Bill clocks up half a century of service to family lubricants company

The Beatles were enjoying their latest number one hit ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ and Sir Alec Douglas-Home was Prime Minister of a Tory Government when Bill Moseley began his career in the lubricants industry at the age of 15 on April 6, 1964.

Bill has chalked up 50 years with Morris Lubricants in Shrewsbury, his home town, and is still enjoying working for the company as purchasing manager even though he could now be putting his feet up in retirement.

He still recalls applying for his first job after leaving school and opting for a career in the lubricants industry at a time when an apprenticeship with Shrewsbury Town Football Club was also in the offing.

The job advert in the Shrewsbury Chronicle stated: “Strong, intelligent youth required. Apply to Mr L. A. Paterson”. Bill still refers fondly to the late Leonard Paterson, managing director of Morris Lubricants, as “Daddy Paterson” because of the way he cared for his staff, fostering great loyalty in return.

The company is now led by Mr Paterson’s grandson, Andrew Goddard, whom Bill says is carrying on the great traditions of a caring family business.

“It has been an unbelievably good place to work for the past 50 years,” said Bill, who has lived in Shrewsbury all his life and has four children and five grandchildren. “Mr Paterson was a tremendous man, a real gentleman and his legacy has been carried on by the Goddard family.

“I looked up to him and his wife, Mrs Mary Paterson, very much and they helped and guided me in the early part of my career. It has always been a friendly family business that looks after its staff and they in turn show great loyalty.”

He began working in the blending department and experienced a wide range of jobs in the works before moving to the transport and purchasing department.

As purchasing manager, a post he has held for around 25 years, he’s responsible for ordering everything to keep the production running smoothly, from base oils and additives to packaging and oil drums.

He deals with suppliers across Europe and the UK and enjoys the variety in the job, as the company produces such a vast range of products for different end users around the world. “It’s my job to ensure that the right materials are here at the right time and at the right price,” he said.

Reflecting on his footballing career, he played at either centre-half or full back, captained Shropshire at under 18 and went on to play for Shrewsbury Town Reserves before turning out for Llanidloes Town in the Mid Wales League.

He recalls injuring his back in a match against Birmingham City at the Gay Meadow while marking Bob Latchford, who went on to play for Everton and England.

The company held a celebration party in Bill’s honour where Andrew Goddard presented him with a silver salver to mark his 50 years’ service.

Mr Goddard said: “Bill’s loyalty to the family, the company and his colleagues is unquestionable. A more loyal servant of the company I could not imagine and it speaks volumes for the man he is that I have never met anyone who has a bad word to say about him.

“My grandfather saw something special in Bill in 1964 and his decision to appoint him is probably one of the best he ever made during his 48 years as director and chairman.”

Morris Lubricants is Britain’s leading family-owned, independent oil blenders and marketers. The company, which employs 140 people, has around 4,000 customers in all corners of the UK and exports to more than 65 countries worldwide.