Forsdike bowed out last Thursday (31 March) at Screen UK's Milton Keynes headquarters, surrounded by friends and colleagues from the industry.

He joined Screen in May 1977, but left the company in 1985 to join then-rival Crosfield. Five years later he returned to the Japanese manufacturer, where his achievements included becoming the first non-Japanese managing director of the business in the UK, and subsequently president of its European business.

Forsdike revealed that a chance meeting with a friend in a pub had led to his initial job interview at the business. "Don't let anyone tell you that luck or fortune doesn't have a way of showing itself," he said. "I’ve had such a great time at Screen and Crosfield. I can’t think of any day when the alarm clock has needed to go off."

Long-time colleague Brian Filler, managing director of Screen UK, said: "I've known Brian for 30 years and there's never been a dull moment."

Forsdike will still retain his links with the business, as a special advisor to executives at Screen's global headquarters in Japan.

His European role has been taken over by Kees Mulder, formerly vice president of corporate business development at Kodak.

Mulder said Forsdike had laid the foundations that were underpinning the Screen business as it moved from computer-to-plate to the print-on-demand environment: "It is an honour and a challenge to be stepping into Brian's footsteps," he said. "I've spent the past two months travelling with him and clearly he is a true gentleman who is very much respected by his own team and by our customers.