We’re marking a significant anniversary this week; it’s 30 years since Project Director Paul “Paz” Parry join the family, aged just 17.

Paul joined us on 12th November 1984. Here is what he has to say about his time with the company….

“It hardly seems like 30 minutes, not 30 years since I took a bus aged 17, just out of school for my first job interview at C&C Catering Equipment Limited. I had little idea what the job entailed other than general assistant and even less idea about catering equipment.

My interviewer’s were to turn out to be two of the most influential and formative forces on my life: John and Peter Kitchin.

Looking back it was to be John’s uncompromising and never failing enthusiasm for his new business and his genuine character that were to set me in great stead for the years ahead, for which I will always remain grateful.

I remember the early days well. We were a very small team back then with a fresh faced outlook on life. My role was diverse and never dull ranging from sweeping up, lifting equipment up stairs, washing hire wares to serving clients in the showroom.

Our client base was very much local too and I never could have imagined the fantastic career ahead of me serving the foodservice industry. The access it would provide to some of the UKs premier clients such as Google, Parliament, Fortnum & Mason and Harrods and the fantastic people I would meet and work with along the way.

I have so many fantastic memories of fitting kitchens in so many diverse places such as Lake Windermere, Aran and Rievaulx Abbey and culminating in some of the highest profile projects such as Café Royal and Nomura. It’s been a pleasure seeing the small Chester firm which took me in winning top industry awards too.

The industry is a very changed perspective today than it was back then but it remains a pleasure working with my best friends and continuing to undertake new and ever more demanding challenges as technology advances and clients requirements continue to evolve.

It’s been great to see the business grow from strength to strength and in doing so, offer new opportunities to those starting out their journey in this exciting industry within this continually evolving family business.”

Paul has brought in many prestigious schemes including our largest project to date, the £3.2m scheme at Café Royal. He has also recently worked on the Portcullis House project at the Palace of Westminster and is currently working on names such as Rolls Royce, BskyB and Ernst & Young to name but a few.

Peter Kitchin has nothing but admiration for Paul and his work ethic, “He comes in early and goes off when the work is done, working weekends when required. If he has to be up early to see a client then he does it. He just gets on with it.”

Peter believes Paul’s loyalty and commitment to the company runs so deep, “If you cut him in half, it would say C&C Catering Equipment Limited and we will be celebrating with him this week as a thank you for 30 great years with the company”.