Member Article

David says goodbye to SWDT after 40 years

One of the region’s well-known training providers has bid a fond farewell to a key members of staff.

David Allison, who started out as an apprentice with SWDT in Newton Aycliffe, has retired after 40 years.

David worked his way up to works manager and holding various positions within the firm, as well as raising thousands of pounds for good causes over the years.

“The centre has been my life,” said David, pictured with SWDT’s engineering training manager John Charlton, who was originally trained by David during his Apprenticeship in the early 1980s.

“As an apprentice I learned my skills from the centre’s highly-skilled instructors. As an instructor I enjoyed working with apprentices, passing over my skills, seeing them come in as school kids and go out as young men and women with a lot of basic skills.

“I’ve continued to support the centre in various roles over the years and I’ve enjoyed the challenges.”

David says he has learned many valuable lessons over the years.

He added: “I learned very quickly that if you respect and look after your staff, then they will reward and support you when you’re in need.

“I have lots of good memories and things to be proud of, some of the highlights including working with apprentices, developing the centre and having been the first training centre in the country to be get Centre of Vocational Excellence (COVE).

“The centre belongs to nobody and everybody. It’s like a classic car – we can all play with it, but we must keep it going and in good condition for the next generation to get their skills from.”

John Charlton added: “This is a sad moment for us all at SWDT because Dave has been such a stalwart of the company over the past 40 years, and we’re losing a terrific engineering talent who has always strived for excellence.

“He’s always had an impeccable pride of workmanship, a never wavering can-do spirit, and above all, someone who has always put the organisation before himself.

“The staff, apprentices and colleagues would like to extend their appreciation for Dave’s outstanding contribution over the past 40 years and wish him every happiness in the retirement he so richly deserves.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .