Posted: 23rd December 2016
Mo Grigsby, Keg Plant Forklift Operator
Lives: Faversham
Age: 64
Career: Maurice ‘Mo’ was born in Chatham and grew up in Teynham. After leaving St John’s School, Sittingbourne he worked variously at a fruit farm, a paper mill, a cabinet-maker’s, a bakery and a piping company. He began working at Shepherd Neame 31 years ago as holiday relief in the old cask yard, and is now a Forklift Operator in the keg plant.
Favourite Shepherd Neame beer: Spitfire Lager
Favourite non-Shepherd Neame beer: Foster’s Lager
What is your role? I unload the empty kegs as they come in and stack them in the right way so that the robot on the line can pick them up, then they are cleaned and filled and I load the full ones back on to the lorries for delivery.
What does a typical day involve? I start at 6am and work until 4pm three days a week and from 6am until 1pm twice a week. The lorries come about five times a day and we need to make sure there are enough kegs for the line so we can keep the operation flowing smoothly and make sure the beer gets out and into the pubs.
What personal characteristics help you in your role? I’m quite happy-go-lucky, which is good because it can get very busy at times and you can’t let yourself get stressed. You’ve just got to stay calm and get on with it.
What are the most rewarding parts of your job? Getting all the beer loaded and getting the job done, so the beer gets out and delivered on time.
What are the tough parts of the job? Kegs can come in that aren’t ours, what we call foreign tubs, so we have to unstack them and they are stacked three kegs high, or the matts they sit can be the wrong type and we have to do the same and then restack them before they go on the line, and you have to keep the line going.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work? Watching cricket. I follow Kent, I have a season ticket at the Spitfire, St Lawrence Ground and I keep score for the Shepherd Neame side. I was watching cricket when I first heard about the job at the brewery and I decided to go and apply straight away. It was the right decision, it was well worth missing the second half of the match.
Why did you join Shepherd Neame? I had family working here, my late father in law and my sister in law, and they said it was a good place to work. Shepherd Neame has always looked after me. My son got a job here too, and now he’s with our logistics supplier.
What do you consider your biggest personal success at the company? That I’ve lasted 31 years.