12 minute read
People news
A very warm welcome to all employees that have joined so far this year:
Michael Adamson Leticia Aduako Michael Anderson Thomas Ashton Graham Ashton Allen Baldock Gerry Baldock Sam Barker
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Aydan Bateman Vlad Beleckij Mark Belll
Simon Bennett
Gary Berrie Dayle Birch Leone Birley Thomas Blease
Christopher Boffey Zak Bohan William Bow David Bradley Russell Brennan Gavin Bruce
Josh Burgess Matthew Burrows
Bradley Calcott Callum Cameron
Neil Campbell Michael Carruthers
John Carson Edward Chanter Kyle Colchester Simon Collins
Michael Colquhoun Michael Connon
Finlay Corsan Robert Cruickshank Leon Cruickshank
Phillip Cunliffe Josh Cunningham Gary Cunningham Kevin Cunningham Kenny Currie Cvetelin Cvetanov
Elliott Daley Shaun Davies
Jeffrey Davison Ramsay Dickie Garry Dickinson Carol Dobbie
Lucy Dsilva Jonathan Duffy Samuel Eagles Carl Eastwood Jason Edwards Shaun Fawcett
Dan-Florin Florea Mark Ford
Martin Gaff
Margaret Gallacher Stephen Gallagher Miguel Garcia Jack Garfoot Horst Giese
Slawek Giese
Graham Gillooly Stephen Gold Michael Grant
Katie Gray Daniel Greig Ladislav Gyorgy Anthony Hanratty Jack Hardiman Zachary Hargreaves Reece Harvey Mitchell Henderson
Gareth Hiddleston
Lee Higgins Kenny Hillier Bruce Hopkins Antonin Horejsi Michael Howd
Reece Hughes James Jepp Peter Jepson Shaun Jiggins Craig Johnston Lee Jordison Radek Kasprik Alistair Knox Michal Korusiewicz Alastair Kydd Stephen Lambert Shaun Lambeth Floyd Lancaster Craig Lanchbery Gavin Liddle
Ritchie Little Christopher Livermore Callum Logie Craig Longmoor Richard Lucy Jamie Lyons Lewis MacDonald
Ewan MacDonald Neil MacLagan Jamie Madden Lee Maguire Robert Mann Sam Marron
Jordan Masih Matthew Mason
Travis Matthias
Andrew Mavin Sam McAleavy Nathan McAleavy Nicola McCrosson
Kyle McElhinney Reece McGovern Stephen McGunnigle Kennith McIntyre Clarissa McKenzie Fenella McKenzie Callum McLaughlin David McMinn Steven McNaught Ryan Messenger Andrius Milasius William Miller Peter Miller
Reece Milne Barry Moffat James Mooney Lee Morgan Bryan Morrison Lukasz Muchowski Thomas Neale
Michael Nelson
Lewis Niven
Mathew Norman
Joseph North Piotr Osuch
Bhrijesh Pandya Andrew Paul Darren Pearson
Reegan Plichta John Poland Danny Prince Mark Quinn Aidan Quinn Ricky Rawlings Shelina Rayani Connor Reid Sandy Reid Matthew Ricalton James Richardson Paul Richardson Karen Rick Paul Roberts Christopher Roberts David Robertson Mark Robinson Jack Robinson Hadley Rodgers Andrew Rogers Mark Ronquillo Piotr Rosiak Gavin Ross Deividas Sausis
Selina Skedd
Ryan Slesser Christian Slingsby Barry Smith Luke Smith
Sam Smith
Dylan Smith Archibald David Smurthwaite
Linda Spoors Alan Stanford Kevin Stark Jamie Stewart Paul Stewart
Bradley Stewart Craig Stuart Andrzej Suchodolski Mariusz Szela Shane Taylor Andrew Thompson Phillip Thomson Christine Thomson
Liam Thornton
Lloyd Tilley Mark Todd
Ryan Topp Adam Twizell Egidijus Urbonas Grazvydas Vaicinas Aleksandra Visnevskis Jonathan Walker Rebecca Walton Kerry Webb Steven Webster Brian Weightman Richard West Scott Whittle Daniel Wilkin Ryan Williams Justin Wilson Craig Wilson Adam Wojcik Darren Woolnough Connor Wright Jack Young
Charlie Adams
It was with great sorrow that we learned of the death of Charlie Adams on Sunday 21st November.
