12 Dec A Q&A with recent Gray & Adams Retiree’s
Gray & Adams is proud of its people and we recognise that their commitment and expertise is the key to the long success of the business to date. We have been fortunate enough to have had many long-serving employees over the years and we believe it is important to have their dedication and hard work recognised.
In September 2023, Gray & Adams celebrated the retirement of Gordon Scott, a long-serving Line Manager in the Panel Welding Department. In October, we also celebrated the retirement of long-serving Panel Manufacturing Operative, Alexander Sinclair. We caught up with Gordon and Alexander after their first few weeks of retirement to find out more about their time at Gray & Adams.
Gordon Scott – Line Manager (Panel Welding Department)
Retired – 26 years’ service
What was your role at Gray & Adams and tell me about your day-to-day responsibilities?
I was the line manager for the panel welding department. My responsibilities were to get drawings and sort drawings, order all the materials for jobs, and then make sure all drawings went to the correct employee. I managed the daily time sheets, signed off on all finished jobs on the computer and liaised with the panel shop and foam fill to make sure all the welding jobs were finished and delivered on time.
What brought you to Gray & Adams?
My contract came to an end offshore and a friend got me a job at Gray & Adams. It was great to work close to home welding. Walking or cycling to work kept me fit.
What was your biggest achievement while working for Gray & Adams?
My biggest achievement getting promoted to line manager.
What was the best thing about working for Gray & Adams?
Gray & Adams is a local company that looks after their workforce. They are family orientated, have a good pension scheme and I have enjoyed working there for 26 years, I always felt welcome.
Alexander Sinclair – Panel Manufacturing Operative
Retired – 36 years’ service
What was your role at Gray & Adams and tell me about your day-to-day responsibilities?
I spent my entire 36 1⁄2 years with Gray & Adams in the panel manufacturing department, specifically in the manufacture and gluing of panels. As a team leader, my responsibility was to ensure the completion of the daily programme. This involved ensuring that panels were constructed according to drawings by some team members, organising other team members to prepare for the next panel, and ensuring materials from other departments were ready.
What brought you to Gray & Adams?
I was unemployed at the time and my father, who had worked at Gray & Adams for 5 years, encouraged me to apply. My first Line Manager was my uncle Wullie, who at the time had been with the company for over 30 years. So perhaps I was carrying on a family tradition. Since I joined Gray & Adams my cousin has also joined in the office. A big factor in staying with Gray & Adams was working with very good people. They were not only good at their job but also good company. The building up of a rapport and friendship went beyond mere workmates.
What was your biggest achievement while working for Gray & Adams?
Looking back, I can reflect on so many changes, both in the introduction of machinery and the specification of the vehicles. In my time we introduced double-deckers, custodial vehicles, curved roofs and much more. So perhaps my biggest achievement was not standing still and being prepared to try new ways of doing things and building new products.
If you could have done someone else’s job (at Gray & Adams) for the day, whose would it have been and why?
I have never thought that there was another job I would like to do. We are part of a team, and each person plays a part in the finished product. I was happy to be able to say at the end of each day that not only had I played my part but had done a good job. I often thought that the first thing that someone looked at in a vehicle was a side panel, if I had done my job well then their first impression would be good.
What was the best thing about working for Gray & Adams?
Over the years it was good to work for a company that grew and developed. But by far the best thing was the people. Not only did I get to work with some very skilled workers, but the people gave me a lot of support. In recent years my health was not the best, with arthritis and depression. During these times I received support from line managers and fellow workers. The company also supported me and made changes to help me to continue. Last year my wife, Helen, was critically ill (she is making a steady recovery) again line managers and co-workers showed a great deal of concern and support at a difficult time. Also, the company showed their concern and supported me, allowing me to reduce my hours to help Helen. Without doubt, the best part of Gray & Adams is the people, all the way through. They make Gray & Adams.