FIFTY years ago England won the World Cup, the first British credit card was launched, Lennon said The Beatles were 'bigger than Jesus' and Eric Fielding took his first steps in a lifelong career with Avon Rubber.

Despite protestations from his father, who said he was moving into an outdated business, Mr Fielding, joined Avon in 1966 as a trainee estimator.

As part of his job he was supposed to work out the costs of supplying products and services and remembers fondly when his finance director reprimanded him to keep in mind that the business was not just about numbers but money as well.

As one of the company’s longest standing employees he still remembers the day he arrived and will complete 50 years on Monday, July 18.

Now only working part time, Mr Fielding, of Hazelwood Road, Melksham, said: “Back in those days Avon made anything for anyone. We employed 4,800 on the Melksham site alone, not counting other sites.

“When I joined there was about 9,600 in total and three abroad. It has shrunk and business is more competitive but it is still the same.

“I cannot complain about the life I have had. The team spirit is always here and if you do not have team spirit you might as well pack up and go.

“When you are having sad days, like 25% of staff being made redundant, it is important."

Mr Fielding is married to Jean, with whom he has a daughter Ann-Marie Dowling, who currently works as the head teacher of Avonside Primary in Bournemouth.

Originally from Bath, he moved to Melksham as a child when his father was in the RAF at the camp in Bowerhill.

"Avon has always matched the deals of other companies and my wife is a local girl and wanted to stay and I cannot blame her. It is not a bad place to live," he said.

“I did not think that I would stay here for the rest of my life.

"When I got the job I was fortunate that there were not many people as good as me at mental arithmetic. The kids these days have got their little calculators."