Production Director Retires

Nigel Wilde, who led the Production function at Paneltex for 32 ½ years, has cleared out his office and retired! A practical engineer through and through, Nigel was a popular and well-liked ‘hands-on’ colleague for all the people working on the Paneltex sites in Hull, Blyborough, Long Stratton and Andover. Over the years he became particularly invaluable in leading special projects, such as large cold store installations throughout the UK and Europe and could often be found somewhere on the shop floor, looking for solutions to issues of all shapes and sizes and always coming up with an innovative and workable answer.

Starting work at 16 on the shop floor at Massey International Coachbuilders in Market Weighton, Nigel worked his way up, gaining experience in many areas and studying through day release for a BTec in Mechanical Engineering and a City & Guilds qualification in Bodybuilding. After a brief spell at North Midland Truck Engineering in Sheffield, he was persuaded by Chris Berridge, who had worked with him in Market Weighton, to join the fledgling Paneltex management team. Chris said, “There are really not enough words to express my thanks to Nigel for all his contributions to the development and growth of the company – he has been an inspiration to colleagues young and old and will be sorely missed. We all wish him a long and happy retirement!” A sentiment echoed by us all…

He will now undoubtedly be busy in his workshop at home, solving problems and making things, perhaps using the torque wrenches which were presented to him on his last day, as a reminder of a long and fruitful career at Paneltex!