A HISTORIC silver tea service has been presented to Chippenham-based Alliance Pharmaceuticals by Liz Carter, nearly 100 years after it was given to her late grandfather.

The family heirloom was presented to Mrs Carter’s grandfather, Henry Hayward, by Ashton and Parson Ltd, a company which produced teething powders for babies and toddlers before it was taken over by Alliance Pharmaceuticals.

Mr Hayward started as an office boy at Ashton & Parsons Limited in 1895 at the age of 12, working his way up to General Manager. Back then, Ashton & Parsons Limited produced and sold homeopathic remedies and tinctures, homeopathic medicine chests, books and agents' cases as well as teething and worm powders and Phosferine.

During the First World War, Mr Hayward was unable to join the forces due to osteoarthritis, however, it was during this time that he made a significant contribution to the conveying of medicines to the soldiers and manufacture of tablets in general.

Working as a commercial travller at the time, Mr Hayward realised that tinctures and powders were not easy to transport, so he set about inventing a drying cabinet to enable Ashton & Parsons to distribute their products more easily.

The drying cabinet was able to dry the medical potions into gelatine tablets so that they became smaller, more easily managed and conveyable to the front line.

His valuable contribution saw Mr Hayward presented with a Silver Tea Service in August 18 and he continued to serve the company until his early retirement at the age of 55 in 1938.

Mrs Carter, 67, of Hayling Island in Hampshire, said: “I inherited it from my grandfather when I was 19. It’s not the sort of thing one uses every day now and I thought it was a shame to have it shut up in a cupboard."

The tea service always had pride of place in Mr Hayward’s living room, Mrs Carter recalled. He first showed it to her when she was just nine years old, promising that one day it would be hers to treasure.

The inscription on the tray reads: “To Henry Hayward by chairmen and directors of Ashton Parsons Ltd as a token of appreciation of his valuable service to the company, Aug 1918.”

Alliance Pharmaceuticals will display the historical story as an example of the type of undertaking behind the scenes that ordinary people achieved in supporting the War effort at that time.

The company will display the story in its reception area for visitors to appreciate.