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At the meeting of the Preston Historical Society held on Monday 4th March, members and guests were presented with a superb talk and photographic slide show of the once ubiquitous Preston based company of Dick, Kerr.

Colin explained how the partnership of W.B. Dick and J. Kerr took facilities in Strand Road, Preston creating an engineering company of vital importance in maintaining Preston’s leadership in manufacturing. He also talked of how the company of Dick, Kerr produced tramway and railway plant eventually moving on to the manufacture of aircraft and of the importance of the involvement of the company in the production of aircraft and such like during World War Two.

The slide show images which Colin displayed during the presentation gave a strong reminder to all attending of Preston’s past involvement in steel and electrical engineering and took most people on a magical journey down ‘Memory Lane’.

The Society would like to take this opportunity to thank Colin for such a nostalgic and entertaining evening.

Colin Dickinson is the author of the book ‘Cotton Mills Of Preston’ which could easily be described as the definitive text on the complete cotton industry of the town, identifying the various mills in fine architectural and technical detail and is essential reading for all enthusiasts and historians of the cotton industry.

The Preston Historical Society, founded in 1948, meets on the first Monday of the month between October and May. The meetings, which start at 7.15 pm, are held at the Central Methodist Church, Lune Street, Preston.The annual membership subscription is £10, and admission for visitors to a meeting is only £2.

You can find out more about the Historical Society on their website and also on the Facebook page.
There is also information of all the latest news of meetings and events on Twitter @prestonhistsoc

Reviewed by Paul D. Swarbrick & Gillian A. Lawson