The award-winning Tamworth manufacturer, Wearwell is waving goodbye to one of its longest serving members of staff this month as operations director Garry Clayton retires after 43 years of service.

Clayton was just 17 and a school leaver when he joined Wearwell as a cutter. He quickly progressed through the ranks, moving to the design team after three years on the factory floor. Almost a decade later, he was promoted to production manager and made responsible for a team of people. He retires as operations director, more than four decades later. 

A well-known figure in the textiles industry, earlier this year Clayton received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Industry Clothing Awards – where Wearwell also scooped the Best UK Manufacturer gong for the second consecutive year.

Garry Clayton says: “It has been very rewarding to watch the company evolve over the last 43 years and help shape some of the transformations that have taken place. The time is simply right for me to hang up my boots and focus on enjoying my family. It will be a difficult transition I’m sure as my career has always been my passion so I’ll need to get my kicks elsewhere!

“To all of the wonderful people whom I have had the opportunity to work with over the past 43 years – thank you. Since it was announced that I would be retiring, I have been giving my time at Wearwell a lot of thought and I would like to take this moment to express my sincere gratitude to current and past employees of Wearwell for making these memories a fond and joyful experience.

“As I ride off into the proverbial sunset, I am planning to throw my energies into all those hobbies and activities I didn’t have time to do while working. My wife is extremely keen to introduce me to all sorts of new leisure activities aimed I’m sure, at tiring me out!”

Clayton will be succeeded at Wearwell by the former Dimensions Group Sourcing Director and prominent figure in the workwear field, Andy Fawcett. 

Wearwell CEO Richard Wright said, “Working with Garry has been a pleasure – and what he doesn’t know about the factory floor really isn’t worth knowing. He has been a constant for Wearwell for more than 40 years and will be sorely missed by us all. We wish him well for a wonderful retirement and thank him for his many contributions and achievements over the years.”

To find out more about Wearwell, visit: https://www.wearwell.co.uk