When Anthony Heffer started working on the Great Glemham estate he never expected to still be working there 60 years later – or to have ended up in the film that brought rural Suffolk to the attention of the world.

Mr Heffer was yesterday presented with an award to mark his long service on the estate – which now concentrates on organising shoots and looking after conservation efforts.

Now 76, he started working on the estate when he left school at 15 . . . and has never left.

And despite receiving a long-service award at the Suffolk Show yesterday he has no plans to fully retire.

He said: “I love my work. I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything else and I’ve been very happy working there.

“These days my work is mainly organising the shoots – getting in the beaters, that kind of thing.”

What he did not mention was that he had a part in Sir Peter Hall’s classic film Akenfield – portraying his life as a ploughman in the late 1960s. His employer, Lady Caroline Cranbrook, let the cat out of the back on that!

Mr Heffer was one of 22 long serving agricultural employees given special awards for staying with one employer – with between 31 and 55 years each.

Four long-serving employees of Thurlow Nunn Standen Ltd which sells and services farm equipment were recognised for working for the company for 50 years – and are now preparing to retire.

Thurlow Nunn managing director James Thurlow said: “As a company, and family, we are extremely proud of the loyalty and dedication shown by our staff and recognising long service is a key element of that.

“All four have been integral to our service department and are valued by our customers as well as by us.