Rose Calendars staff celebrate 170 years

Print Solutions

With over 170 years of experience between them, long serving members of staff at the Colchester based firm Rose Calendars have been recognised with awards.

Five people, two of whom are sisters, were presented with certificates and awards which clearly demonstrate the knowledge and experience the loyal staff have. With over 400 years of service amongst the company’s staff, they have seen many changes and developments over the years in the way calendars are produced and the machinery used to produce more than 1.5 million calendars a year.

The longest serving member of staff is guillotine operator John Battersby, who has clocked up a record breaking 48 years at the company. The calendar pages are guillotined by John and then used to create the varied titles in the range, being collated in the factory and finished using specialist binding machinery.

Keith Osborne is the second longest serving member of staff, clocking in at 40 years of service with the company. Having worked his way up through the business, he too began work as a young man operating printing machinery.

Julie May and Christine Taylor are sisters, and have both worked for the company for 34 and 30 years respectively, with Julie about to reach her next milestone of 35 years this year. Julie recalls covering maternity leave for her sister when she left to have her son. She remembers it well as he celebrates his 35th birthday this year. Both ladies work in the bindery, where the calendars are all finished, bound and packed. Julie and Christine are assisted by a team of other workers, who ensure all the calendars are dispatched at the end of the year.

Dan Clarke, print supervisor celebrates 25 years with the company, having begun his position as apprentice at the age of 18. He now manages the digital side of the business, producing specialist and tailored work.

Managing director Michael Rose said, ‘We are extremely proud of our workforce, who demonstrate continued commitment and high levels of skill in the production of our calendars. To have been established in Colchester since 1908 and to have over 400 years of experience amongst our long serving staff, is a true credit and I’m very honoured to be a part of this.’