IN FIVE decades a lot can change, especially in the world of aerospace engineering.

However, for Basingstokebased Middlesex Aerospace one constant in the last 50 years has been the presence of customer accounts manager Steve Wood.

Mr Wood joined the company at the age of 16 as an apprentice and has been right at the heart of the firm ever since his first day on February 6, 1967.

Praised for his encyclopaedialike knowledge, the 66-year-old quickly made an impression on the people he worked with at theTelford Road workshop and became an integral part of the Middlesex Aerospace team.

He said: I always got on really well with everyone I worked with and the quality of engineers who work here is exemplary.

Even though I was traditionally a pen-and-quill man I learnt how to adapt my role with the advancing technology.

But people would still come to me because I remembered all the part numbers of different components.

In his 50 years at the company, Mr Wood has experienced some highs and lows in his personal life, but said the joy of the job was always what kept him going.

I have always really enjoyed the work that I do, added Mr Wood.

I have always got up in the morning and looked forward to going to work, and even when I had personal problems the firm really helped me through it.

Now, almost 50 years to the day from when he started, Mr Wood has decided that at the end of March he will be retiring fromhe company.

Addressing his employees at a recent presentation, chief executive of Middlesex Aerospace, Paul Foulds, praised popular Mr Wood.

He said: Steve you have many friends and colleagues in the company and we will all miss you as a person and we shall also miss your skills and vast knowledge.

You have made an important contribution to maintaining excellent customer relations and service which is a hallmark of Middlesex Aerospace.

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Steve Wood set to retire in March after being with Middlesex Aerospace for 50 years - Basingstoke Gazette