Leigh MP Andy Burnham has hailed Astley Hire as the backbone of the local community as the plant and machinery hiring company celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Mr Burnham was speaking after being shown around Astley Hire’s premises at Lloyd Court in Leigh. During his visit he enjoyed an exhibition of photographs, newspaper cuttings and various other memorabilia, spanning the last five decades.
He said “The Leigh economy has changed over the last 50 years but companies like Astley Hire are the backbone of the local economy.
They still apply the right values to the way things should be done and are very much in tune with what people here think.”
Astley Hire founded by Cyril and Mildred Dorricott
Astley Hire was founded in 1966 by Cyril and Mildred Dorricott as a sideline at their local grocery and hardware store, hiring water pumps to motorway construction contractors. The family-run business now employs 25 staff and boast household brands Heinz, McVitie’s and Patak’s amongst their customers.
The firm is run by its founder’s sons, Stephen and Michael Dorricott. Taking up the role of operational director, Michael Dorricott said “We are just determined to try to carry on the business that our parents started and to make it a success.
It is wonderful to look back at the last 50 years and know our parents would be proud of what has been achieved here in Leigh.”
Both Stephen and Michael have been working for the family business since leaving school in 1973 and 1974 respectively.
Stephen, the company’s commercial director said “The secret of our success is giving our customers the quality, reliability and value for money they want”.
At Anything for Hire we would like to congratulate the firm on this amazing millstone, wishing them all of the success for the future.
