Hampshire: Raymond Brown Group celebrates as chairman reaches 50 years of service

Ringwood-based Raymond Brown Group threw a surprise celebration on April 17 to honour its chairman Ron Isaac as he reached his 50th year of continuous service to the company.

To acknowledged the fundamental contribution he has made to crafting the Group, he was greeted as he arrived for work with a forecourt display consisting of a Bell B40D 40 tonne articulated hauler, Bell L2106E wheeled loading shovel and the restored classic International BTD-6, the machine he first operated for the company during his early days of service.

Isaac was employed by Raymond Brown as a trainee plant operator in 1964 after spotting an advert in the local newspaper.  Soon after starting his employment, he was introduced to the International BTD-6 tracked shovel and, after a short period of intensive training, went out on site clearing vegetation and trees.

During the next 11 years he went on to operate a number of machines and in 1975 was appointed to the role of contracts director. In 1982, Isaac succeeded Raymond Brown as managing director, and in 1995 he and took over as chairman when Brown stepped down to become the company president.

In his speech, Kelvin White, group chief executive, said: “It is a testament to the respect and affection for you that brings so many colleagues both past and present to join us today.  On behalf of all at Raymond Brown I would like to thank you for your huge contribution in moulding the business over the past 50 years and for instilling the values that set us apart.  It is an honour working for you.”

Isaac commented: “I am speechless. Never in my life could I feel that I would get as emotional as when those vehicles came along the road. I just wish Raymond could have been here to see them.”

From modest beginnings, the Raymond Brown Group has grown steadily, now with an annual turnover of almost £90 million, employing over 400 staff in a variety of sectors, including construction, waste management and quarrying.

Last year saw the Raymond Brown Group celebrate another milestone, its diamond anniversary, marking 60 years of successful trading as an independent business.