CURRENT and former colleagues joined Clive Rayson for a celebratory lunch when he retired after over 46 years with J Gliddon & Sons Ltd on Friday April 12.

Now he intends to devote more time to his pastime – rally driving. Although he has a reputation as a fine driver, he plans to be navigator to his son John.

Clive started at Gliddons on April 4, 1973 as an engineer and was known for being a perfectionist. He later took the role of service manager, one of the most challenging positions in the farm machinery industry.

He became a property manager when the company changed its direction away from the agricultural industry as its partners, Massey Ferguson and later Renault, became the subjects of take overs.

Clive, with his wife Sue, was joined for lunch by over 45 past and present colleagues, two of whom, Derek Tremlett and Robert Gleenslade, had each been with the company over 50 years.