10 Dec Retirement Spotlight | Jim Duncan

Gray & Adams said goodbye to long-serving employee Jim Duncan. Working as an Assistant Line manager of Chassis Fabrication and Training officer in Fraserburgh, Jim has worked for Gray & Adams for the last 20 years. We caught up with Jim just after his retirement to find out more about what he will miss about working for Gray & Adams and what he is looking forward to as he enters this new chapter.

What was your role at Gray & Adams and what were your day-to-day responsibilities?

At Gray & Adams, I started by building and developing chassis, eventually moving into a managerial role. When a new welding machine was introduced, I designed and developed its use, implementing improvements wherever I saw opportunities. Some of the improvements I implemented included building a new small beam welder so making beams was more efficient and designing rollers for the rear of the trailers to stop any damage to the loading bays. Over the years, I continued refining processes and later took on training apprentices, which was a rewarding challenge.

What did you do before you came to Gray & Adams and why did you want to work for the company?

Before joining Gray & Adams, I worked in maintenance and fabrication near Laurencekirk, before moving north and spending 15 years self-employed.

What was your biggest achievement while working for Gray & Adams?

One of my biggest achievements at Gray & Adams was my time in the technical office and later moving to a different office after COVID to focus on training and overseeing processes across various departments. This allowed me to ensure consistency and improve efficiency throughout the company.

What did you enjoy most about working for Gray & Adams?

Gray & Adams was a great place to work and most of the lads were easy to get on with. I particularly liked reviewing the trailers and finding ways to improve them, making tasks easier and more efficient for the next person.

What are your plans for retirement?

For retirement, I’m taking things day by day rather than making firm plans. I’m hoping to travel with my partner next year, with trips to Florida and New Zealand in mind.

James and Peter Gray would like to thank Jim for his commitment to the company and wish him all the best in his retirement going forward.