Brian Setchell joined Standen Engineering Ltd, or rather FA Standen & Sons as the company was then known, in 1966.


L-R: Owen Blake managing director, 44 years’ service; Brian Setchell, 50 years’ service; Andy Bone chairman, 38 years’ service

Celebrating 50 years with Standen this month, Brian started as an office junior with the company, but keen to progress and get more ‘hands-on’ experience, he was soon doing additional overtime on the shop floor with the production team.

Standen was in 1966 well known all over the world for its sugar beet machines; early models included the Standen Rapide, Beetmaster, rotary hoe, a range of potato diggers and specialist tractor mounted hoes. Brian has seen many changes in the company and played an all-important role in its transition from beet to potato machinery specialism during the 1980s. In 1993, Brian was promoted to the position of parts manager.

Brian Setchell is a familiar face to the many customers that have visited the Ely factory over the years. Often seen cycling the 6 miles across the city to and from his work, Brian has many a time made a special journey to open up the stores when parts are urgently needed out of hours.

As well as the product changes which now sees potato bed formers, rotary tillers, de-stoners, planters toppers and harvesters coming down the company’s production lines, Brian has seen huge changes to stock control and communication brought about by computerisation.

Brian continues at Standen in a supporting role for just two days a week; he will enjoy his free time with his hobbies which include gardening.