childhood 60s memeoreis
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childhood 60s memeoreis
I have fond memories of Heysham as a child, during the 1960s, drinking nettle beer with my brother and sisters. My auntie Hilda and uncle Billy lived in Ulverston, and my uncle worked at the ICI works, I think it was Half Moon Bay, we used to go and sit on the rocks while my uncle used to bring us our dinner which I presume he got from the works. I've not been back to Heysham since being a child. I'm now 57 years old and will be going back in the summer maybe its all changed now but nevertheless I'll go to see and relive some of my childhood. PS I remember once going aboard a destroyer to have a look round I got pictures somewhere so would like to add them soon.
Shared on 27 March 2007
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Year: Unknown
RE: childhood 60s memeoreis
From 1965 to 1970 I was a Section Engineer at ICI Heysham. My responsibilities eventually included the Mechanical engineering of the ammonia side and the electrical / instrument side of the whole site.
The site was set up in 1939 as the Heysham Aviation Fuel Works to produce aviation fuel for the RAF. Starting with coke brought in from the Durham coal field and imported gas oil ICI produced base petrol and ammonia. Shell produced iso octane from the gas oil to boost the base petrol to aviation standard. The main site was sponsored and paid for by the Ministry of Aircraft Production. The Ministry of Supply funded a Nitric Acid and Ammonium Nitrate plant for explosive purposes. This also was run by ICI. The site initially was run By Trimpell, a wholly owned subsidiary of ICI, Shell and Trinidad Leaseholds. After the war Shell & ICI bought the site but retained the name Trimpell. I think that name survives as the name of a sports club in Morecambe. The history of what was a top secret factory is very interesting.
Shared on 06 May 2007
