Ray Rubenis retires

Ray Rubenis retires from Joseph Ash after 37 years

Whilst looking on a Birmingham history chat room a few days ago we came across some text about the origins of Joseph Ash Galvanizing. One of historians in the forum stated that in the 1950s people used to queue to try and get a job at Joseph Ash Galvanizing, and once they had a foot in the door, it was a job for life with good pay and good experiences. We think this still rings true in more modern times, as we’ve just celebrated the retirement of a valued member of staff – Ray Rubenis – who has left the Company after 37 years’ service.

Ray started working at Joseph Ash Telford in 1982, starting out on the shop floor. From then on for the next 21 years, the Telford branch allowed Ray the opportunity to work his way up through Jigging to Dipping. In 2003, Ray moved to the maintenance department where he could also put his excellent fabrication skills to use. He spent another 11/12 years in this department ensuring any improvements/repairs were completed to keep the plant up and running.

In mid-2012, due to the economic situation at the time across the UK, Ray was facing redundancy. He did not want to leave the Company and he said, “the Walsall Branch came to the rescue and offered me a vacant position within their team, where I was able to work happily until my retirement”.

During Ray’s time at Joseph Ash Walsall he fabricated, repaired and completed general maintenance for the plant working with great support from a fantastic team. He said: “I worked at Joseph Ash for the best years of my life, totalling 37 years. I was extremely lucky to have found a career and home at both their sites and leave with only my best wishes to all the colleagues that I worked with during this time.”

Ray is now looking forward to spending his retirement looking after his grandchildren more often, going away with his caravan in tow whenever (and as often!) as he can, and completing all the jobs he’d been putting off over the years in his home “and of course whatever my wife would like me to do!”.

Congratulations on your retirement Ray. It’s been great having you as part of the Joseph Ash family for nearly 40 years. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement and come back and see us sometime!

_{First photo left to right: Osmond Crosdale (Maintenance Manager), Charlie Singh (DM Walsall), Ray Rubenis, Sukwinder Singh (Deputy Divisional Manager)}

_{Second photo left to right: Gerry Green (Group Operations Director) and Ray Rubenis}