A MANAGER with Harpenden construction group Jarvis is hanging up his hard hat and retiring from the company after 47 years.

Staff at the construction group’s headquarters hosted a party for popular contracts manager Jim Buckingham, attended by over 100 colleagues.

During his time with Jarvis, Jim oversaw an estimated 150 contracts, including major projects for Hillingdon Hospital, and a recovery ward for heart transplant patients at Harefield Hospital.

Jim, 74, who started with Jarvis as a carpenter and trainee site manager, was one of the company’s longest-serving staff members. Others in the group are now vying for the title – a recent survey found that over 40 per cent of staff at Jarvis have been with the company for over 10 years.

Jim said: “Jarvis is a friendly company and I’ve really enjoyed my time here. I’ll particularly miss the banter with the other contract managers. There were six of us, and between us we’ve worked for the company for 170 years!”

Jim plans to spend his retirement playing golf, watching sport, and spending time with his six grandchildren. “Plus”, he joked, “I’ll be catching up with some of the jobs at home that I haven’t done over the past 50 years – my wife’s got a list!”