To mark the retirement of John McGee, Brian Shawcross and Richard Fry, each of whom has held a senior position in the company during the last 24 years, the company's executive chairman Hugh Facey held a celebratory dinner at The Cutlers' Hall.

John McGee has been a non-executive director since Gripple was established in 1984. He has played a pivotal role in steering the company's growth and development, specifically relating to the engineering quality of its production.

In 1986, mechanical engineer, Brian Shawcross, applied his expertise to helping Hugh Facey develop the concept and design of the Gripple wire joiner, which was launched in 1988. Brian has since worked alongside the company's product development team in a design and trouble-shooting capacity.

As a friend of Hugh Facey, Richard Fry helped set up the company's IT systems in 1984. He joined Gripple as a director ten years later, and has spent the last four years with Gripple's sister company, Loadhog, where he continued to play an influential role within the IT and accounts departments.

At The Cutlers' Hall, in the company of almost 40 Gripple employees, Hugh Facey presented John with a framed picture of one of his special interests - a World War Two plane - and, to Brian and Richard, a silver apprentice bowl, manufactured in Sheffield, of which Hugh has only presented four in the last 20 years.

Hugh Facey said: "Without John, Brian and Richard's expertise, hard work and commitment Gripple would not be the successful company it is today. Everyone who works for Gripple today is indebted to them for their invaluable support in shaping its future and wishes them a long and happy retirement."