Peter ArkellSOME chairman get a gold timepiece for clocking up 50 years with the same company.

But directors at Arkell's Brewery decided to go one better when they presented chairman Peter Arkell, 81, with a specially-commissioned painted collage of staff members as a memento of his half century at the brewery.

"We promote ourselves as a family brewery and that's just what we are," said his son, and managing director, James Arkell.

"But it's not just the Arkell's family. Everyone here is part of an extended family and often generations have worked at the brewery. We felt that a painting depicting office staff, such as Karen Conn who looks after transport and Lesley McDonald in the administration department as well as Peter's PA, Teresa Hill, would have more meaning than the more usual gifts. Anyway, we're not planning for him to leave the brewery yet and are looking forward to celebrating his 60 years at a the helm."

Swindon Mayor Derek Benfield presented the surprise gift, which shows 26 members of Arkell's staff and was painted by Bristol-based artist Simon McCouaig, during a special lunch at the brewery.

Peter Arkell said: "This is such a surprise and probably the nicest and most thoughtful gift I could have been given."