Construction worker celebrates 55 years of service working as a joiner for Morrison Construction at a party at Highland Rugby Club in Inverness
A Highland construction worker has just celebrated a remarkable 55 years working for the same firm.
Work colleagues held a celebratory afternoon at the end of last month for joiner Leslie Fraser at the Highland Rugby Club in Inverness.
The 71-year-old was the nephew of Morrison Construction Highland’s founder, Alex Morrison, and he began working for the business in July 1967 – it was then known as Morrison Builders Ltd.
Since then he has shown passion and dedication throughout the years and has seen significant changes within the construction industry.
He has enjoyed different aspects of his job over the years, as each day presented a new challenge, and, looking back over his five and a half decades with the company, the chargehand said that his passion for the construction industry was still going strong.
He said that he still enjoyed the work and that developments in new tools had made life easier for him. He added: “They have taken it to a different level – the tools that I buy are to help me.”
Mr Fraser said that he planned to continue working as long as he was able and added: “It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop.”
He also praised his employer and said: “If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money, but if you hire people that believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood, sweat and tears.”
Donald McLachlan, Morrison’s managing director, said it was an inspiration that Mr Fraser had clocked up 55 years service and felt such a milestone was “unheard of” – especially with the same firm.
He added: “Nothing phases him. Everything you ask him to do he just gets on with it. He’s just got such a nice manner.”
Mr Fraser’s wife, Paula Fraser, was also at the celebration and said: “He loves his job and he really enjoys what he is doing.”
Morrison builders, which was founded in the Scottish Highlands by this uncle in 1948, was the biggest contractor company in Tain.
However this was from an era that had no power tools, computers, phones, or any other electrical or battery powered devices to help assist on site and in the workshop.
During his time working for the family business he has worked with his father, with his cousins, and friends since he started his apprenticeship after leaving school at the age of 16 years old.
His career has seen him building houses and working in different areas within the UK.
