Ross-shire joiner Leslie Fraser's 55-year work record with Tain-based Morrison Construction is hailed
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A Ross-shire construction worker has just celebrated a remarkable 55 years working for the same firm.
Work colleagues held a celebratory afternoon at the end of last month for joiner Leslie Fraser at the Highland Rugby Club in Inverness.
The 71-year-old of Tain was the nephew of Morrison Construction Highland’s founder, Alex Morrison, and he began working for the business in July 1967 – it was then known as Morrison Builders Ltd.
Since then he has shown passion and dedication throughout the years and has seen significant changes within the construction industry.
He has enjoyed different aspects of his job over the years, as each day presented a new challenge, and, looking back over his five and a half decades with the company, the chargehand said that his passion for the construction industry was still going strong.
He said that he still enjoyed the work and that developments in new tools had made life easier for him. He added: “They have taken it to a different level – the tools that I buy are to help me.”
Mr Fraser said that he planned to continue working as long as he was able and added: “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop.”
He also praised his employer and said: “If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money, but if you hire people that believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood, sweat and tears.”
Donald McLachlan, Morrison’s managing director, said it was an inspiration that Mr Fraser had clocked up 55 years service and felt such a milestone was “unheard of” – especially with the same firm.
He added: “Nothing phases him. Everything you ask him to do he just gets on with it. He’s just got such a nice manner.”
Morrison Builders, which was founded by his uncle in 1948, was the biggest contractor in Tain.
