ICI Keep Fit Team

Happy to say that Wendy and Mike Cooper (my parents) are still alive and living in WGC, having just moved into Peel Court, on the site of the old Police Station. My Dad joined ICI in 1950 after National Service, and stayed until he took early retirement in 1984 at the time most of the businesses were moved up north. My earliest memories of the site are playing with my brother and other kids around the cricket pavilion when my Dad played for ICI in the 60s. Following in his footsteps, I joined Development Department in 1978 working on the early PET bottles. I joined the Perspex sales office in 1982, and was moved up to Lancashire with the great exodus. My parents met at ICI, and I also met my wife at ICI; Linda Dear who joined the Secretarial School in 1975 (and who had an uncle who also worked on the site!). I spent 10 years in the North West, moving into the Chemicals side of ICI, before heading back south to Hampshire as a salesman working for the ICI refrigerants business. This went through two subsequent owners, and I finally left in March 2015 with 37 years service. During my final few years selling refrigerants I had to visit Tesco, so actually had several visits back to the old site!! The only building remaining as far as I could see was the old Rec Club, where I had my stag night in 1982!! Happy memories……