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Leta signs off after 42 years of service

- 15 May 15

Ruth Copeland (Customer Care Manager), Brian Woodcock (husband), Leta and Supriya Ray (Western Regional Managing Director)

A long-serving Gloucestershire lady is stepping into well-deserved retirement - having spent almost 42 years working for Bovis Homes.

When Leta Woodcock stepped through the doors of Albion House in Southgate Street, Gloucester on 1 January 1973, for her first day at the company, Little Jimmy Osmond was top of the pops and Britain had just joined the Common Market.

Five different offices and 10,801 working days later, she enjoyed a celebratory lunch with colleagues at the company's Western regional headquarters at Cleeve Hall in Bishops Cleeve as she bade farewell to a long career in the housebuilding industry.

"I don't know where the time has gone but I have enjoyed every minute," said Leta. "When I first started everything was done on typewriters and we didn't start using computers until the early 90s - It was all audio typing, faxes, short-hand and paper filing."

Leta, who has never written a CV, has had a number of roles during her four decades at Bovis Homes, starting off as a short-hand typist on the princely sum of £850 per year.

"The best thing has been the opportunity it has given me to gain knowledge across a wide range of disciplines," said Leta, who will now spend her time helping husband Brian run Courtyard Books in Bishops Cleeve and pursuing their hobbies of bell ringing and driving classic cars.

"In this job you have to keep on top of things and remain focused. No two days are the same and I have never, ever been bored in all my years at Bovis Homes."

Bovis Homes Western Managing Director, Supriya Ray, paid tribute, saying: "The phrase is used a lot in sport, but as far as we are concerned Leta really is a living legend!

"Leta is a shining example to youngsters just starting out on their career path of what they should strive to be. She is hard working, conscientious, happy and positive; a wonderful person and we will all miss her tremendously."