A CAR dealership has clocked up 50 years of trading – with its first employee still part of the team. Horizon Honda Poole was founded in March 1971 by chairman Colin Sharpe and now has 10 branches across the South West, employing more than 230 people. Its first employee was Simon Rickard, who began as a car cleaner, salesman and doing any other role that needed doing. He worked his way up the ranks to become a director and is now group buyer. He said: “I can’t quite believe that it was 50 years ago since I began working at Horizon Honda Poole. The time has really flown by.