Royal honour for East Lancashire company.

Great British Life: Managing director Ian Wilson shows the Duke around Fort Vales Simonstone factory.Managing director Ian Wilson shows the Duke around Fort Vales Simonstone factory. (Image: Archant)

East Lancashire engineering company Fort Vale Ltd enjoyed a right royal day when HRH the Duke Of Kent visited their Simonstone headquarters.

Great British Life: Chairman and owner Edward Fort show the Duke around Fort Vales Simonstone factory.Chairman and owner Edward Fort show the Duke around Fort Vales Simonstone factory. (Image: Archant)

Great British Life: HRH the Duke of Edinburgh unveils a plaque in the new research and development centre at Fort Vale.HRH the Duke of Edinburgh unveils a plaque in the new research and development centre at Fort Vale. (Image: Archant)

The Duke met staff, toured the factory and opened a new £1.5million research and development centre at Fort Vale, which was formed in Colne in 1967 by Edward Fort OBE, as part of his recent visit to the county.

“The visit of the Duke of Kent was a proud day for us all and looking back, a fitting way to draw another landmark year towards a tremendous conclusion,” said Mr Fort, who was honoured for his services to industry in 1987.

Fort Vale, world leaders in the design and manufacture of fittings for the tanker transportation industry, also received a fourth Queen’s Award for enterprise earlier this year.