Prism Summer 2017
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S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 PPILKINGTON RETIRREMENT INFORMATIONI AND SUSPPORT MAGAZINE •M www.pilkingtonfamilytrust.com Andrew’s Mill at mission centre Andrew’s Mill is a maize mill under construction in Right: Andrew Ekwendeni Mission Station in Malawi, being Connell and wife Pat. formally named on completion, after Pilkington Family Trust beneficiary, Andrew Connell. Andrew worked for 12 years at Barr forward to making use of their new & Stroud, retiring in 1991 at age 62. mill. Ekwendeni was originally started Andrew always told Pat, it was the in 1889 by Walter Angus Elmslie a happiest place he had ever worked. Scottish missionary. It has one of the oldest churches in Malawi, belonging Sadly Andrew passed away in 2015, to the Church of Central Africa, however his memory is being kept Presbyterian, which is the local alive in Ekwendeni where, thanks to equivalent of the Church of Scotland. his wife’s generosity, the Maize Mill is being constructed in his name in the Andrew and Pat’s interest in grounds of the Mission Station. Ekwendeni started from their involvement in their local church, Maize is a staple food in Malawi, Giffnock South Parish Church, where currently the locals have a Glasgow. (By the time this magazine Andrew’s Mill. 10 -mile round trip on foot to get their goes to press it is hoped that maize to the nearest mill for grinding. Andrew’s Mill will be fully The local community is looking constructed and in use.) Glen Nightingale Glen will be familiar to Glen became Chief Glass join the Charity Trustee body Glen’s successor many of you having served Technologist followed by and agreed. He succeeded Glen is succeeded in the 37 years with Pilkington in a Production Director in 1986. Ken Appleton as Chair of role as Chairman of Trustees variety of roles. Glen joined Trustees in February 2006 Glen then assumed the by David Bricknell (pictured Pilkington in 1962 as a and held this post until his prestigious role of Chairman below) who was previously Development Chemist on the of Pilkington Glass Ltd, recent retirement. In total relatively new float Pilkington Company which led to being appointed that means that Glen has process. In 1966 Glen was Secretary - as you can see to the Group main Board in devoted an astounding 52 seconded to Scarborough we like to keep things in the 1987. Glen’s final role was years to actively serving the plant in Canada as Works “family” and rightly so as company and its retirees, an Chemist for the start-up of that of Group Technical we perpetuate the Pilkington achievement not many can the Group’s first overseas Director, which he held from name through our work. match. His fellow Trustees It is with a degree of float line SC2. 1994 until his retirement in sadness that we 1999. Throughout his career and the Executive Glen returned to the UK in announce the retirement Glen was actively involved management team of PRSL 1969 and undertook a would like to extend a huge of Glen Nightingale as variety of technical and as Trustee on the PSS vote of thanks for his Chairman of the Trustee production appointments, Pension Scheme. wisdom and support over body of the Pilkington including Manager of the Shortly after his retirement the years. Family Trust. Rolled Plate factory. In 1979 in 2002, Glen was invited to BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES AS IT WAS .... STRICTLY COME DANCING 2 William and Beryl celebrate 65 years of marriage 3 A fascinating glimpse of Pilkington 5 Spectacular performances at the Day Centre history 65th Wedding Anniversary Celebration EDITOR’S NOTES Congratulations go to Can you believe we are already halfway William and Beryl through 2017! And so much has Rimmer who happened, in particular the terrible terrorist atrocities in London and celebrated their 65th Manchester, the heartbreaking London Wedding Anniversary tower block fire as well as an unexpected General Election – events that have on 29th March 2017. changed our country in so many ways. And there have been changes also at the The couple met at the old Pilkington Family Trust with the recent Co-op Dance Hall in St Helens. retirement of PRISM’s Editor, Mike At the time Bill (as he likes to be Horton. Mike was the Trust’s Welfare known) worked for Burtonwood Programme Manager and, after 27 years Engineering Company and Beryl service, we wish him well in his worked for Pilkington at City retirement. Also, there is a new Chair of Road in the offices. Trustees with existing Trustee David Beryl later worked at the gas Bricknell taking on the role following Glen board for