Retirement for industry stalwart Phil Oddy

Highly respected quarrying director hangs up his boots after 17 years with Kelston Sparkes 

AFTER 17 years working for Kelston Sparkes, quarrying director Phil Oddy has hung up his boots and retired at the age of 67. In a career spanning almost half a century, Mr Oddy joined Kelston Sparkes in 2008 after many years working for corporates in the quarrying sector.

Invited to join the family firm as operations manager by managing director Alan Sparkes, Mr Oddy went on to become a renowned and highly respected figure in the industry and has just reached his 40-year milestone as a member of the Institute of Quarrying.

His remit at the start of his time with the company was to build the quarrying business and develop new long-term contracts, but in 2008 the financial crisis had taken hold and opportunities were few and far between. Slowly but surely, however, he built up the crushing and screening business and found long-term load-and-haul contracts including Torr Works, Callow Rock, and Warmwell, to name just a few.

One of Mr Oddy’s stand-out moments was being rewarded for his hard work with a promotion to a director role in 2014. He is also particularly proud of his record in improving the health and safety culture within Kelston Sparkes, which now has its place at the heart of the business.

Now a few weeks into his retirement, Mr Oddy is already making great use of his time by indulging his passion for walking on Exmoor, helping with the family horses, and travelling.