ROY CAVANAGH MBE spoke to Bolton Professionals’ Curry Club - and revealed he had just clocked up an incredible 50 years’ service at Bolton construction firm Seddon.

Roy is now training and education executive at the company, which is based in Plodder Lane, Farnworth and celebrates its 120 year anniversary this year. He told business people at the event at the Spice Valley restaurant in St George’s Road, Bolton, how nurturing talent and giving young people support in achieving their dreams was hugely important.

Roy said that over the years more than 3,000 apprentices had been trained at Seddons and the company recruits 50 each year from around 600 applications.

He said that it was important to give young people a chance and admitted that in his first few months at Seddons he could have been sacked on three occasions. “But my boss gave me three chances when he didn’t have to and I will always remember that,” he said. Roy, who lives in Salford, has written 20 books - many about sport and sporting heroes.