a while and then Nightingale’s recent retirement from the eventually returned to Pilkington When they both eventually adorn the walls of their home. Chair and Trustee Board. For many years working at Head Office and retired they enjoyed walking in Pilkington Family Trust sends Glen has brought much experience and Fibreglass. Bill started his own the Lakes and Wales, and taking their best wishes to the couple wise counsel which will be greatly missed . engineering company, Wilber their dog for long walks. Beryl and look forward to reporting Engineering, (the name came loved knitting and making their next momentous Change is a theme in this issue – from the first three letters of tapestries and some of her anniversary in 2022. particularly in Pilkington history; changing their names). beautiful embroidered pictures from horses to power-driven vehicles, and a very old photograph illustrating what we believe to be a very early Pilkington Many happy returns laboratory. Where is it? We don’t know to Mrs Wilburn who yet but hope some reader will have the celebrated her answer! And for new readers whose life momentus 103rd has changed through retirement welcome birthday in March Special to new beginnings. Other readers share 2017. their thoughts with us about helping you enjoy your retirement through activities such as the University of the Third Age as well as sharing their personal experiences on taking care of yourself in retirement. Celebrations Readers also share with us their special stories – some light-hearted and some very moving like the maize mill being built in memory and honour of a Birthday wishes go to Congratulations go to Olive Harrison Pilkington pensioner. Please keep your Miss Nicholson from MBE, who celebrated her 100th stories coming – they are amazing. St Helens who birthday at home in St Helens. celebrated her 102nd There’s no doubt by the time the next Birthday on 12th edition of PRISM drops through your letterbox there will have been even more January 2017. change – as yet unknown. Change is inevitable and perhaps in difficult changing times this well known quote might help - “grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”! Jackie Mafi Interim Editor Congratulations go to Sophia Pape who celebrated her 100th birthday on 11th April 2017 at her home in For details of how to Stockport. She received a beautiful birthday card from contact us see page 6 the Queen which she has had framed. 2 AS IT WAS .... In this edition we would like to share with you a fascinating glimpse of Pilkington history as extracted from old news journals - known as Cullet. In winter 1949 the Pilkington Brothers Cullet edition mourned the passing of the use of the horse by “the Firm”. “Towards the end of October the last horse left the Firm and went into honourable retirement. Picture taken from an old Cullet magazine - a time when St Helens This was not a great event - indeed very few people would even have known of it - but it was full of horses and when each Works had its own stables. completes a long chapter in the history of the whether weight had been lost or gained - very years ago with his highly polished steamer. Firm. This chapter opened with the Firm and has few lost weight. Quite apart from the draught horses, the taken until the present time to close. That a carriage horse also played his part in the history modern industry should only now, in the days of The May Show of the Firm. Two horses were kept at Head Office complete mechanisation, dispense with the horse The May Show was the greatest event of the and their job was to convey the Directors to and is nothing short of amazing. year and long hours were spent grooming horses from work. Horses had their strict period of duty; Talking to Mr “Bill” Howard of the Transport and polishing harnesses. A cup and prizes went there was a morning and afternoon horse and in Department, I was taken back almost half a to the smartest and best turned out horse and between periods of carriage duty they had to century to the time when St Helens was full of cart. Mr Guy and Lee Pilkington as well as Mr stand by in case of a fire when they were used to horses and when each Works had its stables. In Norman Pilkington bred horses for the Works. draw the engine. the Sheet Works, 100 horses were stabled on the Four years before the horses were replaced by Another team of horses was used by the site of No. 6 Tank and Liverpool, Bradford, power driven vehicles, Mr Howard had learned to Medical Officer to visit his patients who were not Newcastle, in fact all the Depots, had their drive a “steamer”, but his heart was always with able to get to the Works Surgery.