A TOAST has been raised to a Northwich bakery’s longest serving employee, who retired on Friday.

Ken Harrop has been earning a crust at Roberts Bakery, in Gadbrook Park, for half a century.

The 65-year-old started his working life as a van sales assistant with the family-owned company in 1960, at the tender age of 15.

He learned to drive in a Roberts van and had his own round within three years, getting up at 3am to deliver loaves across Cheshire.

“I have been getting up early for 50 years now so I think I’m due a few lie-ins,” he joked.

“I have genuinely enjoyed my time at Roberts, though.

“It’s a real family business that always goes the extra mile to look after its staff.

“There are so many people who I will miss seeing but I am looking forward to enjoying my retirement.”

Ken, who lives across the road from the bakery in Fletcher Grove, got his job when he popped to Roberts after school, still wearing his Rudheath Secondary Modern School uniform.

He was interviewed by Alan Roberts, grandson of bakery founder Robert Roberts.

During his first 24 years on the vans he delivered loaves direct to people’s homes.

Ken’s rounds included Comberbach, Antrobus, Crewe, Appleton Thorn and Stretton, delivering more than 200 loaves a day.

“I had plenty of cups of tea and rounds of toast,” he said.

“I can remember at least one house where I always got a cup of tea and a round of toast.

“I had mixed feelings when Roberts stopped doing door-to-door. I missed it for a while because they were more than customers, they were friends.”

Mike Roberts, of Roberts Bakery, said: “There are so few companies today that have a long-standing heritage and true family values, and even fewer that have loyal staff who have served half a century.

“Ken, who is our longest serving member of staff, has been a tremendous asset to the business throughout his career and has made a lot of friends – he will be sorely missed by many people.”

Ken’s retirement was marked with a party at the bakery, complete with a Roberts van cake and plenty of sandwiches.