After nearly 50 years in the timber industry, Alf Lawrence, sales and marketing director at Sliverman’s, has retired.

Mr Lawrence began his career as an office junior at Thames Plywood and by the time the company closed in 1980 he had a role in external sales.

He then joined S Silverman & Son as branch manager at the company’s Basildon depot and 1992 became sales and marketing director.

Mr Lawrence is succeeded at Timbmet Silverman by Nigel Buckley-Ryan.