A CAMPAIGN to commemorate a crucial part of Basingstoke’s history was boosted with an event held at the weekend.

Thornycroft Day was held at Brookvale Village Hall, in Lower Brook Street, on Saturday showcasing hundreds of records of Thornycroft vehicles and the people who made them, along with a few surprises.

The event was organised by the Brookvale Community Association and the Thornycroft Society in aid of the Thornycroft Clock Project.

The project aims to build a clock tower and four-faced clock on the west end of Brookvale Village Hall to replicate the clock which used to sit on the main Thornycroft factory building in Worting Road

At the Thornycroft Day event, there were three vintage Thornycroft lorries parked on the grass outside the hall, all of which had been driven to the venue by their enthusiastic owners.

Inside the hall were seven displays, three of which provided hands on engineering examples, one of which was an ‘N’ gauge working electric train set accurately demonstrating the layout and working of part of the Thornycroft works which used to stand where Morrisons, B&M and other stores are now situated.

Elsewhere, there was an ‘O’ gauge clockwork train set with wind up trains and tracks with points and sidings and a Meccano set in vintage red and green for anyone handy with a spanner to have a go.

Ted Blackmore-Squires, a founder member of The Thornycroft Clock Project, said: “The displays traced the history of Thornycroft, a major employer in Basingstoke until the early 1990s.

“Historic documents, photos and memorabilia were available for study and investigation or just to admire the care taken by the Thornycroft enthusiasts.

“The Thornycroft Clock Project wishes to thank all who made the day possible. The funds collected will put to the realisation of this worthwhile and practical project.”