SCHOOLCHILDREN joined civic dignitaries to welcome a royal visitor to Middlewich.
The Duke of Kent came to celebrate the 50th anniversary of British Salt and opened a new £600,000 automated high speed packing line.
The Duke of Kent with Andrew Plant, warehouse operations co-ordinator
More than 30 million tonnes of salt has been manufactured since the company was launched half a century ago.
The Duke was greeted by Dr Martin Ashcroft, managing director of Tata Chemicals Europe and Stephen Crabb and head of operations British Salt.
Darren Parker, centre, British Salt technician explains the new packline operations to David Briggs, Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and the Duke of Kent
After the royal tour, a community spirited afternoon tea party gave the Duke the chance to meet some current British Salt employees and apprentices, pupils from St Mary’s and Cledford primary schools, representatives from local charities; British Salt customers and suppliers, the management of British Salt and directors of parent company, Tata Chemicals Europe.
Andrew Plant, warehouse operations manager with the Duke of Kent and Stephen Crabb, head of operations as British Salt pack line staff look on
Mr Crabb said: "We were delighted to celebrate our 50th anniversary in such good company. We’ve long been a major employer in the area and it’s important to us that as well as current and past employees, the Duke has had the opportunity to meet the community who all help to make British Salt the special company that we’re proud to be a part of.’’
The Duke of Kent opening the commemorative plaque of the visit and pack line opening with Dr Martin Ashcroft, managing director Tata Chemicals Europe
The event was the latest in a series of anniversary celebrations, including a coffee morning attended by more than 60 retired employees - several of whom worked on the site in 1969 at its launch.
The Duke of Kent with Dr Martin Ashcroft, managing director Tata Chemicals Europe as he unveils the commemorative plaque of the visit
Former employee, Bill Monaghan, now 91 and still living in Middlewich, the event marked his second royal introduction, as back in 1969 he led The Duke of Edinburgh through the company’s salt drying process.
The Duke of Kent in the British Salt packing area
Bill was introduced to The Duke of Kent with his daughter Dr Suna Monaghan.
Underpinning its anniversary celebrations is a strong sense of optimism and future growth for British Salt. Acquired by Tata Chemicals Europe in 2011, the business has invested £25 million in improvements to the site since 2015 and the high-speed pack line is the latest project to be completed.
Andrew Plant, warehouse operations co-ordinator, shows the Duke of Kent the pure dried vacuum salt at the end of the production process
Earlier this year, the company unveiled a £7.2 million investment in a new, best-in-class energy efficient boiler plant, designed to generate heat and electricity for the company’s 24-hour production process.
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The new British Salt boiler plant represents the largest single investment in the company since its inception. Scheduled to become operational in March 2020, it will be key to the success of a secure energy supply for British Salt.
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