Ken Nokes retired on July 28, 2006, after nearly nine years at Satra. During his time with Satra he visited offices, tanneries and factories in the USA, Brazil, China, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Mexico, Portugal, Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Korea, Russia, Türkiye and, of course, the UK. He says that he always tried to put a lot of time, energy and enthusiasm into the job and that his colleagues in membership/marketing and other parts of Satra will continue to look after the interests of clients in the leather and all the other industries served.
Nokes intends to work part-time for a new concept called Heyday, which is part of the UK charity Age Concern, raising awareness, enrolling membership in Northamptonshire and helping to generate income for their many services.
He will also continue as president of the SLTC until September and will then be vice president for one year. He will continue as chairman of the Technical Liaison Group, British School of Leather Technology, University of Northampton, as long as they wish to continue with the arrangement.