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MJ Abbott employee clocks up 40 years of service
MJ Abbott's longest serving employee, David Whatley, reached the significant milestone of 40 years' service in 2012. The Company's Managing Director, Jonathan Abbott, presented David with a commemorative tankard at MJ Abbott's annual Christmas Lunch on 21st December 2012.
David Whatley
David joined Michael Abbott's agricultural contracting business in October 1972 from his previous job as a tyre fitter with ATS in Salisbury.
Over the years David has turned his hand to many roles, adapting as required as the business developed and grew. In the early days he worked exclusively in the agricultural contracting arm of the business, driving tractors, combine harvesters and silage making machinery.
In the 1990s the opportunity arose to become MJ Abbott's low loader driver with the acquisition of its first low loader, and David duly undertook his HGV training and test and took on the role like a duck to water, hauling MJ Abbott's drainage and construction equipment from job to job for many years.
In more recent times David has performed a valuable role maintaining newly constructed and renovated sports fields during the growing in period, and delivering goods for the recently launched MJ Abbott Direct business.
Jonathan Abbott commented: "David has been a loyal and hardworking employee over many years with MJ Abbott, and it was only right that we should mark the occasion of his reaching the magnificent milestone of 40 years' service. I am sure he plans to carry on for a good few years too!"
