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Cheers to 50 years! Joy for Jeanette as she celebrates exceptional career milestone

When it comes to job commitment and being a loyal staff member, Jeanette Rotheroe is a gold star example.

For the devoted employee is celebrating a remarkable 50 years of service with the same organisation – having first joined Adare SEC (then Kalamazoo Security Print) straight after leaving school as a teenager.

Now 65-years-old, Jeanette celebrated her magnificent milestone as the organisation’s longest-serving employee with a special presentation and gifts at Adare SEC’s site in Redditch to commemorate her incredible commitment to the company.

“It was so special to celebrate my milestone, it’s something I won’t forget and I’m so proud to have been with a company where I’ve made so many friends over the last 50 years,” said Jeanette, of Longbridge, Birmingham.


“I’ve enjoyed so many happy moments here such as watching my colleagues get married, have children and set-up a life for their families whilst being here for 20, 30 or 40 years. It’s been a pleasure to see my friends be happy in their careers and they are a big reason as to why I’ve enjoyed my job so much.”

Over her half century of working with the same organisation, Jeanette has seen a vast amount of changes within the industry and recalls her first-ever job which was binding documents for the-then Kalamazoo Security Print at Northfield, Birmingham, in 1968.

“I couldn’t wait to apply for a job when it came up from Kalamazoo – everyone knew about them and what they did for the area, so I was so excited when I got the job after leaving school,” said the grandmother-of-two.

“I was employed to bind paper documents for Kalamazoo’s customers and I felt like I had a lot of responsibility doing that job. I worked 40 hours-a-week, was paid £4.50 and loved every minute.”

Jeanette proved her potential straightaway, progressing into a role where she worked in the equipment factory preparing leather book binders, before technology came into force and she used a computer to upload files with technical information onto floppy disks.

Leaving no stone unturned, Jeanette wanted to expand her skills even further as she worked with the mailing team to distribute post and joined the packing room to package and distribute parcels.

Staying on the factory floor at Adare SEC’s Redditch base in Claybrook Drive, Jeanette now takes on the duty of producing thousands of visitors passes each day for the leading Secure and Essential Communication Solutions company.

“Although we’ve had to adapt to changes, it’s been a chance to really challenge myself. I think the biggest change for me was switching premises from Northfield to Redditch in 2009. It was a big change moving to a new location but that’s seen the organisation go from strength to strength,” added Jeanette.

And even though she could retire, Jeanette has no plans to stop anytime soon – and has only just reduced her hours to four-days-a-week!

She said: “I use my extra day off to go out with friends, spend time with my pet Chihuahua Bailey or gardening which I love. Although I was so used to working five-days-a-week, I’ve loved using my extra day to spend it with family and friends. They all keep asking me when I’m going to retire, I just keep saying ‘I will retire when I’m ready!’”

Proud Tina Raven, a production control manager at Adare SEC, added: “Jeanette is a kind, loyal, funny and considerate person who cherishes her friends and always sees the best in people. It’s a remarkable achievement to reach 50 years with the same company and she’s a real asset to Adare SEC. We are all really proud of her.”