Masonry Magazine January 1981 Page. 20
MCAA Members Visit
World's Largest
Brickworks on '80
Industry Tour
Inspecting the largest brick manufacturing plant in the world was one of the major highlights of the '80 MCAA Industry Tour of England. On Tuesday, October 21, 1980, members of the group had the privilege of visiting the London Brick Company's plant at Stewartby, Bedfordshire, England, which boasts a maximum brick production capacity of about 15 million brick a week. Located some 60 miles north of London, the Works provided the members with an understanding of the "semi-dry" process of brick making, utilizing clays from the Oxford belt which stretches across England from Yorkshire to the Dorset coasts.
The '80 MCAA Industry Tour departed Chicago and New York via TWA 747 on Sunday evening, October 19th, arriving at London's Heathrow Airport early Monday morning, October 20th. That day the members were taken on a memorable tour of London, including many of the historic landmarks such as Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, Parliament, No. 10 Downing Street, and Westminster Abbey.
Reception for U.S., British Mason Contractors
On Monday evening, at a reception at the Kensington Hilton Hotel, members of the masonry industry in England met with the visiting U.S. mason contractors at an informal reception, with the London Brick Company acting as co-ordinator for the event.
In addition to the thorough tour of the brickworks at Stewartby, members of the tour were fortunate enough to visit many building sites in the greater London area to see British methods of construction and to visit with the workmen and supervisory personnel.
Side trips to Oxford, Stratford-on-Avon, Coventry, and Windsor Castle, as well as a two-day trip to Scotland were some of the additional enjoyable features of this year's tour. London itself provided many attractions that captured everyone's attention.
Those on the '80 Industry Tour were:
M/M Mel Baum, Morton, III.
M/M Glen Close, Orem, Utah.
M/M Jack Cook, Tavares, Fla.
M/M William Cox, M/M Tom Cox, and M/M James Cox, all of Tucson, Ariz.
M/M Ross DiStefano, Gladstone. Mo.
M/M L.C. Duvall, Boise, Idaho.
M/M Wilbur Graff, Wadsworth, Ohio.
M/M Robert Hatch, Pasadena, Calif.
M/M William Henderson. Albuquerque, N.M.
M/M Joseph lacono, Mahwah, N.J.
M/M John Mancuso, Gladstone, Mo.
M/M Arthur Schuessler, Roselle, III.
M/M Turner Smith, Houston, Tex.
M/M Joseph Splendoria, Clarendon Hills, III.
M/M Kenneth Thompson. Albuquerque, N.M.
M/M Mark Vasquez, Lenzburg. III.
M/M George Miller, Oakbrook Terrace, III.