Today is a special (and slightly emotional) day at Kinloch Anderson as we say farewell to John, our incredible Operations Manager, who is retiring after an amazing 49 years with us. It is hard to imagine the place without him, but we know he’s more than earned this next chapter of relaxation and—most importantly—golf!
John’s journey with Kinloch Anderson started way back in 1976 when he joined us as a young man. He started working in production while hoping to become a decorator in the future. One of his first tasks? Cutting cloth in the warehouse. And believe it or not, to this day, you can still find him cutting cloth in production! He’s truly come full circle, but along the way, he’s done just about everything—working in dispatch, the shop, and eventually back to the behind-the-scenes leading the production team with skill and dedication.
One of the most impressive things about John? Despite being colourblind, his knowledge of tartan is second to none. He can identify patterns with pinpoint accuracy, and his attention to detail has helped ensure our high standards for nearly five decades. Being nicknamed "The Oracle" by the team, it is safe to say he has been a real-life walking encyclopaedia of tartan knowledge!
Though beyond his skills and expertise, John is simply one of the best people to have around. His warmth, sense of humour, and kindness have made him a friend to everyone who’s had the pleasure of working with him. Fran, our production supervisor, who has been working with John since she was 17 has said "Working with John has been a privilege, he's made each and every day easier with his smile, his experience, but most importantly, his gentle heart. I feel lucky to have had him as my "work husband" for all these years as he is one of a kind."
To prove Fran's point, when we asked John what his proudest work achievement is, he did not talk about his years of experience or managerial success—he simply said it was meeting his wife while working here. How’s that for a love story?
As we send John off into retirement, we know he won’t be slowing down too much—he’s already looking forward to spending more time on the golf course and most importantly, he is looking forward to being a granddad to his beautiful granddaughter. We expect plenty of updates (and maybe a few scorecards) from his new adventures!
John, from all of us at Kinloch Anderson, THANK YOU. Thank you for your dedication, your hard work, and most of all, for being such a pivotal part of our team. We’ll miss you more than words can say, but we couldn’t be happier for you. Enjoy every moment of your retirement—you deserve it!