Staff Spotlight: Celebrating John Swanson - 56.5 Years of Dedication

Staff Spotlight: Celebrating John Swanson - 56.5 Years of Dedication

It is about time that we shone a spotlight on our longest-serving team member, John Swanson, who has been a cornerstone of Forbes for an incredible 56.5 years. This week, John also celebrated his birthday, making it the perfect time to honour his journey with us.

A Legacy That Began in 1968

John joined Forbes in September 1968 as an apprentice in our Service Department. At the time, Frederick Donald Forbes was still at the helm, and John trained under his guidance, with Service Manager Gordon Roberts overseeing his development. Back then, Forbes was a small operation, serving only the consumer market, where everyone worked closely together across all aspects of the business.

After five years, John successfully completed his apprenticeship. Thinking his time at Forbes had come to an end, he began looking for his next role and was soon offered a position at a new start-up - Comet. When he informed Malcolm Forbes of his decision, Malcolm didn’t hesitate to ask about the offer and made sure Forbes provided a better one to retain John. John accepted, but neither of them could have anticipated that he would still be here more than five decades later, delivering exceptional service with his trademark smile—and forming a lifelong friendship with Malcolm in the process.

Watching Forbes Grow

John spent many years as a service engineer, as our business grew into the commercial market to formed the diverse client base that we have today. He has witnessed first-hand the expansion of Forbes from a local twelve-mile service radius around Purley, Surrey, to the national operation it is today. He recalls the challenges of the 1970s coal mine strikes and the resulting power cuts, which forced the business to find innovative ways to continue servicing customers. With a few service depots available, Forbes was able to adapt by moving operations between sites, ensuring that service remained uninterrupted.

During this time, televisions became an essential source of entertainment, as cinemas and restaurants were closed. John recounts how the demand for TVs surged exponentially, and Forbes had to rapidly scale up procurement, repairs, and refurbishments to meet our customer needs. John played a crucial role in ensuring customers received their TVs as quickly as possible. 

Adapting to Change

In 1998, John transitioned from the Service Department to manage the Technical Support Line, helping Forbes meet the increasing demand for remote assistance. This move greatly improved efficiency, reducing unnecessary callouts and streamlining service operations. John also took on responsibility for managing the fleet of company vehicles, a role that became increasingly important as Forbes expanded its reach across the UK.

In 2000, Forbes moved its head office to Merstham, Surrey, centralising sales, account management, and servicing operations. Just a few years later, in 2003, John became our Stock and Transport Manager, forming strong relationships throughout the supply chain. He even led the implementation of vehicle tracking technology through a course with MiX Telematics, fitting Forbes’ fleet with GPS tracking devices; an innovative move at the time that optimised route efficiency and reduced our environmental footprint.

Going Above and Beyond

John is known for his unwavering dedication to customer service. One of his favourite stories, which perfectly captures his commitment, is from a Christmas Eve over 20 years ago. A customer in Poole called just before office closing time, struggling with a loss of signal. With no engineers available to dispatch before the holidays, John stayed late, spending an hour on the phone, sitting next to the office Christmas tree, expertly guiding the customer through re-fitting the aerial plug and re-tuning their TV. Thanks to his (renowned) patience and expertise, the family had a working television for Christmas.

Stories like this are what make John such a valued and cherished part of Forbes. His approach to service remains rooted in the same core values that Frederick Donald Forbes instilled in the company all those years ago and he will always go the extra mile.

Beyond his professional achievements, John has also built a wonderful life outside of work. He married the love of his life 50 years ago, and together they welcomed their sons, Kevin (born in 1982) and Duncan (born in 1984).

Over the past few years, John has begun semi-retirement, with Nick Pardoe now leading the Stock and Transport team. However, John remains a vital part of the business, always happy to lend a hand wherever needed, from facilities logistics to delivering vans across the country.

Reflecting on his time (so far) at Forbes, John says:

“Working for a family business like Forbes has been a wonderful journey. It has been amazing to watch the business evolve over the years from a local service company to a dual-purpose operation serving both consumer and commercial markets. Who would have thought I’d still be here after taking that apprenticeship all those years ago? However, I am very glad I am, and I wear my wrist watch from my 40^th work anniversary with pride every day!”

John Swanson is not just an employee, he is family to many of us. His passion, loyalty, and incredible work ethic have truly shaped the very fabric of Forbes, and we are beyond grateful for everything he has contributed over the last 56.5 years.

Stuart Forbes says, ‘Thank you, John, for your dedication, your kindness, and your unwavering commitment to excellence. It remains a true pleasure to have you on board as we approach out centenary. Forbes truly wouldn’t be the same without you.’