ROL Cruise celebrates 330+ years of combined staff service

Essex-based ROL Cruise is celebrating 25 team members whose work anniversaries during the first half of 2026 represent a combined 334 years of service with the business.

 

The cruise retailer said the milestone highlights the “loyalty, experience and long-term commitment” of the employee-owned company’s co-owners.

 

Among those celebrating major anniversaries this year are Claire Brown, marking 32 years with the company, alongside Mel Childs, Kirsty Fitzsimmons-Love and Dan Dempster, who have all reached 19 years with the business.

 

Brown worked with ROL Cruises founder Peter Beadles even before he set up the company 31 years ago.

 

Several other team members are also marking more than a decade with ROL Cruise.

 

ROL Cruise celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2025 and transitioned to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in 2024.

 

The business has also continued to gain recognition as an employer, including being named among the UK’s Best Companies to Work For and shortlisted in the Best Employer category at the prestigious British Business Awards.

 

Rosie Cairns, chief executive at ROL Cruise, said: “To have more than 330 years of combined service recognised within just the first six months of the year is something we are incredibly proud of.

 

“Behind every booking, every guest interaction and every success as a business is a team of people who genuinely care about what they do and about delivering exceptional experiences for our customers.

 

“The loyalty and commitment shown by our co-owners says a huge amount about the culture we have built together over the last 30 plus years. We are extremely grateful for the contribution every single person makes to the business.”

 

The anniversaries span several departments across the business, including sales, customer experience, operations, digital and commercial teams.

Employees celebrating milestones during the first half of 2026 include:

 

Claire Brown – 32 years

Mel Childs – 19 years

Kirsty Fitzsimmons-Love – 19 years

Dan Dempster – 19 years

Wanda Telfer – 18 years

Christine King – 17 years

David Lace – 17 years

David Clyncik – 16 years

Zak Elseidy – 15 years

Helen Pilgrim – 14 years

Mary Adams – 13 years

Susan Smith – 13 years

Jerry Pullen – 12 years

Kirsten Barham – 12 years

Tim Wilby – 12 years

Andrew Cairns – 12 years

Tamsin Kilbey – 10 years

Jasmine Bailey – 10 years

Georgie Todd – 9 years

Charlotte Dodd – 9 years

Becky Mecklenburgh – 9 years

Sarah Stephens – 8 years

Rob Barker – 8 years

Cameron Sharp – 6 years

Jake Nickels – 5 years

 

More: ROL Cruise maintains independence with transition to employee-owned business