A FAMILY-RUN Andover engineering company has celebrated 70 years in business.

Bowyer Engineering Limited celebrated the milestone birthday last month with a special event at their Walworth Industrial Estate-based headquarters.

The event, attended by three generations of the Bowyer family, included a wood burning pizza oven to cook fresh food for guests.

Current managing director James Bowyer, who is the grandson of the company’s original founder Paget Bowyer, said: “Bowyer Engineering Limited moved to Andover in 1969 and 47 years later we are celebrating our 70th year of continuous business.

“The local workforce of Andover has played a massive part in our success; for this I thank them.

“Now as a third generation director I look forward to the next 25 years.”

The company was formed in 1946 in Clerkenwell, London, by chartered electrical engineer Paget Bowyer.

Originally named Cathanode Limited, the company created tooling and equipment for the telecommunications industry.

A change of name followed in 1955 when the company was rebranded as Bowyer, Smith and Partners Ltd.

Production aims changed too, with the company soon carrying out precision engineering and tooling.

In 1969 Mr Bowyer’s son, Michael, joined the business and shortly after the company relocated to Andover as part of a London overspill agreement.

The company has remained in the town ever since and continues to grow under Mr Bowyer’s grandson and current MD, James, who joined the business seven years ago.

Nowadays the company mainly completes sub-contract work for the research and development sector and has several high profile customers including Rolls-Royce Aero Engines, Pratt and Whitney Aero Engines and Qinetiq.