Charlie worked for James Jones & Sons back in the late 1960’s managing the telegraph pole treatment plant at Dunmore in Fife. When that plant closed, he moved onto the outside operations, using a Matador loader to load timber lorries on harvesting sites across Fife. In the late 1970’s the outside operations squad was wound up and Charlie was offered the job of overseeing the timber treatment plant at the Aboyne sawmill however by that stage he had a family and did not want to uproot and move to Aberdeenshire. From this time Charlie became a contractor to the company. He continued to live on the Melville site in Fife which he maintained until failing health caused him to “pack up the chainsaw” in 2015.
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Euan Borthwick engagement
Many congratulations to Euan and his fiancé, Lindsay, who are planning their wedding their wedding at the end of November this year.
Christmas jumper day
A number of sites took part in Christmas Jumper day last year.
Well done to Maureen Hawthorne in the Larbert accounts office, who took things to the next level.
Congratulations Rebecca
Rebecca from the accounts team recently gave birth to a gorgeous little girl, Fiadh. Fiadh was born on 11th October 2021 and weighed in at 7Ib 4oz.
Taylormade sponsorship
Taylormade Timber recently sponsored Steve Morgan, Managing Director of Zest, a garden furniture and garden structure specialist on an epic cycling challenge – The Doddie Cup 500. The Doddie Cup 500 raises funds for Motor Neurone Disease research via the “My Name’5 Doddie Foundation”.
Mosstodloch golf day
The James Jones Golf Day, the Texas Scramble, took place in Huntly Golf Club in September. Gordon Allan, Stuart Roberts and Ryan Green were victorious in winning the team prize.
The Great James Jones Bake Off
Amy Portis in the Larbert sales office organised a James Jones Bake Off back in November to coincide with the final of the televised series. Everyone in the sales office took part by presenting their culinary creations before making their casting vote for the Office Star Baker. Emma and Kerry won joint first for their Strawberry Gateaux and Banana Bread. The office raised £205 for the charity ‘PLUS Forth Valley’. The charity gives children and young adults with disabilities the opportunity to socialise in an environment that they find comfortable. Chigs from the real life series even sent a voice note to his number one fan, Amy, via Instagram to say thank you for her support. It took quite a while for Amy to return from cloud nine.
James Jones torches to the rescue
Ian Stewart’s mother-in-law, Janet, also fell victim to storm Arwen and found herself without electricity for six days and finding a James Jones torch came in very useful.
If Carlsberg did lockins…
Ken Taylor got more than he bargained for on his way back from seeing an Oasis tribute band and found himself stuck in a snow bound pub for four days along with another 60 unexpected guests.
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Go Ape
A team from Lockerbie (H&S Manager James Miller, Mill 3 Manager Alexander Lampton, Lockerbie Weighbridge Operator Scott Teasdale, Trainee Harvesting Manager Sam Conolly and Assistant Harvesting Manager Euan Borthwick) tackled the Glentress Go-Ape in November. All participants managed the course with a superb zip line to finish the challenge.
Mike Collopy turns 60
Mike Collopy, Business Development Manager, from our Golborne site recently celebrated his 60th birthday. Mike has worked for the company for 38 years, originally starting on the shop floor and progressing through different roles before moving into sales.
Rhys turns 21
Rhys Clyde from the Larbert sales office recently turned 21. The office helped him celebrate with a cake in shape of a giant empire biscuit (Rhys’s biscuit of choice).
40 years service at Mosstodloch
Over the past year Mosstodloch has celebrated 3 forty year long service awards for James (Pixie) McPherson, Stevie Cruickshank and John Munro.
All 3 employees transferred to Mosstodloch from Forres in 1996 when the new saw line was commissioned and Forres sawmill was closed. All 3 have been involved in the main mill operations since they arrived. James originally started off operating the Edger and Almab trimmer before moving onto the Kalfass stackers and is now a Main Line Operator. Stevie also started off on the Edger and Almab trimmer before moving onto the Kalfass Stacker. John has diligently stuck to his centre yield triple X-cut since he arrived. All 3 have helped maintain the attention to detail and quality coming out of the mill since they arrived whilst helping keep their individual machines maintained in tip top condition.
