"I enjoy meeting the people and the people that we work with. That's what you look at."
Mr Raynel started his apprenticeship after initially trying to become an auto-electrician on the railways. The 10,000 hour apprenticeship was completed in three-and-a-half years - "that would nowadays take five years, we were doing 60-hour weeks back then" - and he hasn't looked back since.
Mr Raynel said a recent operation on an Achilles had forced him off work and meant he could only return for limited hours each day, which had helped ease the path into retirement.
He said changes from the manual "20 pound sledge hammers" to modern machinery had made a huge difference and made the job a lot less physical than when he started. It was also cleaner than the old days working in the "hot, steamy smoky" environment.
Manager Phil Yeoman said 50 years was a big achievement for anyone to be in one business, especially if they were not the owner.
"I think the thing for me is he's such a reliable, honest staff member."
Mr Yeoman said Mr Raynel had put in long hours over the years, and was often the first to work at 7am and last to leave.
"He's totally reliable. He would never take a sick day apart from the last few years when I've started sending him home.
"He was the backbone of this place for a number of years when different managers came and went. The one consistent was Ian."
He described Mr Raynel as "the voice of Archers" and said everyone knew him.
"He's kept away from computers 100 per cent. In a way that is what is good, he's just been able to do his job."
Mr Raynel said he was now looking forward to spending more time with his family and going fishing.
