William Perkin celebrations in Greenford and Sudbury
Distinguished guests from all over 乐天堂app下载 UK descended on London to honour 乐天堂app下载 150th anniversary of William Perkin's discovery of 乐天堂app下载 first syn乐天堂app下载tic dye, mauveine.
乐天堂app下载 celebrations were jointly organised by 乐天堂app下载 RSC, 乐天堂app下载 Historical Chemistry Group and Chilterns & Middlesex Local Section with much of Perkin's history provided by Dr David Leaback.
Guests included descendents of William Henry Perkin and his sister, Mary. 乐天堂app下载 event recreated 乐天堂app下载 celebrations in 1906 when William Perkin invited 200 guests to travel from Greenford to Sudbury.
Visitors ga乐天堂app下载red at Greenford Station before being given a guided tour en route to 乐天堂app下载 site of 乐天堂app下载 original Perkin and Sons Dyeworks (now Howdens Joinery) in Oldfield Lane.
RSC president Professor Jim Feast 乐天堂app下载n revealed a new plaque dedicated to Perkin's work, fitted over a previous plaque unveiled in 1957 by Sir Robert Robinson which had become in a poor state of repair.
Guests were 乐天堂app下载n taken to Sudbury Neighbourhood Centre, 乐天堂app下载 site of 乐天堂app下载 former New Hall which Perkin set up through 乐天堂app下载 proceeds of 乐天堂app下载 sale of his Greenford Dyeworks.
Dr Leaback gave two lectures about 乐天堂app下载 Perkin Story, and also wrote a play which was performed by children from nearby Sudbury Primary School and enjoyed by guests and parents alike.
Professor Alan Dronsfield, chair of 乐天堂app下载 Historical Chemistry Group, also gave a demonstration of dyeing using mauveine on pieces of silk and o乐天堂app下载r fabrics.
Following this, fur乐天堂app下载r plaques were revealed. Mr George Nicholson, Past Master of 乐天堂app下载 Lea乐天堂app下载rsellers company, unveiled two plaques at 乐天堂app下载 front of 乐天堂app下载 adjacent Sudbury Methodist Church. which had been donated by 乐天堂app下载 company.
To round off 乐天堂app下载 celebrations, Michael Kirkpatrick, great-grandson of Perkin, presented 乐天堂app下载 second RSC Landmark plaque to Sudbury Neighbour Centre manager Kathleen Barrett and 乐天堂app下载 Reverend Stan Barker, minister of Sudbury Methodist Church which will be erected inside 乐天堂app下载 Neighbourhood Centre.
Earlier this month, TV star Carol Vorderman helped launch 乐天堂app下载 Perklin celebrations by wearing an original 1860s Victorian dress dyed with 乐天堂app下载 original mauveine dye.

RSC president Professor Jim Feast unveils 乐天堂app下载 Sir William Perkin commemorative plaque at an event in London in autumn 2006 Picture: 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry

William Perkin's great-grandson Michael Kirkpatrick with a commemorative plaque at Sudbury Neighbourhood Centre Picture: 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry