A factory worker at copper tube manufacturer Lawton Tubes is celebrating 50 years with the business, having joined the Coventry-based company as a 17-year-old in September 1976.
Dave White joined Lawton Tubes after being made redundant by another firm, starting out on the draw benches at the company’s Torrington Avenue site, a job that involves the use of machines to draw copper tube down to the required size. Dave has continued working in similar roles alongside several generations of the Lawton family, before moving on to the factory flowline in recent years.
During his time with the company, White has witnessed many changes on the factory floor.
“The job was much more physical back in the day, especially with unloading the lorries by hand, but technology has changed all of that now – that has probably been the biggest change,” he said.
Reflecting on his five decades with Lawton Tubes, White said: “It’s been solid, stable employment for me over the years, and I have loved every second of it.”
However, it’s a personal milestone in the 1980s that stands out above all others: “My biggest highlight would have to be meeting my wife at a colleague’s party. So if it wasn’t for Lawton Tubes I would never have met my wife, so I thank them for that!”
White’s long service has also coincided with a lasting friendship with factory floor colleague Chris Dyne, who is due to reach 40 years with the company in 2027. The pair have known each other since they were 15. Talking about White, Dyne said: “I have always known him to be a dedicated and hard worker, and a great example for others to follow, including myself.” He added that the company’s family-run culture had helped foster long-term loyalty among its workforce.
Giles Lawton, Managing Director of Operations at Lawton Tubes, said: “Fifty years with one company is something you very rarely see today, and Dave has earned the thanks of everyone here,” he said.
“He joined us when a big job on the draw bench needed four people, and he has been part of every change since. That kind of experience and loyalty has helped carry this family business through more than a century.”
Lawton congratulated White on behalf of the board and the Lawton family, thanking him for his contribution to the business.
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