Bedmaker Airsprung Group is celebrating employee Angela Withey, who has reached 60 years of service with the business.
Last week, Airsprung's directors and staff, past and present, gathered with members of Angela's family in the company's Trowbridge showroom for a buffet lunch to celebrate her achievement and to present her with gifts to mark the milestone.
In 1964, Angela left school, and started work at Airsprung Beds an office junior in the wages department. Since then, she has risen to run the whole process, states the group: "Needless to say, the role is practically unrecognisable today from those early days. Working with handwritten ledgers, the noise of dozens of typewriters in the background, even down to Angela walking from the bank with a briefcase of cash for the weekly wages!"
Airsprung FD Richard Panes paid tribute to Angela's achievements, highlighting her unswerving ability to adapt to the changing times, commenting, "She has taken every technological development in her stride, and dedicated her spare time to learning whole new skillsets to stay ahead of the game." He also praised her "unfailing dedication and professionalism".
After a presentation of gifts, flowers and a cake, Angela reminisced about her six decades with the business, and showed off some of the many press cuttings she had from over the years – centre stage was her being crowned Miss Airsprung in 1978.
"Although this may not be quite politically correct these days, if anybody could be said to embody Airsprung, it is Angela," concludes the group.
