Simon is based in Long Sutton, our largest food production site in the UK and where we produce a range of canned products including baked beans, vegetables, fruit, pulses, pasta and meatballs. He joined Princes in 2012 and is part of a team ensuring that our equipment and processes operate at optimal levels at all times. Simon says:

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I left school, so I went to work in a factory that made cardboard boxes.

After two years I made a lifechanging decision and joined the RAF on an engineering apprenticeship. It was a really enjoyable job and during my ten years with them I got a number of engineering qualifications.

I learnt to work under pressure, travelled the world and covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was tough being away from home for months at a time especially when my two children were little, and I was missing key moments, so when I saw the job at Princes I applied for it. The factory is just a few miles from where I live and the team are great.

I started off as a Maintenance Engineer and worked my way up to become a Reliability Engineer. We’re a small team of three or four people working to ensure our productions lines are in the best possible working order.

My shift is 7am-3pm and I have flexibility to start or finish a bit earlier or later if I need it, which is great.

My day is varied and includes checking the vibration levels of critical machinery, project work, taking oil samples, ultrasound and heat monitoring checks and completing lubrication paperwork. Our job is important and we do everything we can to maintain production capacity and catch any issues before they become a problem.

Outside of work, I love running. In April I set a new Guinness World Record while running in the London Marathon – becoming the fastest ever runner dressed as a video game character. Why Super Mario? I had an outfit from a fancy dress party so thought it was the perfect chance to wear it again.

I’d had a go at the record two year before but just missed out by ten minutes. This year I managed to smash it with a time of 02:52:57, taking four minutes off the previous record which was set in 2016.

To compete for the record you have to run in full Mario costume including wearing a red hat and white gloves, which you can’t take off. The rules are very strict. I also had to grow a huge Mario moustache, which I cut into shape and dyed black to make it stand out.

It was an incredible day and the crowd were really supportive. What made it extra special was that there was a second Mario running that day who was also hoping to smash the record.

He was leading for most of the race until the final mile when he ran out of steam and I passed him. I think the extra training I’d done helped me to the finish line as well as the huge carbohydrate feed in the days leading up to the race.

I’m planning to run another marathon next year – I just need to decide what character I want to be next.