Elaine Blastland was account manager at Systematic Print Management in Caistor, Lincolnshire, for 14 years and left on Friday, following a farewell lunch with colleagues.
A true print survivor, Blastland spent 20 years at the Nestlé Printing Division, working up to a production manager role. She was then appointed print manager at security printer GBR Business Forms, before joining Systematic 14 years ago.
Managing director Chris Robey said: “Elaine is a fun and respected colleague. It’s not only a sad day for Systematic, it’s a sad day for the printing industry because she worked in a production manager role right from the darkrooms and plate-setting of old right the way up to current digital printing techniques.
“It is rare to find someone with so much industry knowledge and experience, she really does have the industry coursing through her veins.”
The team celebrated Blastland’s achievements with lunch at Abby’s in Grimsby, one of Elaine’s favourite restaurants, although Robey said she is more frequently found on the local golf course.
Looking over her long career Blastland reflected on the fact that some things never change, saying her clients still want everything yesterday.
Robey added: “She’s a lovely person, extremely bubbly and we think she’s got a bit of [90s sitcom] Absolutely Fabulous in her. She loves to party, she loves holidays and she’s been very good fun and good-humoured over these 14 years. She’s always been able to enjoy work and set very high standards for herself; it didn’t matter what targets you gave her, she was always setting greater ones for herself. You can sum up her and her time in the print industry in two words – absolutely fabulous.”
Despite how much colleagues and clients will miss Blastland, a bit of her will remain with them – at least for the month of October.
Blastland has recorded a farewell message on video, which Systematic Print has linked to October on its 2015 corporate calendar in a very 21st-century way - using augmented reality.
People who scan the calendar using mobile app Aurasma and follow Systematic on social media will be taken to YouTube to see Blastland’s message.
Following Blastland’s departure Joanna Taylor has been promoted to account manager. The company is 40 years old this year and is the current holder of the Independent Print Industry Association’s UK Print Management Company of the Year title.
