Charity begins at home?

For all the millions made and sold in Oldbury, the long suffering community of Langley has Arthur Albright to thank for a small park near to the factory. His generosity meant that for a reported 6 years he paid for it himself, where after that the burden fell onto taxpayers of subsequent councils to manage- how very generous of him.

We know how much the two Quaker gentlemen left, and the toxic legacy they left behind, but what of the company in later years when it came to community generosity? It is known that they paid for a local history book print run which contained a virtual free advertising space for their company PR machine.

From the accounts of the changing company based at Trinity Street, disclosures of how much they have donated to charity nationally are revealed. It is quite odd to see that the amounts over time have plummeted since the days of Albright and Wilson and one may draw what conclusions they like from this about French and Belgian socialism.

Here are the figures starting from 1991.

Albright and Wilson 1991- £50,500

Albright and Wilson 1992- £46,000

Albright and Wilson 1993- £62,000

Albright and Wilson 1994- £56,000

Albright and Wilson 1995- £52,000

Albright and Wilson 1996- £47,000

Albright and Wilson 1997- £88,000

Albright and Wilson 1998- £41,000

Rhodia Consumer Specialties 1999- £36,000

Rhodia Consumer Specialties 2000- £15,000

Rhodia Consumer Specialties 2001- £7,000

Rhodia Consumer Specialties 2002- £13,000

Rhodia UK Limited 2003- £6,000

Rhodia UK Limited 2004- £1,542

Rhodia UK Limited 2005- £7,880

Rhodia UK Limited 2006- £2,728

Rhodia UK Limited 2007- £3,924

Rhodia UK Limited 2008- £3,098

Rhodia UK Limited 2009- £590

Rhodia UK Limited 2010- £400

Rhodia UK Limited 2011- £1,654

Rhodia UK Limited 2012- £2,260

Solvay Solutions UK Limited 2013- £3,684

Solvay Solutions UK Limited 2014- £1,439

All of this may appear to be rather generous, but let’s remember that this is a multimillion outfit and under those terms these figures are absolute crumbs. Let’s also not draw into this equation what generous workers at this factory may give through salary sacrifice and other endeavours they have personally undertaken. This is the director corporate face of what a company has given, and under those terms it can only be all the more shame faced.

There are no figures given for subsequent reports, but it is quite clear to see how much Charity has dwindled since those 90’s “good times.” None of the charities are named, but in later years there are a couple of news stories which shed some light.

For example they were able to offer “The Friends of Langley Park” £1,000 some time around 2010.

An additional £600 was reported offered to the same group in 2013.

Not long after this Generous Solvay offered the services of a room to The Langley Band, as well as lighting up Langley at Christmas for their friends at Sandwell council -(when they are not doing so with fires from their plant) 😆

So where is this all going you may ask? Well there is a group called “the Langley Residents Association” which Solvay often mention in their news letters. It is known that representatives of these two organisations sit on this group- nothing wrong with that, but is it likely that those funded will be critical of a company giving them dosh, or even feel comfortable asking those awkward questions?

Tours

I am quite aware from personal experience of how the tea and biscuits are offered in those board room meetings, where Arthur and John’s portraits still no doubt loom large over the proceedings. Perhaps even the French fancies come out on special occasions these days? But come on Mr Clamadieu, looking at your charitable donations of late has your multinational multi billion Euro franchise fallen on such hard times that the paupers of Oldbury will go hungry this yule tide?

 

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“Mai, anyone would zinc we ad a bottomless pit!”

 

 

 

 

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