Firm marks 70th birthday in style (From Penarth Times)

Firm marks 70th birthday in style

A FAMILY-RUN Penarth firm celebrated an incredible 70 years in business last Friday by throwing a party for all their employees - past and present.

Staff of Reginald Atkins Holdings were treated to a celebratory meal at Custom's House by the company to mark its 70th birthday.

The company was founded as a plastering business in 1934 by Reginald Adam Atkins, father of the current owner, Reginald Atkins, 62.

The firm has grown impressively over the past 70 years and now has a staff of more than 200.

Reginald Atkins said: "I took over the company from my father in 1973 and we've continued to go from strength to strength building on the platform that he laid down.

"We are now very much a construction-oriented company.

"We manufacture pre-fabricated buildings at our site in Cardiff Bay where we have more than two acres of assembly lines. We are currently working on the construction of two hospitals for Hampshire County Council, one of which is in Basingstoke. We've also won the contract to convert the Monaco cinema in Whitchurch, Cardiff into flats.

"I'm overwhelmed by the number of people who turned out last Friday and I would like to say a big thank-you to everyone who was present.

"Many of my staff have been with me for almost the entire duration of their working lives.

"One lady has been with us since she left school and stayed with us until her retirement."

Reginald Atkins' father Reginald Adam Atkins came to south Wales from Liverpool after the First World War.

Reginald Atkins was educated at Westbourne School in Penarth and later went on to study at Seaford College.

Reginald Atkins is married to Heather and has two children, Thomas and Lucy, and one granddaughter, Molly.

Thomas, who also works for the family business, is getting married in December.