Retirement beckons for Tongue

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 17, 2004

The Wedge Group is saying goodbye and bon voyage to Paul Tongue, a Director of both Acrow Galvanizing of Saffron Walden, Essex, and Parkes Galvanising of Stratford, London.

The Wedge Group is saying goodbye and bon voyage to Paul Tongue, a Director of both Acrow Galvanizing of Saffron Walden, Essex, and Parkes Galvanising of Stratford, London, who retires this month after a 38-year association with the business.

Tongue, 62, and his wife Anne, who have been married for 40 years, are moving to a new home on the Algarve, in Portugal in January 2005.

Tongue started working in the galvanising industry for Worksop Galvanizing in his home town in Nottinghamshire in 1966 - then part of Rio Tinto Zinc (RTZ) - and 10 years later moved to Acrow which is based at Ashdon Road Commercial Centre, Saffron Walden.

Acrow Galvanizing had been set up by an engineering company, Acrow Engineers, and Tongue was its first employee.

During his career with Acrow, Tongue progressed right through the organisation, which became part of Pillar-Wedge in 1984 and then the Wedge Group in 1996.

He also became a Director of Parkes four years ago.

Tongue said: "Being in this industry for so long, there have been many enjoyable times and many changes over the years, and you still learn something every day".

"I feel that at the present time we are definitely working for the foremost galvanising group in the country".

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank and send my best wishes to the many colleagues and the characters, and there have been quite a few of those, that I have met during in my time in the galvanising industry".