One of the UK’s most respected and valued members in the turf
industry, Nigel Church, is retiring at the end of June after almost 50 years in
the sector.
Nigel joined Ransomes Sims & Jeffries as an apprentice back in
the 1970s along with other industry notables such as Bob Buckingham, Bob Bevan,
Paul Watson, Richard Bishop, Richard Walne, Graham Dale, Jeff Anguige and Barry
Beckitt.
Nigel fulfilled many roles within the Ransomes business and the
industry in general. In his time, he has been a demonstrator, technical rep and
area rep; had responsibility for export sales, national accounts, regional
sales management and training.
Included in his impressive CV is an eight-year sojourn, when he
left Ransomes to work for one of their dealers, Kingston House Mowers in a
sales role. He was back at the company in 1998, when it was purchased by
Textron, became Ransomes Jacobsen and played a significant part in providing
continuity as the two businesses merged together.
Later in his career he joined the new Cutting Edge Training
division at Ransomes Jacobsen with a remit to pass on his extensive knowledge
and experience to the next generation of sales and technical professionals
within the dealer network. This was another area where Nigel excelled and the
quality of training delivered by him and his colleagues was arguably the most
concise, detailed and effective across the entire industry.
In the past few years he has continued to expand this role
travelling to all points of the globe delivering training in his enthusiastic,
effervescent manner and has recently returned from his final visit to the Far
East.
