SPOONER CELEBRATES 80 YEARS IN BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEE ACHIEVEMENT

Ilkley’s largest employer, Spooner Industries, is celebrating 80 years in business this month, and to mark the occasion hosted an Olympic themed party for all employees at the town’s new rugby clubhouse. The occasion was also used to recognise the achievements of many long-term employees. Mike Brook, Spooner managing director said, “We couldn’t let 2012 pass us by without celebrating. Our 80thyear in business with several employees devoting 50 years of their lives to the company shows how Spooner was and still is a great company to work for. Mr Spooner’s enthusiasm for innovation and dedication lives on.” The company, originally called ‘Spooner Dryer and Engineering Co.’, was established in 1932 by innovative engineer, William Wycliffe Spooner. Initially producing industrial drying machines for the local textile industry, Spooner’s revolutionary air flotation technology, which he wisely patented, was soon also meeting the needs of the printing industry. By the late ‘40s this was extended to the baking industry – apparently after Mr Spooner had tested some bread in one of his dryers and discovered that it not only tasted better, but had a longer shelf life! In 1956, the expanding company moved to the old brewery site on Railway Road, then in 2007 moved to new £4m purpose-built premises just down the road, where today it employs over 150 people. William Spooner died in 1967, but worked well into his 80s and was known to many as the industrial Peter Pan. His work ethos was, “Don’t drive your workers. Create a happy atmosphere, then let their enthusiasm for their job and their machines drive them on.” The high number of long-term employees at the company is testimony to his vision. At the anniversary party, presentations were made to five men who have worked over 50 years for the company and 20 more employees who have been there over 25 years. Richard Garnett, one of the five commented, “Mr Spooner was a gifted inventor who was passionate about his work and made sure his employees felt like part of the family.” To mark their achievement, each of the five was presented with a solid silver Olympic collector coin, while the 20 25-year employees received commemorative Olympic coins. Kate Baker, Spooner marketing manager added, “As this was a year of achievement for us it seemed appropriate to adopt an Olympic theme, and present our own Olympic medals instead of the traditional ‘gold watch’. It’s been quite an Olympic year for us, with our Director, Steve Newell, being given the honour of carrying the Olympic flame earlier this year.”

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