大象传媒

Introduction

This article has been submitted to the 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� website by Joseph Ritson, a volunteer story-gatherer for the 大象传媒 Radio Cumbria CSV Action Desk. This short article gives but a brief sketch of two businessmen / industrialists who moved to Whitehaven, Cumberland (now Cumbria) during World War Two: Frank Schon and Fred Marzillier.

Starting virtually from scratch in the early part of the war, these two fine gentlemen helped create a major chemical works. After the war it provided employment for many thousands of servicemen and their families after they returned to civilian life. An exhibition at 鈥楾he Beacon鈥� Museum at the harbour side in Whitehaven in June 2005 gave a pictorial history of Frank Schon, Fred Marzillier and the firm they created. The name of the company was 鈥楳archon鈥� which combined the names 鈥楳arzillier鈥� and 鈥楽chon鈥�. The photographs used in the exhibition are now stored between the record collection of 鈥楾he Beacon鈥� and the Cumbria Archives Office, Scotch Street, Whitehaven.

Building up a chemical company during the war

Fred Marzillier was born in London in 1906 while Frank Schon was born in Vienna in 1912. When the Nazis took over in Austria, Frank Schon became a refugee and moved to London. According to the records, Marchon Products was registered as a company in 1939 in London by Lionel Morris and Martha Tablin, with Fred Marzillier as Managing Director and Frank Schon the General Manager.

In 1940, the company was being bombed in the Blitz and largely due to the persuasive powers of West Cumbrian Jack Adams (later to be Lord Adams of Ennerdale), the company moved to Whitehaven buying and selling chemicals. The firm had premises at the district known as Hensingham and then took over some old warehouses close to the town centre making fire lighters.

By 1943, the firm moved to High Road, Seacliffe near Ladysmith Colliery / Washery, between Kells and St Bees, still largely under the guidance of Fred Marzillier and Frank Schon. They eventually built up a market in a wide range of chemicals for shampoos, bubble baths, phosphates and sulphuric acids. After the war ended, the factory expanded, providing direct employment for returning servicemen, or indirect employment for construction work or the transport sector.

Post war years

Although this article is mainly concerned with the war years, a little further information may put the efforts of Fred Marzillier and Frank Schon into context. After the war, the factory grew to employ a direct labour force of about 2,300. It was taken over by Albright and Wilson in 1955 and later owners included Tenneco, Rhodia and Huntsman. However, by June 2005, the factory had paid off all but a handful of employees.

Fred Marzillier left the company in 1955 and Frank Schon left the company in 1967. They both moved back to London, although they retained a strong personal interest in West Cumbria. In 1961 Fred Marzillier and Frank Schon were both created Freemen of the Borough of Whitehaven. Frank Schon was knighted in the Queen鈥檚 New Year鈥檚 Honours List in 1966 and received a Life Peerage in 1976, becoming Lord Schon of Whitehaven. Fred Marzillier died in 1979 and Lord Schon, as he then was, died in 1995.

Memorials

In the 1990s, the Whitehaven Civic Society financed Memorial Plaques to both Frank Schon and Fred Marzillier that are placed either side of the main entrance door to Whitehaven Civic Hall on Lowther Street. Family members came from London to attend the unveiling ceremonies, commemorating the contribution of these two gentlemen during and after World War Two.

The Fred Marzillier Plaque reads:

鈥淔RED MARZILLIER
Man of Business, Socialist and Humanitarian.
b. London 1906 - d. London 1979.
Made Freeman of the Borough of Whitehaven in 1961.
Co-founded Marchon Products Ltd at Whitehaven in the early 1940s.

This plaque gratefully acknowledges the conspicuous part he played in the economic rehabilitation of West Cumberland after the Second World War.

Whitehaven and District Civic Society 1998鈥�

The Frank Schon Plaque reads:

鈥淟ORD SCHON OF WHITEHAVEN IN THE COUNTY OF CUMBRIA
A refugee from Nazi persecution.
b. Vienna 1912 - d. London 1995
Made Freeman of Whitehaven in 1961.
Knighted in the New Year Honours List 1966.
Created a Life Peer in 1976.
Co-founded Marchon Products Ltd and Solway Chemicals Ltd at Whitehaven in the early 1940s.

This plaque gratefully acknowledges his invaluable contribution in providing vital employment to the area at a time of severe recession.
Whitehaven and District Civic Society 1996"

Conclusion

This article has given only a brief sketch about Fred Marzillier and Frank Schon during World War Two. There is much more that could be told about what these two gentlemen did towards the war effort during World War Two. Much of this history can be found in the Cumbria Archives Office should anyone wish to learn more about it.

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