A Gloucester entrepreneur who started his plumbing business in his garden shed and has seen it turn into a multi-million pound company is approaching a significant milestone.

David J Hewer established his one-man business at his home in Seymour Road in 1965. Fifty-seven years later, the thriving company, now called Hewer Facilities Management Ltd, is run by his son, Simon, and has a workforce of about 150 at its Waterwells HQ with an annual turnover of about £15 million.

On April 22, David will celebrate his 90th birthday and to mark the occasion, on Wednesday, April 27, Hewer FM will be hosting an 'open office' from 12 noon until 2pm when staff, current and past, and suppliers and customers who would have had dealings with David are invited to pop in for a sandwich, a slice of cake, a cup of tea and perhaps a walk down memory lane.

Simon Hewer said: "It will be a very casual, informal event so please pop in if you can as it would be lovely to see you and would help us mark his big day."

As a young man, David Hewer followed the family tradition and joined the Grenadier Guards. After finishing his time of service he worked at The Wagon Works in Gloucester before joining his father, Bill Hewer, in his builders' business in Gloucester, W S Hewer & Son.

However, David soon realised that he and his father were not best suited to work together so they decided to go their own ways. David didn't want to compete against his father so he went down the plumbing route and formed D J Hewer.

D J Hewer grew and David's wife, Rona, joined the firm as Secretary, soon after the business became D J Hewer & Co. Simon was employed in 1983 as an apprentice heating engineer, gradually being brought into the firm.

The business was then incorporated, becoming D J Hewer & Co Ltd, and the growth continued in various areas, including heating installations, servicing and maintenance as well as electrical services with a greater emphasis on commercial buildings such as new schools, hospitals and offices prior to a major downturn in business which forced the firm to restructure, then forming Hewer FM Ltd.

Simon said: "From small jobs worth £50 to contracts worth £3,000,000, the business has developed into the largest family-owned heating, electrical, renewable and mechanical engineering business in the region.

"My sister, Sue Fletcher, and her son Christian work for the business, as does David Fletcher, her husband. My wife, Sara Hewer, works for the firm and then we also have other staff members whose children have also joined the company. As such we pride ourselves as being a large, family business.

"Hewer FM Ltd have recently secured a number of new contracts which is very exciting. These again range from both the domestic and commercial sectors."

If you can join David at the 'open office' event, please either call 01452 525854 or email info@hewerfm.co.uk