When Ian Hay was 16, he left college to become a joiner for family-run Angus firm WBS Keillor.
The young Dundonian had just completed a year’s pre-apprentice course on different trades, but joinery was the one that stood out.
His uncle got him an interview at WBS Keillor in Kellas and Ian landed his first job.
And half a century later, the 66-year-old is celebrating 50 years with the company.
He remembers starting his career with WBS Keillor in 1972 as if it was just yesterday.
“It’s quite daunting when you’re just out of school and you’re going into the workplace,” he says.
“In those days, the apprentice had to make the tea for all the men, keep the canteen clean and go to the shops for them.
“You’re basically helping the journeymen, watching and trying to pick things up.
“Then you would get your first wee job and try to make the best of it.
“After about two or three years you start to get the skills and things become easier.”
WBS Keillor through the years
William Keillor founded the firm in 1948, specialising in farm building and trailers.
His two sons Allan and Derek joined the family business in 1969 to work on coachbuilding and construction.
Today, the firm specialises in joinery, shopfitting and related crafts.
With new tools and designs constantly coming out, there’s a lot to keep on top of. Ian has constantly picked up new skills throughout his career.
He reflected on some of the changes he’s seen in the industry.
“When I started, we did everything by hand, even drilling a hole,” Ian recalls.
“I remember Allan Keillor brought these two guns and I was amazed. These tools cut the time in half – it’s amazing.
“In fact, the speed that jobs go now, it’s just 100 miles an hour.
“Long ago, jobs were started and they were finished when they were finished, and that was that.
“But not now. Construction programmes can be quite tight and it’s hell for leather basically all the time.
“You’re working a lot harder now than you used to.”
From hardwood to helicopter
The joiner recalled his most memorable job while working at a house in Perth 25 years ago.
The new owners, a couple from London, wanted their newly purchased mansion done up.
Ian said: “One day, the owner arrives in a helicopter and parks it on the lawn. He headed inside and said ‘fancy a shot in the chopper, Ian?’.
“I headed right in,” he laughs.
“He took us right up into Glenshee and over the mountains. It was just fantastic. It was the first time I’d ever been in a helicopter.”
Throughout his career, the joiner hasn’t encountered many challenges he couldn’t solve.
But when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, he was furloughed,
There followed seven weeks at home – the longest Ian has been off work in 50 years.
Every day he would go to his garage gym, for a walk and do gardening, but it was a strange experience.
“It was horrible. I’m glad to be back working,” he admits.
No plans to quit
The joiner’s current plan is to work for two more years and then decide if he wants to go part-time.
While he has five grandchildren to spend time with and projects around the house to complete, he enjoys his work too much to leave just yet.
“It’s a good atmosphere. That’s why I’ve never left, it’s a really good company to work for,” he says.
“I just always loved working, we’ve had a lot of good projects.
“If I went from working to nothing, I would take it really bad. I’ll get on my wife’s nerves as well.”
WBS Keillor managing director Mike Smith is glad to have Ian as part of the firm.
He says Ian, and other long-serving employees, are testament to the success of the company.
“When you look around Dundee and surrounding areas, it’s amazing to see the number of projects we’ve been involved in over the years,” says Mike.
“Ian himself was the supervisor on the urban beach project that just finished last year.
“We get a lot of repeat business from clients and that’s down to people like Ian and his colleagues.”
Conversation