50 years with one company

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Mike Eade on the printing press
Mike Eade on the printing press

Printing technician, Mike Eade, has celebrated his retirement after a full 50 years with the same firm – Nationwide Print in St Austell.

Eade’s retirement party marked the end of a working life which spanned half a century, in which he has witnessed unprecedented changes in his chosen industry fuelled by technological developments.

He joined Nationwide Print as an apprentice in 1965, which included the first three years at Plymouth College of Art and Design, then two years at Exeter College of Art and Design, and a final year at Bristol where he learnt how to use a rotary press.

He was presented with a National Apprenticeship Award at The Dorchester Hotel in London at the start of his career; a great achievement and an early indication of his ability in the industry which was to become his vocation for an entire working life.

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Mike Eade in London to collect his National Apprenticeship Award at the start of his career

 

In those days Nationwide Print was known as H Hocking & Son: the company was founded in the mid-thirties and has remained a family affair, which is now overseen by Julian Hocking, owner and managing director.

Hocking paid testament to Mike’s dedication, saying: “Mike has been a superlative press-minder; his loyalty to the firm is unsurpassed and he will be sorely missed by us all after 50 years of service.”

Eade’s leaving party was held at The Polgooth Inn near his home, and was attended by the entire Nationwide Print team as well as a large contingent of former employees.

He said: “It’s been amazing seeing the changes that have taken place in the printing industry, and I’m proud to say that I was part of a family firm that invested in its people as well as technology – I couldn’t have asked for a better place to work for half a century!”