EVEN at 90 years old, long-serving Apetito employee Dennis Gerrish has cycled to work every day, but after 60 years with the firm he has decided to retire.

Mr Gerrish’s career with the company started in the 1950s when, at the age of 30, he joined the Trowbridge company as a mechanic in the motor department at the old Waldens Farm Foods, staying until 1989.

He was then asked to return as a groundsman at the Canal Road headquarters and carried on working for the company after it was taken over by German firm Apetito in 1996.

His dedication was recognised with the Unsung Hero Award at the company’s annual ceremony last month.

Mr Gerrish was unable to make the event, so he was presented with his award at a surprise lunch last Wednesday, with wife Betty, son Simon and daughter Jo Cowley in attendance.

Mr Gerrish, who turned 90 on Christmas Eve, said: “It’s been wonderful to work here and times have changed a great deal since I started on the site. I’ve made lots of good friends, who I will miss enormously.

“I have cycled into work every day for all these years and it has almost become like a second home for me.”

Chief executive Paul Freeston said: “When Dennis started at Canal Road in 1954, Winston Churchill was Prime Minister, rationing was still in place and Queen Elizabeth II had been on the throne for just two years.

“His tireless enthusiasm and dedication to the company over such a long time is something we want to recognise.

“Dennis has been part of our company for so long, he was here before I was even born, and he is an amazing guy. We are all going to miss him enormously, as this is the end of an era.”