Simon dug deep for 25 years

8:10am Saturday 19th July 2008

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A GRAVE business has seen the earth move for one award-winning Northwich employee.

Gravedigger Simon Ashbrook has shovelled more than 165,143 cubic metres of soil in his 25 years of service for Northwich Town Council.

We thought he was the ideal guy for the job and we were right.

Northwich Town Council chief executive

This equates to more than 4,000 graves which, if they were placed end to end, would stretch from Northwich to Nantwich.

Simon has been presented with a long service award from Northwich Town Council for his work in Witton, Rudheath and Dane Valley cemeteries.

Steve Sharman, council chief executive, said: “We thought he was the ideal guy for the job and we were right.

“He has proved hard working, conscientious and carries out his duties to the council’s and my entire satisfaction.”

The 44-year-old’s first encounter with grave digging happened when he was on a work placement with Northwich Town Council 30 years ago.

He impressed council staff then so they thought of him when their full-time cemetery technician resigned five years later in May 1983.

Town mayor Clr Bob Robinson said he was amazed by what equates to a 10.3-mile distance that Simon, of Farm Road in Rudheath, has dug over the 25 years.

He joked: “When you passed Middlewich you just kept digging and when you reached the outskirts of Nantwich you stopped.

“It’s a fantastic achievement.

“Do you do any gardening in your spare time?”

Simon was presented with a certificate and clock for his long service.

He said: “The council offered me a reward for my 25 years service and I have decided to have a clock.

“I chose a clock because life is so special but it does revolve around time.”

He added: “I would like to thank my father, Roy Ashbrook, for having the confidence in me and a big thank you to the chief executive Steve Sharman for employing me.”

lDo you know a council employee whose hard worked deserves a mention? Tell us on the forum at northwichguardian.co.uk.