After more than 20 years with Millcroft, one of our most respected and experienced site leaders has officially hung up his hard hat.
Chris Anderson-Smith has retired at the youthful age of 66, bringing to a close a scaffolding career that lasted decades. To mark the occasion and recognise his outstanding contribution to the business, we presented him with a specially commissioned ‘golden spanner,’ a fitting tribute to a Millcroft legend.
Having spent his working life in the scaffolding industry, Chris began his career with SGB (Scaffolding Great Britain), now Brand Access Solutions. SGB was a traditional, ‘old school’ scaffolding company that provided Chris with the best training possible and hands-on experience to hone his skills.
Working at Millcroft as a foreman and later as site supervisor, Chris quickly established a reputation for delivering some of our most demanding projects. A natural leader, he was the ideal person to manage large site teams, including overseeing around 40 operatives during Millcroft’s £3.4m access scaffolding package at the Grain Power Station development on the Isle of Grain.
Throughout his time with the company, Chris played a key role in many of our prestigious projects, including the Landmark Hotel, Embassy Gardens (where he managed a team of 25 operatives during the project featuring the iconic Sky Pool), Paddington Station, and more recently, the iconic Space House redevelopment in Central London.
Known as a ‘no-nonsense’ person who didn’t suffer fools gladly, Chris earned enormous respect from colleagues, clients, and subcontractors alike. He led from the front, expected high standards and was always willing to pass on his knowledge to younger scaffolders coming through the industry.
Millcroft Managing Director Billy Jones said: “Chris is one of those people who simply can’t be replaced. He’s been part of the Millcroft family for many years and has played a huge role in delivering some of our biggest and most complex projects. He’ll be sorely missed by me, Sam and Roy, but we’re delighted he’s now able to enjoy a well-earned retirement.”
Scaffolding Director Sam Jones added: “Chris commanded a lot of respect on site. I’d like to thank him for everything he's done for Millcroft and wish him and his family every happiness in the future.”
Thinking about his decision to retire, Chris joked that after a lifetime working in scaffolding, “my body is hurting” - making now the right time to lay down the tools.
Everyone at Millcroft would like to thank Chris for his devotion, loyalty, and hard work over the years, and we all wish him a long, healthy, and happy retirement.
