Trebor worker opens a variety box of memories from 40-year career at Chesterfield sweet factory
A sweet factory worker from Chesterfield has been revisiting a pick’n’mix of memories from his 40‑year career following a surprise reunion with his former boss.
David Lloyd, 79, was spotted online by his old manager, Dave Gregg, after a photo was uploaded onto the Holmewood Care Home Facebook page following a pizza making class with fellow residents.
Both had worked at the town’s Trebor factory, known for making mints and other confectionary, on Brimington Road, and hadn’t seen each other since it closed in 2005.
David had worked at the factory for over four decades and was well known among the staff. When Dave came across his photograph while browsing the social media website, he immediately recognised his old colleague and sent a message to the care home.
He wrote: “I was only talking about David the other day when I did a talk about the history of Trebor. How did you get his photo?”
After explaining that David is a resident, staff at the care home invited Dave to visit, and asked if he would deliver his talk, “A Trebor Story”, which he had previously presented at the Brimington & Tapton Local History Group.
Dave said: “It was a pleasure to visit my old friend David at Holmewood Care Home and give my talk on the former Trebor factory. David was a big part of the history of the site, having worked there for over 40 years, and I was so glad to see him again.”
Trebor opened their five-acre site on Brimington Road, in Chesterfield, in 1939. David, who has learning disabilities, began working there after finishing school in 1963, at the age of 16, by which time the company had established itself internationally and was exporting to dozens of countries around the world.
David started as a “van lad”, according to his sister, Rita Wallhead. She said: “Eventually he became a labourer, which involved collecting waste from the different departments.
“David was happy at Trebor. He worked many hours, mainly days, but he volunteered for overtime regularly. I often picked him up from work and one time I had to ask the security team to find out where he was as he hadn’t realised the time.
“David was one of the workers who everyone knew. There was a lot of factory banter and if anyone needed him they were told to go to his office, the canteen, as he would always be there having a cuppa.”
Rita added: “David's health caused him problems near the end of his time there. He had a few falls but Trebor knew David and helped him a lot – even helping him sort his money when the firm closed.”
After retiring, David moved to Holmewood Care Home in December 2024 and has regular taken part in the variety of activities on offer – such as the pizza making that led to opening the variety box of memories from his time at Trebor.