TWO Southampton childhood friends are celebrating a 25-year milestone working by each other’s side.

It all started when Kevin Asher and Colin Bunclark, who work at freight and logistics company Meachers Global Logistics together, spent their childhood days playing football together.

Fast forward to adulthood and they both joined Meachers within two years of each other in the nineties, with Colin as a tyre fitter and Kevin as a warehouse operative.

Now, the pair are celebrating 25 years working at the company together - and both give high praise to the firm.

Colin now works to keep the fleet of vehicles maintained, which includes fitting tyres and curtain repairs, to MOT preparation on the trailers.

Daily Echo:

He said: “I love my job and how varied it is, Meachers is such a good company to work for, we never feel under pressure and to be here as long as I have, is a testament to how much I enjoy my job."

Kevin started his work life as a butcher but moved to warehousing where he is now a supervisor at Meachers.

He said: “When you’re working alongside such a great team with each person trying to help one another, I’m not surprised I’ve stayed so long. I hope I’m here until I retire.”

Both Colin and Kevin used to be part of the firm’s five-a-side football team, entering competitions, however they both admit the younger team members coming through meant they struggled to keep up as the years went on.

When they are not working, Colin spends time with his 17 grandchildren while Kevin sees two of his own.

Gary Whittle, Commercial Director at Meachers Global Logistics, said: “Colin and Kevin are truly part of the furniture here at Meachers.

"They’ve both not only shown a dedication to their individual roles but also to the company to have such a long service.

“I think for many people, it’s a dream to say they enjoy being at work but as an employer, to hear team members say that, we must be doing something right and that means a lot.”