Quarryman Terry Jones, above, is starting a well-earned retirement after completing 50 years in the industry.

Mr Jones, 65, of Church View, Freeland, has stepped down as operations manager at the Stanton Harcourt offices of Hanson Aggregates.

"I followed my father into the quarrying business when I was 14 straight from school. My first job was as an assistant to the unit manager at Steeple Aston quarry," said Mr Jones.

He has been based at the Stanton Harcourt offices since 1968.

"I've seen a great deal of changes in the 50 years I have been working, the machinery is on a lot larger scale now," he said.

Colleagues presented Mr Jones with retirement gifts. He also received a medal from the Institute of Quarrying.

He plans to spend part of his retirement travelling with his wife, Anne-Lise.

The new operations manager Steve Cole, said: "Terry's retirement is the end of the era. We all hope he has a long and happy retirement."