A NEW British aerospace exhibition has opened at the Horwich Heritage Centre.

The exhibition marks the 80th anniversary of the arrival of the aerospace industry at the Lostock factory. The display features a timeline of words and pictures from the 1930s to the present day, accompanied by an archive of photographs and artefacts.

The '80 years of British Aerospace at Lostock' exhibition was opened by David Kaye, a former engineering apprentice, the Mayor of Horwich, Cllr Peter Wright and chairman of Horwich Heritage, Stuart Whittle.

Stuart Whittle, chairman at Horwich Heritage Centre, said: “The exhibition is made up of a timeline of words and pictures. We have an events timeline and a descriptive timeline.

“A lot of the exhibition focuses on the golden days at Lostock. It was not only a vibrant place of work but also a vibrant social and sports environment.”

The propeller division of the De Havilland Aircraft Company arrived at Lostock in the early 1900s.

Lostock engineers went on to manufacture propellers for Spitfire and Hurricane fighter aircrafts that were used in the Battle of Britain.

Over the subsequent eight decades, the Lostock factory, under its successive banners of Hawker Siddeley, British Aerospace, Matra Bae and MBDA Missile Systems, provided employment for thousands of people in Bolton, Horwich and the surrounding areas.

As well as the exhibition, the centre also has souvenirs available to buy including an in-house DVD ‘Propellers and Projectiles’, MBDA’s ‘The Lostock Story’ and a book entitled ‘Lostock Life – 80 Years Manufacturing at Lostock’.

Mr Whittle added: “We had over 80 people attend the opening of the exhibition. Visitor numbers are coming in regularly to see what we have on display. We hope to see lots of ex-employees of the Lostock factory visiting to see the exhibition and the photographs.”

The exhibition will be on display for two months at the centre on Beaumont Road (off Longworth Road), Horwich, BL6 7BG.

nDo you have memories of working at the plant? Email Gayle McBain on gayle.mcbain@nqnw.co.uk