Graham, now aged 80 has (fortunately for us) decided to restart work and join us as a Sales Representative.
Graham’s best-known role in Penn Elcom was as UK Sales Manager which he held for 19 years before retiring. Considered by many a legend within the flight case industry, Graham has had a varied career...
“I have only had three jobs… Men's Tailoring, Aluminium Stockholding, and Penn Elcom… the best is last of course!
I left school in Scotland at age 15 and was an apprentice tailor. I moved from Scotland when I was 23 to manage a menswear shop in Charing Cross Road, London and stayed with them for 10 years.
During my time in the menswear trade, I met and sold to many celebrities and stars of the 60's and 70's. Tony Hancock, Joe Brown, Michael Parkinson, Ernie Wise, Henry Cooper, and Michael Aspel to name a few. I have sold to both film and TV shows of that period… The Avengers, The Quiller Memorandum, Charlie Girl, Steptoe and Son.
After this role, I decided to make a change and became a representative for an aluminium stockholder in Slough. I knew nothing about aluminium then, but did learn quickly! This was to be a turning point in my life as one of my customers was Penn Fabrication, and my boss at that time was Frank McCourt. Frank was headhunted by Roger Willems (Chairman of Penn Elcom) and became MD before taking his wife and children to California to successfully set up Penn Elcom there.
I, some 15 years later was also asked by Roger to join Penn Elcom. I had a brief spell away but was asked to return as UK Sales Manager and did so on 2nd January 2000. What a start to the 21st century! The rest is evident I think!”
Aside from his work, Graham is interested in music and plays the piano and trumpet, as well as spending time with his family; his wife, son, daughter and three grandchildren. Graham also enjoys walking, and is a member of a local walking group up in the North East of England where he resides;
“Some of the scenery up here in the North East is quite stunning, and the group are great fun to be with. I have been a member of a Rotary Club now for 30 years. My present club is the Rotary Club of Houghton le Spring - we run various events during the year (pre-covid), raising money for those less fortunate, both locally and internationally. The Rotary Clubs worldwide are responsible for the almost complete eradication of Polio. There are only two countries where polio remains to be beaten, Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
To celebrate his 80th birthday this year, and to raise money for charity, Graham impressively climbed Scafell Pike, the highest and the most prominent mountain in England, at an elevation of 978 metres above sea level!
“I've climbed Ben Nevis, the highest in the UK, Snowdonia highest in Wales, and a few weeks ago Scafell Pike, all to raise much-needed funds for our charity work in Rotary. I also founded a local charity called ROTA-CAN, where people save their aluminium drink cans which are collected by our members to be recycled, raising more needed funds. Penn Elcom are very supportive of this allowing us to store our skip in their yard at Washington here in the North East for free! A great contribution we are very grateful for.”
“The request to return to Penn Elcom was made to me 6 weeks ago… I gave it some thought and am now doing 2 days a week visiting customers in the North of England and Scotland. M. Most of the customers I know personally, I can help solve their problems and help to grow their business with us. Why did I say yes? I have spent 25 years of my life working for Penn Elcom in one way or another, those being the best years of my life! I retired to look after my wife Carol who was ill. She is now well and recovered, so "Why Not"? I was flattered too, to be asked… 80 years old and head-hunted again …wonderful!!!”
Welcome back Graham!
