His industry career began in 1974 with a six-year apprenticeship in letterpress at John Hampden Press, working on flatbed and rotary Heidelberg presses, and Heidelberg equipment proved to be a running theme in his career.
Afterwards he moved on to train in lithographic printing and in 1980 joined Wade Printers, where he worked with Bill Taylor and ran the popular GTO and MO Heidelberg models of the day.
In 1983 he joined Nottingham’s Sherwood Press, which had been founded by Maurice and Barbara Bacon in 1976.
Heidelberg kit remained to the fore, including a Kord 64, single-colour MO, and Heidelberg cylinder for die-cutting.
Harris went on to become a director of the business and was promoted to works director at sister company Milford Printers – winner of Printweek’s SME Company of the Year in 1998 during his tenure.
In 2007 Harris joined John Paterson and Simon Stirland at their eponymous business Stirland Paterson, based just over the Derbyshire border in Ilkeston, and subsequently became a director at that business too.
The firm’s plant list includes two Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 B1 multi-colour presses.
Over the decades Harris has witnessed enormous changes in the industry including the switch from letterpress to litho, technological advances in the speed of presses and the automation of previously manual processes, and the advent and growth of digital printing – although he said he was “no digital fan even after all these years”.
Harris said that over the course of 51 years he had found the printing industry to be “interesting, challenging, exciting, rewarding and – occasionally – frustrating!”
He commented: “I have found the print trade enjoyable, working with good people over the years from day one.
“Plenty of job satisfaction along the way working with good customers on all kinds of exciting projects.
One of the biggest elements in the print trade is meeting and making good friends in all areas of the trade.”
Stirland Paterson co-founder John Paterson said the firm was bidding Harris a fond farewell and thanked him for his contribution to the business.
“After 20 years of dedicated service, we bid farewell to John Harris, our esteemed key accounts director at Stirland Paterson Printers.
“John’s expertise, leadership, and unwavering commitment have been instrumental in driving our success.
“His passion for the print industry and his ability to build lasting client relationships have left a lasting impact.
“While we will miss him greatly, we wish John a wonderful and fulfilling retirement. Thank you, John, for two decades of excellence!”
