Release Date: 22 September 2011

Descendants of Percy Philip Payne, who founded the company in 1911, have visited its Nottinghamshire headquarters as part of the company’s Centenary celebrations.

Around 20 relatives, including Percy’s daughter Anne, together with grandchildren and great –grandchildren were invited for a factory tour to see the business as it is today.

Anne Payne, said: “I remember going around the factory at Haydn Road in Nottingham as a 7 or 8 year old when it was making tie tape and Christmas bows and labels

“It was entirely different then, the factory was very noisy but it’s all very different today. I thought it was quite intriguing. I’m sure my father would be thrilled at what the company is now – thrilled and very proud.”

Commenting on the day Tony Edwards, Divisional Managing Director said: “We are delighted to have welcomed the members of our founder’s family and to have had the opportunity to show them the business we are today.

“Researching our history in more depth has been a truly worthwhile exercise for us in terms of reinforcing what we are and why we are here and it was great to honour the Payne family’s role in that.”

The visit to the factory at Giltbrook was also covered by BBC Radio Nottingham, who broadcast an earlier appeal which led to several of the relatives of Percy Payne being traced and invited to the Family Day.