentice, working across various departments.

ANd for just over half of his career he has worked alongside son Craig, who is a manager in the business.

Mr Watson was also with the company in 2002 when, faced with the possibility of closure, the decision was made to sell the business to its employees – a move that dramatically changed its fortunes.

Since then, Woollard and Henry has diversified its business and turnover and staff levels have grown significantly.

Mr Watson, who has been married to wife Eleanor for 44 years, said: “In my working life at Woollard an& Henry I’ve been fortunate to work with some fantastic people who have contributed to the success of the company.

“I’ve worked here when it was privately run company and, more recently, as an employee-owned company which has gone from strength to strength.

“My time at Woollard & Henry is coming to an end but it is great to see the younger generation coming through, giving the company a strong foundation on which to build for the future.”

The firm’s managing director Fred Bowden, said: “Davie would have been an asset to any company that he joined, but we were very lucky that he chose Woollard and Henry.

“He is one of only a handful of people in the world that produce the intricate embossed seams, required in the manufacture of high security paper and this skill has seen him travel the world.

“Being fit and healthy, we are not expecting him to put his feet up just yet.”

The firm is one of the last remaining independent dandy roll markers left in the world servicing the global paper industry.

It was started back in 1873 by Ernest Woollard with Dick Henry joining forces in the 1930s.

The company grew through the 1950s and 60s and began exporting to Europe, Scandinavia and India.

The Woollard connection ended when Ernest’s granddaughter left in the 1980s then, due to ill health, the last Henry retired from the company, putting it up for sale in 2002.

With the assistance of the Baxi Partnership the employees bought the company and now each worker is a shareholder in the business.

Woollard and Henry is hosting a Successful Succession event on October 14 at Menzies Hotel in Dyce.

Those attending will hear from Fred Bowden on the decision to move to employee ownership and how it has benefited the company.

To register for the event, log on to http://bit.ly/WoollardHenry.