AFTER almost half a century with one carpet firm, a Kidderminster sales office manager has clocked off for the last time.

When Trevor Padfield joined Victoria Carpets in 1952, James Anton, son of the company's founder, George Anton, was managing director.

Mr Padfield, 65, who began his working career as a showroom assistant with the carpet-makers, has seen many changes in the industry he has left this month.

When he started, orders were still written by hand and a card index system was used to keep track of stock. Trevor Padfield retires from Victoria Carpets, Kidderminster.

In his own department, Mr Padfield, of Westminster Road, Kidderminster, has seen increasing numbers of women getting jobs that were exclusively held by men.

He and wife, Mavis, have two daughters and five grandchildren.

The only break Mr Padfield had from working at Victoria was when he did his national service, with the RAF, in the mid-1950s.

He said he was "looking forward" to retirement, although he had enjoyed "every minute" of his working life. Mr Padfield will continue to play for the Victoria Carpets bowls team.