A COCKERMOUTH woman has celebrated a 'unique achievement', being the first person to celebrate 50 years working at a well-known company in the town.
Katrina Zirins has been celebrating the exceptional milestone of reaching 50 years’ service with her friends and colleagues at James Walker & Co, the company which she joined as a teenager on February 5, 1973.
She is unique in passing the 50-year milestone, though the company’s Long Service Award book holds a list of 222 people who have reached 25 years' service and 42 employees who have achieved 40 years’ service.
Katrina was treated to a buffet lunch made by her work colleagues last Thursday, February 2 before also celebrating with the company chairman, Peter Needham, with lunch at the Lyzzick Hall hotel on Friday and finally with warm goodbyes and best wishes from current and past colleagues at the factory in Cockermouth on Monday, February 5 to mark both 50 years’ service and her retirement.
During the lunch on Friday, February 3 Katrinia was presented with her third Long Service Award certificate by Peter Needham - having previously received certificates at 25 and 40 years.
Sadly, her 25-year certificate was lost in the 2009 floods.
On Monday she became the first James Walker & Co employee to sign the 50 year column in the Long Service Award Book.
Ed Surman, site director, said: "It was a privilege for us to be able to mark and celebrate this very special and unique achievement with Katrina, she has been a loyal and committed employee, we are grateful for her dedication and commitment to the company.
"We wish her a long, happy, healthy and fulfilled retirement and we look forward to meeting her in the town and catching up with her for many years to come".
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Speaking about her career, Katrina said: "I'm very proud of the fact I have been here for 50 years.
"I live in town so it's always been a handy place to come to and it's been for me a very good team to work for - so I am leaving with very mixed feelings.
"I'm humbled actually, everyone has been absolutely brilliant.
"I've seen a lot of changes. When I first started it was a quarter of the size it is now and it's just built and built."
Katrina will now spend her retirement looking for voluntary work and 'hopefully getting some holidays in'.
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