Presentation marks 150th anniversary

Lloyds Bank marked the 150th anniversary of oil blender Morris Lubricants, one of Shrewsbury’s oldest companies, by making a special presentation to the directors.

A delegation from the bank, which included regional director for Mid Corporates in the Midlands Dene Jones, associate director of Mid Corporates Treasury Zoe Michael and relationship director Chris Pennick, presented a cut glass plaque to Paterson Enterprises, parent company of Morris Lubricants and Morris Leisure.

Edward Goddard, Paterson Enterprises’ joint executive chairman, said: “We are highly delighted to reach this milestone of trading for 150 years. Close contacts with our customers, suppliers and bank have been and continue to be very important to the success of the company.

“It’s great that we have such an excellent relationship with Lloyds Bank, which is very supportive to our company.”

Mr Pennick said: “Lloyds Bank is proud of its association with the group and wanted to recognise the fantastic achievement of Morris Lubricants trading for 150 years. The bank has a strong relationship with this group built on good communications.”

Grocer and candlemaker James Kent Morris could never have envisaged the future evolution of his business to a global oil exporter when he set up shop in Shrewsbury on December 7, 1869.

Today the business is still run by his family descendants and still based in Shrewsbury. Now one of the leading independent oil blenders in Europe, with a sister blending company in India, Morris Lubricants exports quality oils to 90 countries worldwide and has a workforce of 150.

Maintaining James Kent Morris’ family link to the business are his great great grandsons, Andrew and Edward Goddard, executive chairmen. Their parents, David and Diana, still serve as directors and David recently received a silver salver to mark 50 years’ service to the company.

Pictured: Paterson Enterprises’ director Diana Goddard receives the cut glass plaque from Lloyds Bank’s relationship director Chris Pennick watched by (from left) Paterson Enterprises’ joint executive chairman Edward Goddard and director David Goddard with the Morris Lubricants clock tower in the background