John Owen retired today (17 June) after 44 years, five sites and working in at least four different roles at our Trust.

He was just 18 when he joined as a post messenger in 1969 at the now closed Rush Green Hospital – in days before email and mobile phones, when colleagues needed a messenger service to contact each other across large sites.

Most recently John has worked as a therapy technician, and his team in Integrated Therapies arranged a special send-off for him with colleagues past and present in attendance, as well as family members, including wife Antoinette who also works at our Trust as a sonographer.

John, 65, said: “I love this job. I’ve always met different people and they’re like a family to me. It’s gone so quickly and I’ve had fantastic times.

“A lot has changed, when I started out there was no machinery, it was all done by hand.”

In his first job move, John became a porter, and was head porter at the former Harold Wood Hospital for 11 years. He then spent two years working in medical store centre at St George Hospital in Hornchurch.

The father of five, of Manning Road, Dagenham, made his final career change when he became a therapy technician and moved to Oldchurch Hospital in 2000. He then moved to Queen’s Hospital when it opened in 2006.

Our Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins presented John with his long-service award and gifts at his leaving event, as colleague reminisced over his dedication to his patients, and reputation for ensuring all equipment was kept in order and accounted for.

As for keeping occupied in retirement, John added: “My wife’s got a few chores for me at home so I’ll be doing some decorating and dog-walking. And of course I’ll continue acting at dad’s taxi for my youngest two.”

John has a son and two daughters aged 43, 41 and 39, as well as a twin son and daughter, 18.