A FAMILY-run business that was knocked for six by tragedy and then steadily rebuilt has marked its 10th anniversary.

Commercial maintenance and installation plumbing company Valleyserve marked the milestone with its employees as a way to say ‘thank you’ for their support.

Managing director Darren Twomey said: “We just wanted to recognise how far we have come over the past 10 years.”

The business was set up by his parents Ken and Dena in a back bedroom at their Winklebury home in February 2005, after Ken was made redundant as a regional development manager for a plant company.

Today, the thriving Dyno-Plumbing franchise covering Basingstoke and the Thames Valley area – hence the name Valleyserve – employs 32 people and is based at the Loddon Business Centre, in Roentgen Road, Basingstoke.

But it has had a rocky journey, especially when five years ago Ken was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

“The news knocked us for six,” said Darren, who had previously given up his insurance career as a medical underwriter to work for the family business as operations manager.

When Ken passed away in July 2010, Darren took on the role of managing director.

“It left a massive dent, both in the business and on a personal level for the family,” recalled Darren.

“Not only were we trying to keep the business alive as it was our livelihood, but also as a family we were grieving.

“The business went through a very difficult time. It was purely for the fact that my dad was the company director and most of the business died with him, because it was all in his head.”

Darren described how becoming managing director was a “huge jump”.

He added: “It was always my dad’s intention that when he retired he would hand the business down to me, to keep it in the family, but it was a lot sooner than anyone had expected.”

With his mum Dena as a fellow director, Darren and a new management team were able to put the company back on an even keel.

“Within the last five years the business has pretty much trebled thanks to the management team, our staff and our engineers,” said Darren.

“They’ve been brilliant – everyone has pulled together. We’ve kept the business going in dad’s honour and we’ve exceeded his goal of having 20 engineers on the road.

“He laid the foundations and we’ve built the house.”