Friday, September 23, 1966

EVERY worker at the General Engineering Co. (Radcliffe) downed tools together on Monday morning - with the full approval of the management.

And with production at a standstill, more than 600 employees streamed into the factory's new extension for the presentation to the company by the Earl of Derby of the Queen's Award for Industry.

Inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Howard Wilson, the award is for outstanding performance in the fields of exports or technological innovation, so it was fitting that on the very day of the presentation the firm should receive £130,000 worth of orders from Poland and Czechoslovakia for extruder equipment for the production of insulated cable.

Announcing the new order - to add to the £1 million of exports already on this year's books - the chairman of directors, Thomas Stanley Dickinson, stated that the company intended to enter for the award again next year.

Last year the firm exported £2.5 million worth of goods, representing 64 per cent of the turnover, and it is one of only 115 companies across the UK to receive awards in the first year of the scheme.

The company has bought Queen's Award lapel badges for all of his employees.

Among those at the presentation were the Mayor of Radcliffe, Alderman Jack Lomax, and the town clerk, Mr H Fox. Lord Derby was introduced by company director, Warwick Grimes.

Lord Derby commented that the company had a fine record in exports and technology and that it was remarkable for such a comparatively small firm to be among the first select group to receive the award.

He said: "It will come as no great surprise to anybody, due to your national and international reputation." He added that he hoped the award would bring further prosperity and distinction to the firm.

Mr Dickinson, who was presented with a document of appointment and the award emblem, thanked workers for the efforts they had made and said he was sure they all felt as pleased as he did.