PICTURE STORY: SUN SETS ON 128 YEARS LOYALTY AND EXPERIENCE

Posted 28 August 2002

FOUR MEMBERS of staff retired from Harper Adams University College, near Newport, this summer with a total of 128 years service between them.

Two members of the Domestic Services department, one member of the Catering team and a Senior Lecturer, officially hung up the respective tools of their trade at a special presentation last month.

Helen Porter, from Tibberton, retired from her job as a Domestic Assistant after 39 years service. Helen started working for Harper Adams in 1963 and her sisters Olive Dodd and Eileen Rudd, both former employees of the University College, are pictured (1) joining her and Principal Professor Wynne Jones at her retirement. During the combined careers of these three sisters, this family alone devoted more than 100 years of service to Harper Adams!

Also bidding the Domestic Services department a fond farewell, was Brenda Talbot, pictured (2) with long-time colleague Helen Porter and Domestic Services Manager Shan Dudleston. Brenda first worked for Harper Adams in 1981 and retires from her post as Domestic Assistant after 21 years service.

Edgmond resident Betty Booth joined Harper Adams in 1972 and has worked in the Catering department for the last 30 years. She is pictured (3) with the former bursar of the University College Colonel John Taylor, who attended to wish Betty well for the future, and with her husband Tony Booth.

The final retirement is that of Senior Lecturer Roy Jefferson, known affectionately by generations of students as Uncle Roy. Roy was a student at Harper Adams on the National Diploma in Agriculture from 1957 until '59 and returned as a member of staff in 1964.

During his 38 years with the College, Roy worked as a Crops Lecturer and was a staunch supporter of the Harper Adams Club, a network for ex-students, serving as the Club Committee's Social Organiser between 1968 and '82. He is pictured (4) with his wife Avril, receiving a watercolour of the historic main building at Harper Adams from the Head of the Environment Group Dr Paul Beckwith.

(Ends)

Captions:

(1) (L-R) Helen Porter with her sisters Olive Dodd and Eileen Rudd and the Principal of Harper Adams University College Professor Wynne Jones.

(2) Domestic Services Manager Mrs Shan Dudleston (Centre) with the retiring members of her department Helen Porter and Brenda Talbot at their presentation.

(3) (L-R) Former bursar Colonel John Taylor and Tony Booth pictured after the presentation to Betty Booth.

(4) (L-R) Dr Paul Beckwith presents a watercolour to Roy Jefferson as his wife Avril Jefferson looks on.