AFTER 50 years’ service with the same Hereford company, Chris Whilding has watched trends in home improvements come and go, in fact everything bar the kitchen sink.

To be more exact, Chris is an expert on sinks, as well as worktops, cupboards, islands, everything that comes with a smart kitchen design.

In half a century his expert guidance has helped thousands to choose kitchen and bathroom styles at the Canal Road builders’ merchants, Jewsons. Next month will mark the 50th anniversary of Chris’s first day at work, April 8, nd a few days later on April 13 he will be serving customers for the last time before taking his retirement.

Branch manager Denis Matthews praised Chris’s remarkably long and dedicated service at Hereford.

“He’s been with us man and boy for 50 years which is an incredible record,” he said.

It was in 1968 when Chris hung up his Whitecross school uniform and signed up to work for what was then George & Tudor. “I was 15,” says Chris. “I left school on the Friday and reported for work on the Monday.”

For the first 12 months he worked in the office, then he moved into the kitchen and bathroom design showrooms and has been selling them to customers ever since.

“It’s all been good,” says Chris, “and yes I have seen a lot of changes in styles and designs over the years.”