Clive ‘Kipper’ Grimwood set to retire after celebrating 50 years working at Baytree Garden Centre

Having a job for life now seems a rarity these days but one man is proving the exception to the rule after celebrating his 50th anniversary of working at a well-known garden centre.

Clive Grimwood, known as Kipper, began working in the horticultural industry at Baytree Garden Centre, Weston, at the age of 16 when he was taken on as an apprentice.

The 66-year-old delivery driver, who was born in Moulton, plans to retire in October following a working life being outdoors.

He said: “I actually started as a boy aged 14 after school for some pocket money.

“Reinhard Biehler asked me to stay on and offered me an apprenticeship at 16.

“I did four days a week and a day at college in either Holbeach or Wisbech.”

The dedicated employee has seen many changes at the well-known garden centre since he started as a youngster.

He said: “It was nothing like it is now.

“It was a nursery with acres of fields.

“The shop was a plastic hut.”

But now the garden centre not only sells everything related to gardening but also boasts a variety of concessions and a cafe.

Kipper would get his hands dirty with anything that came his way such as budding roses, cutting, propagation, building and tractor driving.

He said: “I have dug the footings for most of the buildings here and been out in the fields on the digger.

“Now I am a delivery driver and drive the 18 tonne lorry.

“I am helpful when I get to a customer - if I can help somebody I will.”

The divorced father-of-three sadly lost one of his children to diabetes in adult life but lives with his family close to where he was born.

He said: “The last few years have gone quite quickly.

“I am happy about retiring and I am looking forward to it.

“I will do a bit of gardening and I have a motorbike - Kowasaki SX3000 - and a motorhome which I bought with some pension money.

“I like watching bike racing and I have travelled to France.”

Although Kipper says he is ‘not as strong as I used to be’ he explains the reason for his long service at the garden centre.

He said: “It is comfortable here, like a family, and I had no ambition to move anywhere else.”

Can you beat Kipper’s 50 years of service at the same employer? Post a comment below…