John Strickland with the Mayor Barbara Clare
As part of Formica Group’s year-long celebration of its 100th anniversary, a tree planting ceremony took place at the Newton Aycliffe plant on 7th June.
In attendance were some of the longest serving employees: Steve Dixon, Ian Watson and Colin Whitehead who are celebrating an incredible 39 years’ service this month.The tree was planted by John Strickland who has worked for Formica Group for 35 years. The majority of the Newton Aycliffe employees (70%) have more than 20 years’ service. The employees chose an Oak tree as the Acorn is a symbol of the area which used to be an oak forest; the origin of the name Aycliffe is the Old Saxon name “Acle”, meaning “oak leaf”. Also present were Richard Pollington, President of Formica Group Europe, the Mayor of Great Aycliffe, Councillor Barbara Clare and her husband Councillor John Clare.
Councillor Barbara Clare was once a Secretary to the Finance Director of Perstorp-Warerite, based in Newton Aycliffe, which was later bought by Formica Group. The Newton Aycliffe factory was built in 1969 at a site that was originally used by the Ministry of Defence during and after the Second World War. Nowadays, the plant employees 79 members of staff and currently produces all of the recently relaunched European Axiom® by Formica Group range of worktops as well as a range of CPL laminates. Formica Group has recently invested in the facility and in July it will become the UK distribution centre for Formica® High Pressure Laminate.