Fond farewells
Drew Dalgleish
Drew Dalgleish retired at the end of October after 47 year’s service with James Jones. Drew started working in the old Dumfries mill on 1st April 1974, he started working on the skids which involved crosscutting logs then rolling them onto the infeed chain, when the mill was updated and he ran the main saw crosscut cabin which entailed crosscutting logs to the required length for the mill, Drew transferred to Lockerbie in 2000 were he operated the new Log sorting line. Drew said he’s looking forward to getting some time in his garden next spring and hopes to visit Thailand next year for holiday.
People news CONTINUED Fond farewells CONTINUED
Paul Winstanley
Paul Winstanley started his working life with Unit Pallets Limited over 42 years ago, he worked on the production lines as one of our valued machine operators and then moved onto being a Fork Lift Truck driver approximately 15 years ago (in which he also excelled at) we wish him all the best in his retirement. Paul said “he is going to enjoy his retirement in his allotment growing his own vegetables and looking after his chickens!”
Mary MacLeod
Mary MacLeod retired at the end of last year having worked at Lockerbie for 16 ½ years. A large number of well-wishers including existing and former James Jones employees, suppliers and contractors conveyed their appreciation for all she’d done over the years. We wish her a long and happy retirement.
Ian Wolfendale
Wishing Ian Wolfendale all the best on his retirement as a very dedicated Fork Lift Truck Driver at our Golborne Site, he started his working life with our Company 50 years ago on 12th April 1971. He began his career at our site in Bolton straight from school and then came across with the Company when it moved to the current Golborne Site – which was then Unit Pallets – he has been a committed and eager employee travelling from Bolton to Golborne each day and has been a credit to the Company. His attendance record was impeccable!
Neil Reekie retired from James Jones in September last year. I know Neil will not mind me saying his close colleagues were aware his social filter was somewhat clogged. This endearing feature would invariably result in lively debates and discussions while Neil was completely oblivious to the result and reaction of his innocent, but occasionally incendiary comment. Neil clearly felt it was safer to keep his head down and plug himself into his Kindle. While a serious business, work should also be fun. Neil seemed to pick up on the practical joker mantle left by Ian Pirie when he retired. Tales of tantrums over missing spoons and cutlery, hiding in cupboards and various other juvenile but jovial pranks all contribute to making up a rich tapestry of characters and which make the workplace all the more enjoyable. In recent years Neil was introduced to the North Queensferry rowing club where, amongst cakes and sticky buns, the Forth Rail Bridge can be inspected from the water – as newly elected president of the Rowing Club I’m sure there will be an enquiry for Boat-skin Larch heading our way…. Enjoy your retirement Neil.
Peter Barker
Peter worked for James Jones & Sons for 22 years in sales and was a joiner by trade. He is based in Milton Keynes. He and his wife Sylvia are very much looking forward to retirement, and purchased their retirement home in Sao martinho do Porto in Portugal then moved over at the end of November last year. Peter can be seen pictured outside his new house.
Fergus McGregor
After almost 30 years service we bode a final farewell to Ferg. With the pile of papers on his desk reduced to a sheet or two and a new home for his Hoppus tables, Ferg moved onto his next chapter. Ferg joined the sales department at James Jones & Sons June 1991 when our production capacity was approximately 154,000m3, sales staff numbers limited, and our customer base rapidly evolving. Being a thoroughly amiable individual, it was easy for Ferg to establish a rapport and relationship with customers who appreciated and shared his love of nature, all things shooting and fishing or his ability to call upon what is almost encyclopaedic knowledge of sporting trivia. While customers, many were also friends who trusted and respected Ferg for his honesty and his genuine warmth. Liz will undoubtedly have a list of chores for Ferg as long as your arm but he will enjoy these done in his own time-frame and at his own pace, whilst also managing to squeeze in a bit of evening fishing and a venture-out with the dogs. We wish Ferg well in his retirement and thank him for his commitment, service and friendship.
John Barnard
John Barnard retired at the end of January having spent seven years working diligently as the Production Planner for the Lockerbie sites. We wish John a long and happy retirement.
