As part of our series of interviews with our longest serving employees, I would like to introduce you today to our Head Warehouseman, Eric Stephen, who has been working at Glenfiddich since 1962.
Ludo - Eric, could you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Eric - My name is Eric and I have been working at Glenfiddich for over 45 years. I started as a labourer in October 1962, aged 18. My main job was to empty coal wagons. Remember in those days, our stills were fired by coal, and the coal was delivered by train, every day.
Ludo – Sounds like a tough job!
Eric - It was alright in the summer but really tough in the winter! The rail tracks were often covered in snow or frozen over. Moving to gas was definitely the right thing to do!
Ludo – What did you do next?
Eric - Emptying coal wagons was only part of my job, I also helped in the warehouses and of course, I used to have to empty the Mash Tun, which was done by hand in those days.
Ludo - So when did you start working full-time in our warehouses?
Eric - It must have been a few months later, in the summer of 1963, I think.
Ludo - Can you remember how many warehouses there were in those days?
Eric - 27 in total, which is slightly less than the 45 we have now!
Ludo - So you’ve basically spent 45 years working in our warehouses, eventually becoming Head Warehouseman in 1967. Do you know where every single cask is kept?
Eric - I used to. When I started there were no computers, so all the details were kept on cards and books. It was quite a job keeping them updated. And the excise men were always on your back, making sure every detail was kept in order.
Ludo - What happened to the Excise men? They don’t work here anymore.
Eric - The Excise men were gradually phased out and were replaced by Revenue Assistants who basically checked our stock records at key process moments. But legislations changed and Revenue Assistants also gradually moved out of distilleries. They now only visit us every now and then.
Ludo - Did you always get on well with them?
Eric – Absolutely! Both parties had to keep their distances, for obvious reasons, but we never had any issues.
Ludo - Has a lot changed this you’ve been here Eric?
Eric – Yes, quite a lot. The culture has changed for a start. In those days everybody worked together. It didn’t matter what your role was. If a hand was needed in any area, you just helped out. Now, every one has their own responsibilities and it’s much more difficult to move from one area to another.
Also, Health & Safety has made our job much safer and easier.
Ludo – I must say 45 years’ service is very impressive. What are you the most proud of?
Eric - Working on the Solera project. I remember when we filled the vat for the first time in 1997, no-one would have imagined that this new product would become so popular. We only started with 9 Marrying Tuns and we now have 99!
Also, generally speaking, working for William Grant’s as a whole. The family has always been good to me, and my father, daughter and son have also worked here. I have lots of good memories indeed!
Ludo – Eric, a final question, if you could have a dram with William Grant, what would it be?
Eric - Glenfiddich 15 Years Old. It has to be, hasn’t it?! And a large one!
Ludo – Thank you very much for your time Eric!
Please use the comments form below if there are any more questions you would like to ask Eric. Eric will personally respond to you.
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