This month the Princess Royal visited Heap & Partners Ltd in Birkenhead to help them celebrate their 150th year in business. The Princess spent two hours talking to staff and hearing about the company and its long history.
Heap & Partners Ltd was founded in 1866 in Liverpool as an engineering supply company. Today the company still carries out the same function, but is now very focused upon fluid handling equipment – valves, controls, and instrumentation. Not only do they distribute valves but today they also manufacture high-tech, bespoke valves for the Nuclear, Oil & Gas and Subsea markets: some of the most arduous applications on this planet.
The Princess flew into Birkenhead by helicopter, landing in the historic Birkenhead Park; the very park on which New York based its own Central Park. Coincidentally, the park itself was celebrating its own anniversary as it had been established 169 years ago to the day.
Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, The High Sheriff of Merseyside, the Wirral Mayor and the Leader of Wirral Council, the Princess Royal took some time to meet and talk to Heap & Partners’ eight apprentices before unveiling a plaque to mark the occasion of the Royal visit and the 150th year in business. Andrew Will, Sales Director of Heap & Partners, said “It was amazing to watch as the Princess engaged with every single member of staff, taking the time to talk to each one.”
Now for more celebrations
Heap & Partners are now looking forward to continuing their year of celebrations and intend to mark the occasion with a number of events. The first graduation from their new apprentice program, a long service award party for Alan Close who has worked for the company for 50 years, a large black tie party at Liverpool Town Hall and numerous other smaller scale events.
