Tony Waite at work with removal company S Moody & Co. DA5623P1WHEN Tony Waite joined removals and storage company S Moody & Co as a junior porter, he enjoyed the work so much he is still with the company 40 years on.

Mr Waite started in May 1964 on a wage of four shillings and ten pence an hour. He began in the company's former furniture shop in Fisherton Street, Salisbury, by helping experienced employee Frank Martin.

Mr Martin was about a foot shorter than the new recruit.

"We were the little and large of the business and I learned a lot from Frank," said Mr Waite, who works at the company's headquarters at Kingsway House in Warminster Road, Wilton.

"You didn't have HGV licences in those days - if you had a car licence you could get in a big lorry and drive it."

He recalled times when customers moving to smaller properties would regularly ask the company to take to the tip bulky items for which there was no longer any room - even grandfather clocks.

"Or they would say 'take it away for ten shillings'," said Mr Waite.

"But I never took up their offers!"

He has been a driver, a HGV driver, foreman, removals estimator and is now removals director, having moved into the office side of the business in 1981.

He is due to retire next year.

Managing director Neville Moody said Mr Waite's service to the company had been commendable.

"Forty years is a great milestone," he said.

"Tony has seen a lot of changes, especially in the vehicles, and we used to use tea chests and wear aprons.

"He has progressed right the way through the company and is an excellent, reliable and loyal member of staff.

"When people move house a number of times, they often ask for the same members of our staff to do the latest move and that has often happened with Tony.

"The main focus of our business is helping customers through a stressful time in their lives and Tony does that very well.

"And many of our customers know him for the charity work he does - when people don't have room for something nowadays, they will say to him 'find a good home for that', and Tony gives it to charity. Mr Waite (63), who lives in Salisbury with his partner, Linda, is a keen gardener and likes walking with his Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Poppy.

Mr Waite said he had enjoyed his 40 years with Moody's.

"You meet so many different people and you get to see some lovely houses," he said.