A FAMILY business has held a garden party to thank two of its longest-serving employees who have notched up more than 100 years between them.

The Guiseley hand-knitting firm Thomas B. Ramsden is honouring Pat Jackson and Gwen Ellis.

Pat joined the company, which was then known as Carter and Parker, as an office junior in September 1957, aged just 15. She became wages and personnel clerk - a role that she still holds today - and has never had a day off sick in 60 years.

Gwen has worked for the company since leaving school in 1977. Following in the footsteps of a family member, Gwen started work as a yarn-picker before moving into a customer support role in 1995 and has continued in her role as company first-aider for more than 30 years. Gwen met her partner, David at work 28 years ago, and after they held their engagement party in the company warehouse.

Pat and Gwen have seen many changes over the years, including the Thomas B. Ramsden buy-out of Carter and Parker in 1992 and the move from manual to automated systems. They have fond memories of playing cricket and crochet outside on the lawn in the early days and practising their rock 'n' roll moves in the boiler-house after a colleague sneaked in a record player one dinnertime.