Sixth PHS Plaque

One of the most famous plastics manufacturing sites in the world has been commemorated with a Plastics Historical Society plaque.  On a very warm sunny afternoon, on 3 June 2006, some 120 former employees joined with PHS members to witness the unveiling of the PHS plaque at the former site of the Bakelite factory at Tyseley, Birmingham, where for 50 years the world famous range of Bakelite plastics materials were made.

Production of phenolic resins and moulding materials began at the Tyseley site in 1931 followed shortly afterwards by decorative laminated materials. The works made a massive contribution to the war effort, making a remarkable fast recovery from substantial bombing damage.  Over time a substantial Research and Development organisation was established on the site, and saw product developments including epoxy and alkyd resins, and pre-formed structures for use in buildings. In later years some of the production facilities were transferred to the Aycliffe Works in the North East. The plaque for Tyseley was the brainchild of Percy Reboul, our past chairman, himself a former Bakelite employee, who made all the arrangements for the production of the plaque, and with the current occupants of the site, Apollo Metals Ltd, who kindly agreed to positioning the plaque at the entrance to its premises.

Percy introduced Reg Lewis, formerly Technical Head at Tyseley, who then unveiled the PHS plaque. In his remarks Reg recalled some of the remarkable achievements at the Works over the years, and the way that Bakelite had pioneered many forward looking employment practices. It was a good place to work at, and many employees achieved more than 25 years service with the company. There was distinct camaraderie at the factory and such a great turnout of former employees at the unveiling ceremony demonstrated clearly how much working at Tyseley meant to so many people. 

Following the unveiling ceremony, the assembled company moved on to a ‘tea and buns’ session at nearby Acocks Green Methodist Church.  During the proceedings, Percy Reboul presented a Bakelite memento to Denys Silsby, who had done a splendid job not only bringing the event to the notice of former Bakelite employees and advising them of arrangements, but also for organising the afternoon gathering. It was a truly unselfish effort on Denys’ part. A bouquet of flowers was presented to Denys’ wife Violet for her support.

John Russell, our Chairman, thanked all for attending and presented a gift to Reg Lewis, thanking him for unveiling the plaque.  For John the occasion brought to mind many happy memories of his formative years at Tyseley from the middle fifties until the late sixties, and provided a chance to meet up with people that he had not spoken with for nearly forty years. 

At the end of the proceedings Patricia Kingsbury, a member of the PHS committee, whose grandfather Mr W.E Kingsbury was a founder director of Bakelite Ltd, and whose father was also a non-executive director from 1926 to 1952, shared with John Russell the cutting of a chocolate cake embellished with the Bakelite trefoil; a fitting tribute to a splendid and memorable occasion.