DavyMarkham - News
60s Teenager Celebrates Over 40 Years Working At DavyMarkham

In 1968, Britain's best selling car was the Austin 1100, the Ford Escort was launched, Mary Quant's miniskirt became a classic, men wore hipster loons, we watched Z Cars and The Forsyte Saga, and ate at Wimpy Bars and Lyons Corner Houses. That year's big films were Barbarella and 2001: A Space Odyssey, the Beatles helped LP sales to soar, the first tandoori ovens were introduced, Sheffield Wednesday finished 15th in Division One, while United were 9th in Division Two, having been relegated the previous season. It was also the year that 15 year old Steve Brooks started work in Sheffield as an apprentice welder.

More than forty years on, Steve is still working for heavy engineering company DavyMarkham at the same Darnall Works: now a qualified Chargehand/Welder, he is responsible for all practical aspects of steel fabrication. His outstanding service to the company was recognised at a recent works ceremony, where he and other employees were presented with long-service awards by Managing Director, Kevin Parkin.

Kevin Parkin (right) presents Steve Brooks with long service certificate.

"It is always a pleasure to congratulate employees for their dedication and hard work, but it is especially rewarding when you are thanking a colleague for dedicating the whole of his working life to the company," says Kevin Parkin. "We value members of staff like Steve very highly and, now that we have introduced our apprentice training scheme, we can be sure that his knowledge and skills, as well as those of other long-standing employees, will be successfully passed on to a new generation of engineers and craftsmen."

Not that 40 years with the same company has been without variety and interest. During his career with DavyMarkham, Steve has worked on major engineering projects across the UK and around the world. He spent a year in Dover working on the ground-breaking Channel Tunnel boring machine, was seconded to hydroelectric plants in Argentina, the Sudan, Loch Ness and Wales, and was engaged on the iconic Thames Barrier project. Reflecting the company's proud history of manufacturing mine hoists and equipment, Steve also operated at numerous coal mines in the UK, as well as a cement quarry in Ireland.

Steve, who is married with one daughter at University and lives in Swanwick, Derbyshire, reflects positively on his time with DavyMarkham: "It's been quite a varied job and I've made some good friends over the years. I'm glad they've now reinstated the apprentice scheme, which is how I joined, because we need young people in the industry to preserve these skills. Although I must say that, looking back, welding technology has changed surprisingly little over the past 40 years."