Franco joined Thomas Storey in January 1994 and has been a witness to and part of many changes in the business, including the significant move from Station Road, Reddish, to Stainburn Road, Openshaw, in 2006.
As a skilled MIG welder, Franco worked across a variety of production lines, from Caterpillar backhoe buckets to Dennis Eagle fabrications, and everything in between. His professionalism, loyalty, and dedication were second to none. Over the years, Franco mentored countless young apprentice welders, helping them grow into capable and like-minded professionals. His unwavering support to supervisors and his ability to guide us through challenging times were invaluable.
After 29 years and 8 months of service, Franco decided it was time to relax and enjoy life, retiring in September 2023. He took a well-earned break, spending time in Italy with his family. But upon his return, Franco found himself missing the work and reached out to the company to see if there was an opportunity to come back. Naturally, we welcomed him back with open arms.
Franco rejoined the Thomas Storey family on 23rd October 2023, continuing to work at the same high standard for an additional 13+ months. However, after much reflection, he made the difficult decision to retire permanently, completing his final shift on 18th December 2024.
A proud Italian, Franco had a deep passion for his Alfa Romeo cars, which he loved to showcase in our car park. Conversations with him often revolved around Italy—its style, food, and, of course, its cars. His pride in his heritage and his family was always evident and inspiring.
Franco will be deeply missed at Thomas Storey. While his absence will leave a void in our team, we know his family will cherish having him around more. We hope he will visit us from time to time.
We wish Franco a long, happy, and well-deserved retirement. On behalf of all of us, thank you for your remarkable service and loyalty, Franco. Good luck for the future, and all the very best!
