A HAMPSHIRE man is retiring after staying in the same job at the same location for 50 years.

Michael Lees has worked as a saw machinist at Moorside Road in Winchester since 1967.

The 64-year-old’s co-workers say he has only taken one day off sick in the last 16 years while working at Jewson Ltd.

He is described as someone who was not known to make any mistakes, and his colleagues spoke about him in glowing terms.

Mr Lees, of Harwood Place, Kings Worthy, started out as a wood machinist in 1967, after leaving what is now Kings’ School – back then the business was known as Taggerts Timber.

Since then he has seen the job change in terms of technology but says that he has enjoyed just as much now as he did on the first day.

Mr Lees said: “I came here and planned to be a sawyer and trained to be a wood machinist, and I spent 35 years in the saw mills and the last 15 years more or less was doing some wood machining and some working in the store.

“The job has changed a lot. We have got more mechanised stuff with the forklifts – when I first came here we had to lift a lot of it by hand.”

“I loved working with all the chaps here, that’s what kept me here – all the banter and fun. We have always had fun here and the staff have always been good.

“I like working with timber, I have got such a range of customers and builders that come to me. It is good to pass on the knowledge that I have got.”

Supervisor at Jewson, Rob Monger, from Winchester, who has worked with Mr Lees for the 16 years, said: “I have known him since I was a teenager and you could not wish for a better, more he is conscientious bloke to work with.

“In 16 years he has only had one day off, and we had to go to his home to see if he was okay when that happened.”

“One hundred per cent I will miss him, it’s going to take two blokes to take his place.”

Area manager of Jewson, Mike Lewis also praised Mr Lees’ work ethic, he said: “He has done a cracking job for us over the last 50 years. Mick’s service has been impeccable, he has been great with customers and has been really good with new colleagues and helped them come through and develop.

“You do not get that number of years service, most people have five to ten years and move on. To have someone for 50 years is almost unheard of, and it says a lot about the business, the branch and the team.”