A DEDICATED employee is celebrating 60 years of service at one of the most famous jam factories in the world.

David Cross was just 15 when he began work at Wilkin and Sons in Tiptree, the renowned makers of Tiptree jam.

He began working at the firm on January 4, 1960, in the box room but was also cleaning the boiler chimneys.

He then progressed to work in the crate room where the fruit is checked and cleaned ahead of the jam-making process.

Several of the old pieces of equipment which David worked on when he was first with the company, such as the cherry stoner, can now be seen in the Tiptree Museum in Factory Hill.

Energetic David has served six decades with the firm but will still be on site at 6.30 am and has no plans to retire.

He said he likes to think of himself as a gofer in the workplace as he knows where everything is, and will have an item with you at the drop of a hat.

He can also be found clearing up mess and helping people wherever he can.

Walter Scott, chairman of Wilkin and Sons, marked David’s special anniversary by presenting him with a cake.

Friends and colleagues joined in with the celebration.

Mr Scott said: “When David joined us we only had two television channels and they were black and white.

“In those days they used to put little boys up chimneys, so as David was little he was set to work cleaning the boiler chimneys.

“When I joined in 1985 he was in charge of the crate room; we paced it together when his daughter was due to be born.

“Now that daughter is on maternity leave from our company.”

Mr Scott thanked him both personally and on behalf of the company for his service and his loyalty.

David was born in Easthorpe and now lives in Tiptree.

Ten years ago he was asked about his best times at Tiptree, and his response is the same today.

He said: “The people you get to work with and have a laugh with, that’s what makes it special.”

The first Tiptree conserves were made in 1885 on the Tiptree estate. Fruit crops include loganberries, mulberries and damsons with the signature fruit being the Little Scarlet strawberry.