South-east England based dealership group Ernest Doe & Sons have recently seen the retirements of two long-standing employees, who have 94 years of service between them!
Les Boniface
With an impressive career spanning 47 years, Friday 31 March marked the start of a well-deserved retirement for Les Boniface.
Managing director, Colin Doe (left) with Les Boniface
Les joined Ernest Doe & Sons Limited as a Service Apprentice on 15th May 1969 at the age of 15, under the supervision of the Ulting Service Manager at the time, George Claydon. His first payslip consisted of 3 pounds, 13 shillings and threepence!
In 1978, Les was promoted to a Company Demonstrator - a position that he consequently reflected upon as a very satisfying phase of his career. Other noteworthy highlights for Les were receiving a gold watch in 1994 for 25 years’ loyal service and, one year later, being promoted to the position of Braintree Branch Manager, a post he held for the remaining 22 years of his career with Ernest Doe.
Many of Les’ colleagues, both past and present, as well as a number of business associates who have also become friends over the past 47 years, joined Les, his wife Debbie and son Bradley, to celebrate his retirement at Timbers Restaurant at Blake End in Braintree recently. The evening involved a great deal of laughter and fond reminiscing, particularly when managing director, Colin Doe, and sales director, Graham Parker, both gave speeches reflecting on various aspects of Les’ time spent with the company.
The Directors and Staff at Ernest Doe would like to thank Les for his loyal contribution to the company and wish him a happy, healthy and fulfilled retirement, spending quality time with his family (and his motorbikes!).
Tony Houlding
After an equally impressive 47 years’ service working for the Doe family, first at Colchester Tractors Ltd, then at Ernest Doe and Sons Ltd, April marks the start of Tony Houlding’s well-deserved retirement.
Colin Doe presents Tony Houlding (right) with his retirement gift
Tony joined Colchester Tractors Ltd back in 1970 as a 16 year old Service Apprentice. He served a four year apprenticeship, initially working with different people in the workshop and then progressing on to a stint out on the road under the tutorage of Walter Miller, an extremely knowledgeable combine technician at the time. Having completed his training, Tony served several years as a mobile technician before being promoted to Service Supervisor, where he took on responsibility for all service vans from Colchester. He received a gold watch to commemorate 25 years’ loyal service in 1995.
Tony spent the latter part of his career as lorry loader Cormach, PM and Maxilift crane specialist. He would work out the stability load calculations and see the design and installation through to completion. This married up two elements from which he drew great job satisfaction, working with a great team of people and mounting huge loader cranes onto lorries!
The Directors and staff at Ernest Doe would like to thank Tony for his loyal service and wish him a very long, happy and healthy retirement.
