When Ray Cross and Rod Rogers joined the Cartwright Group 49 and 46 years ago respectively, it was a very different business.
Initially operating out of one site in Ocean Street in Broadheath, every trailer was built by hand – all from timber. There was just one production line operated by fewer than 30 employees.
Today, the company has grown to three production lines, an output of up to 120 trailers per week, and over 1,000 staff including 110 apprentices.
Yet both Ray and Rod, Cartwright’s longest serving current employees, have stood the test of time through the many changes which have taken place over the years – and later this month, they will clock out for the last time.
Ray, 64, who lives in Sale Moor and is employed as a storesman, first joined Cartwright when he was just 15. Initially working in bodybuilding, he moved to the paintshop where he worked as a sprayer. Twenty years later he moved into stores where he has worked for nearly 25 years.
Rod, 68, lives in Cheadle and describes his role as a ‘bit of everything’. Initially joining the company at the age of 24, he has been involved in every aspect of bodybuilding from building trailers from scratch using timber to supporting on the more advanced production lines today.
Looking back, both noted how processes have changed over the years.
Ray said: “Health and safety in those days was virtually non-existent. That’s not to say we weren’t looked after, it was just a case of getting on with the job. In the paint shop we always wore masks etc, but when you think that today the operatives in the paintshop have air fed masks and have a host of new machinery to help them in their daily task it just shows how far technology has developed.”
In his role too, Rod has noticed huge changes. He said: “The whole dynamic of trailer manufacturing has changed. When I first joined trailers were completely built by hand from measuring and cutting the timber to panelling, and welding. I used to have my own bay and would build one vehicle at a time with an apprentice to support.”
Despite the company’s growth both Ray and Rod have said that Cartwright has never lost sight of its roots and it is still very much a family business.
Ray said: “There has always been a true family spirt and whilst we might not see the directors on the shop floor as much as we used to, the company has never lost that family feel even though it has grown massively.”
And for Rod, Cartwright is a true family affair. His son, Brian Rogers, has worked at Cartwright for 21 years as a production manager and his nephew, Rob Rogers, has worked for the business for 22 years. His late brother, Trevor, also worked for the business for 44 years.
Cartwright’s group managing director, Mark Cartwright, said that Ray and Rod had become “part of the Cartwright family”.
He said: “Ray’s and Rod’s commitment and dedication over the years has been just fantastic and they will be missed.
“We are immensely grateful for their contribution over the years. We wish them both a very well deserved long and happy retirement.”
