IPSWICH engineer Malcolm Albon is a pipe fitter with experience - 50 years to be exact.

IPSWICH engineer Malcolm Albon is a pipe fitter with experience - 50 years to be exact.

But work is the last thing on the 65-year-old's mind today as he retires from the company he has been with for an amazing five decades.

Mr Albon joined Warners heating engineers as a teenager when he left school and has gone on to become one of the company's most loyal employees.

A presentation has been held to mark the end of his era at the Hadleigh Road business.

Mr Albon, of Cotman Road, said: “It's been my only job. It's all I know.

“I've been happy over the years as it's been a good job.

“It's funny how you forget things as I can't really remember much, just the routine and having good laughs with my colleagues.”

Mr Albon, known at work as Chick, worked under three generations of Warner brothers. Fred and Harry Warner have since died but Michael attended a presentation for Mr Albon.

He gave the long-serving employee an inscribed silver hip flask, an old photograph of him on site and camera equipment vouchers.

Mr Albon said: “I like bird watching and that's what I'm going to do more of now I've retired.

“The vouchers are so I can buy some equipment for it.

“I will also spend more time with my family - my wife Anne, my son Craig and my grandson Matthew.”

Warners was run by five generations but is no longer in the family. In 1999 it was taken over by the Haymills group.

Sam Rowe, office manager, said: “Chick was liked by everyone as he always had a smile on his face. “From an employer point of view he was also very hardworking and co-operative.

“We will miss him as he was an experienced foreman and has left a bit of a gap. The chaps on site will miss him more too - both as a personality and someone to call on for advice and help on site.”

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