Whilst not an ‘official’ long service milestone, Alistair Kerr, Aggregates Relief Manager in Scotland, celebrates an impressive 47 years with the company. We asked Alistair for a few details and impressions from his long career.
“I think that the biggest change I have seen is in health and safety. When I started in quarrying you were not supplied with any PPE you had to supply everything yourself! You did not have to wear a hard hat or PPE when I started. It’s a change for the better!”
Alistair has seen a lot of different companies come and go over the years: “I started with Spring Bank Sand and Gravel company which was a family run business in Bridge of Allan near Stirling in March 1973. I was a machine operator at Blair Drummond quarry near Doune. I also worked at Argaty quarry near Doune and at the Doune quarry which is now Doune Ponds Nature Reserve.
I was transferred to Cambusmore quarry in 1980 and became Plant Foreman and worked at the face operating mobile plant. In 1992, Alexander Russell PLC took over Spring Bank and in 1989 I became the Assistant Manager at Cambusmore.
Then RMC took over us over and my Manager at the time was Andrew Crombie who is now my Ops Manager. I became Manager in 2004 when Drew got promotion to Ops Manager for Aggregates in Scotland, then CEMEX took over RMC.
After a serious illness in 2013, when I was off work for six months, I returned fully recovered in January 2014. I celebrated my 65th birthday in April of that year and was then transferred to Loanleven quarry as Manager. In 2018 I became Relief Manager for Scotland working on projects for Drew and covering Managers holidays.
I have really enjoyed my time in quarrying and hope to for a wee while yet!”
The picture shows Alistair with his wife, Anne, in his full Scottish finery at a nieces wedding!