John Millar 1926-2013

Published: 8th October 2013 | Issue 26 Share article:

It is with great sadness that we are announcing the death of John Millar. John worked for Heap & Partners from 1952 till his retirement in 2008 aged 82. During that time he grew Heaps from a small Liverpool company employing only a handful of staff into one of the best known companies in our industry renowned for its technical expertise. Always forward thinking and innovate he introduced our first computer to control our stock holding in 1970 and started our Apprenticeship scheme which still runs today. He introduced the first drills and lathes into Heaps in the 1970s. Initially to help us modify standard products, but eventually leading into the full manufacturing facilities we have today.

In 1976 to celebrate the company’s 110th anniversary he wrote our company history William Heap & his company. This book is still in print today and is in demand from all over the World as one of the finest sources of information on the Great Railway builder Thomas Brassey who employed William Heap as his chief bridge builder before he left in 1866 to set up Heap & Partners.

Even after his retirement John Millar continued to support Heap & Partners by producing the layout drawings for our new head office in Birkenhead and providing training for new members of staff. Today as Heap & Partners enters its 147th year in business we know we would not exist but for his efforts. John is survived by his Wife Dorothy Millar and three children John Keith, Ann and David.

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