Exhibit planned to mark Luton's Vauxhall heritage

Many people in Luton had family who worked at the Vauxhall plant after it opened in 1905

Stories from workers at Luton's Vauxhall plant are being gathered during a series of events to celebrate the industry's impact on the town.

Luton Made has been commemorating the legacy of Vauxhall, which spent 120 years operating in the town and at its height employed 37,000 people.

The firm's remaining van factory closed in April and former engineer Andy King said: "Young people don't know this story – we want to create a different image for Luton internally and externally."

He said about 100 people attended an event at Wardown House on Sunday to share memories and photos in preparation for an exhibition next May.

Andy King spoke at Sunday's event which was called Memories of Vauxhall's Factory Floor

Mr King, 71, who is chair of the Luton campaign group Save our Town, said Luton Made was part of a wider project "to try and establish an industrial heritage centre in the town to celebrate the major engineering and manufacturing centres".

"We had Skefko, Electrolux, Whitbread, Bedford Trucks, Hayward Tyler.

"It's not just about celebrating cars and trucks - the things these companies made - it's about the people that came and made the companies, and the companies made them," he added.

Mr King joined Vauxhall's engineering apprenticeship at the age of 16.

"My first year was spent at the engineering school building, which was within the airport's perimeter.

"We went through multi-disciplinary training, such as welding, surface grinding."

He said he wanted to highlight the social, "family-centric" aspect of Vauxhall.

"It was a very forward-thinking, benevolent management style.

"There was an activities programme with about 120 different things taking place. It really created that family environment.

"It was an inspirational generation," he said.

Vauxhall had many social clubs and organised outings for the children of its employees

Aisha Hassan, the project engagement officer for Luton Made: Vauxhall, helped to organise Sunday's event.

"We've had really good interest from people reaching out with their photos and memories.

"My own grandfather worked at Vauxhall. We want to hear from people whose dad, grandad and uncles worked there.

"Obviously it's a sad time for people losing their jobs – we are not overlooking that. But it's a big part of Luton's history," she said.

People who want to share their stories are encouraged to contact Luton Made via Instagram or Facebook.

The National Lottery Heritage-funded project will culminate in an exhibition in 2026