After 34 years on the clock, Gordon Williams is finally getting a lie-in.
The Kirkbuddo local has officially retired, having turned 68 in December, and is now trading the rumble of heavy machinery for the peace of his garden and long walks with his wife Margaret and their collie-cross, Daisy.
Gordon’s association with Ringlink began back in 1991 when he was working on farms, and he heard about a new labour service being set up by Graham Bruce.
“I can’t quite remember who told me,” said Gordon, looking back on those early days. “I was going about the farms and someone mentioned Ringlink. I was self-employed at the time, but I signed up and then never really looked back.”
A career of two halves
His time with the organisation has been a perfect split. He spent 17 years as a self-employed worker before moving to become a Ringlink Services worker for a further 17 years, eight months and three days.
While the paperwork changed, the variety of the work remained as broad as ever.
“To be honest, there is not a lot of difference between the two,” he said. “The jobs come and go regardless, but Ringlink always seemed to be able to find me something. They are really quite flexible and help a lot of people get jobs, which is a good thing.”
That flexibility saw Gordon taking on roles that gave a breadth of experiences compared to a farm job. He spent 12 years with Geddes at their Wellbank skip site, something he said really made him look at things differently.
“Working at the skip site made me look at what is thrown out and what is regarded as waste in a different way,” he said. “It is amazing what people get rid of.”
From smoking grain to blasting rock
One of the more unusual chapters of his career took him to the Glenesk Maltings at Hillside. There, Gordon found himself on the night shift, stoking the boilers to smoke grain. It wasn’t just any grain, though – it was destined for Japan to be turned into whisky.
However, the bulk of his recent years was spent at Waulkmill Quarry. For Gordon, the sheer scale of the operation never quite lost its magic. He remembers finding out about the science of making tar, where the stones need a good spec and a certain hardness to make the grade.
“Working at a quarry opens your eyes,” he said. “The first time you see a rock face being blasted, it is quite the sight. The amazement fades a bit after you have seen 20 of them, but seeing a rock face being turned into little stones is always impressive.”
When Covid temporarily silenced the quarry in 2020, Gordon didn’t sit idle. Ringlink found him a role at Lour Estates near Forfar, where he spent a year helping out the forester. When things opened back up in 2021, he returned to the quarry until just before his retirement.
Keeping up with the times
Having seen three decades of industry change, Gordon has a unique perspective on the “good and the bad” of progress. While he admits to being “a bit of a Neanderthal” when it comes to the latest computerised tractors, he is a firm believer in the power of practical skills.
“When I started, I was working crushers and screeners, but now you need a ticket for everything,” he said. “I have fallen behind a little on the farm technology side since I have been at the quarry, but I always seemed to get through it. I am not saying I haven’t had to bluff myself a few times, but they invariably asked me back again so I was obviously doing something right.”
It is this belief in solid foundations that makes him such a supporter of Ringlink’s Land-based Pre-apprenticeship scheme. He believes teaching young people these skills early means they never have to turn up at a workplace feeling like they haven’t got a clue what is going on.
The long road home
Now that the keys are handed back, Gordon is looking forward to life at a different pace.
He is a keen cyclist and he is planning to tackle the garden, perhaps even trying his hand at growing vegetables – something the day was rarely long enough for when he was on the clock at work.
Alongside his wife Margaret, he also aims to spend more time with their six grandchildren.
He has already been putting his retirement gift vouchers to good use, planning some new tool purchases and enjoying a celebratory meal at the Airlie Arms in Kirriemuir.
“I feel my time is now my own,” he said. “I’ve not got to be up somewhere, clocking on at 7am every morning. It is a good feeling.”
A word from the team
Ringlink managing director Graham Bruce (left) looks on as labour manager Graham Anderson (right) presents Gordon Williams and wife Margaret with retirement gifts
Ringlink’s Labour Manager Graham Anderson was quick to praise Gordon’s contribution over the decades.
“Gordon has been a real hard worker for us and his 34 years of service is a testament to his work ethic and versatility.
“Whether he was in a tractor, a quarry or a malting shed, he just got the job done. He represents exactly what we look for in our workers – reliability, a good set of skills and a willingness to turn his hand to anything.
“We wish him and Margaret a very long and happy retirement.”
