Long service awards at Ransomes Jacobsen

Long service awards were presented to several staff at RANSOMES JACOBSEN, the Ipswich-based turf and grounds care equipment manufacturer, with each receiving a commemorative gift and a specially decorated cake to recognise their commitment and loyalty to the company.

Mick Lewis and Jim Snell, who both work in the manufacturing plant, celebrated their 40 year milestone. Mick is a welder in the fabrication, section while Jim is the Weld Cell Supervisor.

Alan Flewitt, the company's International Financial Accountant, celebrated 25 years having joined the company in August 1982 as a Trainee Accountant. After working in different sections of the Finance department he was promoted to Group Chief Accountant at Ransomes plc, the then parent company of the Ransomes group. Following the sale of Ransomes to Textron Inc in January 1998, he assumed his current role. He met and married his wife Sue, the company's Financial Accountant, in May 2002 and they are expecting their first child early in 2008.

Owen Burch, Senior Payroll Officer, Tony Balaam of the Customer Care department, Shirley Stephens, Main Tractor Assembly Technician and Domenic O'Brien, Inventory & Warehouse Manager, were also presented with 25-year service awards.

Completing the awards, again for 25-years service, were Christian Clifford and Adrian Kindred of the Engineering department; Christian is the Engineering Manager and Adrian is one of the company's Senior Design Engineers. Both joined as Apprentices on the same day back in 1982 and spent their first year in Ransomes dedicated training school before undertaking various placements within the factory and office complex.

Commenting on these latest long service awards, Managing Director David Withers said,
"I was delighted to be called upon to present these awards recognising the loyalty and outstanding service that these individuals have given to the company. It only goes to strengthen my belief that we have a vibrant manufacturing company here in the heart of East Anglia, offering career opportunities and long-term employment to the people of Ipswich. Having celebrated our 175th anniversary of mower manufacturing in Ipswich earlier this year, I would like to think that we will continue to offer employment opportunities for the next 175!"

Ransomes Jacobsen is a subsidiary of Textron Inc., an $11 billion multi-industry company operating in 32 countries with approximately 40,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.