ON Monday, June 13, the Friends of Crediton Library hosts its fourth and final illustrated presentation in its 2022 series “Local Industries - A Day in the Life”.

This will be presented by a senior representative of Ernest Jackson, manufacturer of medicated confectionery, which has a factory located directly behind Crediton High Street.

The event will be at Crediton Library, starting at 7.15pm with doors open for refreshments from 7pm. There is no admission charge, but audience members are invited to make a donation (£4 suggested) to help FoCL fund-raise to enhance the library’s resources and support special projects.

According to the Ernest Jackson company website, “in 1817 Crediton pharmacist William Searle was asked to prescribe ‘something effective but soothing’ for a troublesome sore throat.

“As a result, he developed a range of medicated lozenges which he manufactured and sold from his pharmacy on Crediton High Street. In 1891, William Searle sold the company to Edward Ernest Jackson.

“Today, Ernest Jackson employs over 150 people and its brands and products are available throughout the UK and many countries worldwide.

“Through years of experience in developing, manufacturing and marketing medicated confectionery products, Ernest Jackson has become one of the biggest players in the UK medicated confectionery market.”

Even in Crediton there can’t be many who haven’t sucked on a Victory V, Throaties or a chewy Bassetts Vitamins pastille made by Ernest Jackson!

This presentation follows illuminating and informative talks given by the senior staff of, respectively, Crediton Dairy (UHT and flavoured milk products), Graphic (advanced printed circuit boards) and Crediton Milling Company (animal feeds and ruminant nutrition).

At each of these events audience members were given samples of products to handle, smell, taste or even (in the case of Crediton Dairy’s milk shakes and Arctic Coffee products) to take home to drink.

While many of us are familiar with the haulage vehicles serving these businesses, it has been a revelation to learn about their manufacturing techniques, the logistics of bringing in raw materials and exporting finished products, as well as the sheer scale of these operations. These four manufacturers together employ nearly 800 staff locally.

FoCL would like to thank these companies for their very fascinating and informative presentations, and, of course, all those members of the community who have attended some or all of the events.