As Bill Buckley celebrates an incredible 40 years with Cemex, Andy Bright, Production Manager Mortars Europe, reflects on Bill’s remarkable career that has helped shape the business and inspire colleagues across the industry.
Forty years is an incredible milestone in any career. For Bill Buckley, it marks a journey filled with change, challenge, opportunity, friendship and a great deal of pride in the contribution he has made to Cemex.
Bill began his career in 1986 as a Batcher at Storrington. At the time he could never have imagined that this first role would lead to four decades working across Concrete, Mortar, Dry Silo operations, tunnelling projects, Engineering, Health and Safety, and digital innovation. What has kept him interested throughout the years has been the constant change. There has always been something new to learn, a new problem to solve or another way to contribute.
Starting Out
After starting at Storrington, Bill moved to Coulsdon Mortar Plant, continuing as a Batcher. This was also my first introduction to Bill, and who would have known then that we would still be working together all these years later. He later became a Relief Batcher, covering London and southern Mortar Plants, before moving with his family to Welwyn Garden City. There, he spent around six years supporting Home Counties and North London Mortar Plants. These early years gave Bill valuable practical experience and a broader understanding of the business. Working across different sites taught him that successful operations are not just about machinery and materials — they are about people, communication and teamwork.
Moving into Concrete and Silo Engineering
As the business evolved, Bill moved back to the southern area and became a Relief Batcher for both Concrete and Mortar, gaining experience across both operations. One of his greatest strengths has always been his willingness to take on new challenges rather than stay in one place. A major change came when Bill moved into Dry Silo Mortar as a Silo Engineer covering the South. This opened up a new area of the business, requiring him to understand not only the product but also the equipment, customer needs and how Silo operations could be made safer and more efficient.
Bill helped develop site information packs for customers, making it safer and easier to work with Silos on busy construction sites. He also supported the development of Silo sensor systems, giving customers better visibility of their material levels, and helped digitalise paperwork for Service Engineers – moving processes towards a more modern, efficient way of working.
Sprayed Concrete, Tunnelling and Safety
Another memorable chapter has been Bill’s role in helping to develop the Sprayed Concrete department from its early trials and challenges to where it is today as a market-leading part of the business. This work gave him the opportunity to support prestigious tunnelling projects across the country, including Bank Station Upgrade, HS2, Crossrail, Thames Tideway and Coire Glas. These demanding environments require high standards, strong teamwork and an absolute focus on safety.
Bill has played a huge part in establishing and developing this area of the business, and it is something he can be rightly proud of. It shows how the knowledge and experience gained over many years can be applied to new challenges and new areas of the industry.
Health and Safety
Health and safety has also been a central part of Bill’s career. In 2015, he received the MPA Health and Safety Personal Contribution Award, presented by Richard Claydon, Global Health & Safety Director. For Bill, safety has never simply been about following procedures. It is about looking at the job from the perspective of the person doing it and asking: can we make this safer and easier? That practical approach has shaped much of his work, from silo information packs to engineering processes. If something can be made clearer, simpler or safer, Bill has always been willing to get involved and help make it happen.
Forty Years of Change
When Bill looks back to where he started in 1986, the changes are remarkable. Technology has transformed the way we work, information is shared more quickly, and paper-based systems have increasingly become digital. Customer expectations have also changed, with greater demand for accessible, accurate information.
But some things have remained the same: the importance of teamwork, the value of practical experience, and the need for people who are prepared to solve problems, support others and keep learning. This is where Bill has always excelled. Over four decades, he has worked with many different people, adapted to new roles and locations, embraced new technology and built a career based on commitment, knowledge and the desire to improve how things are done.
Perhaps one of the biggest lessons from Bill’s career is simple: never stop learning. His dedication, experience and willingness to share his knowledge have made him an inspiration to those who have worked alongside him.
Looking Ahead
Today, after 40 years, Bill is still contributing to new ideas and improvements. One of his current projects is helping to establish a silo base at West Heath quarry, another opportunity to apply the knowledge and experience he has gained throughout his career.
From his first days as a Batcher at Storrington to his work across Mortar, Concrete, Silo Engineering, Sprayed Concrete, tunnelling, safety and digital development, every role has taught him something new, every site has given him another experience, and every challenge has provided an opportunity to learn.
A Career to Be Proud Of
After 40 years with Cemex, Bill can look back with great pride. He started on the plant floor and built a career founded on practical experience, adaptability and a determination to leave things better than he found them.
A successful career is not only measured in job titles or years of service. It is measured by what you have learned, the people you have helped, the problems you have solved and the improvements you have left behind.
Thank you, Bill, for your friendship, professionalism and the countless contributions you have made throughout your career. Your knowledge, commitment and willingness to help others have left a lasting impact on both the business and the people fortunate enough to have worked alongside you. Congratulations on an incredible 40 years with Cemex.