The company has a long and proud history dating back to 1869. James Kent Morris founded Morris & Company, signing the lease on 7 Frankwell in Shrewsbury. The first Morris shop was a grocery business and a candle factory and the company has remained in Shrewsbury ever since.

James Kent Morris Junior became Managing Director and ran the business with his brothers. By this time, the business consisted of groceries, confectionery, a bakery, wines and spirits and a growing lubricants business.

The manufacturing of lubricants is moved to the recently purchased Corbett’s Perseverance Iron Works in Castle Foregate, at a cost of £6500. Leonard A. Paterson; the grandson of J.K. Morris Senior, joined and took charge of the oil division.

L.A. Paterson, J.K. Morris Senior’s grandson and J.K. Morris Junior’s nephew, became a Director of Morris & Co. and remained with the company for close to 50 years.

Sixteen years after joining the company and seven years after becoming a director, L.A. Paterson, (facing the camera), became Chairman and Managing Director of Morris & Co. and remained in this post until his death in 1984.

L.A. Paterson’s youngest daughter Diana, gets married to David W. Goddard, who are both directors of the company today. Diana is the fourth generation of descendants from founder James Kent Morris Senior.

In the one hundredth year of the company operating, David W. Goddard joined the company at the invite of his father-in-law L.A. Paterson, having begun his career in horticulture. The photograph shows David in the driving seat of one of the delivery lorries.

Diana and David Goddard’s eldest son, Edward W. Goddard, a fifth generation, direct descendant of J.K. Morris Senior, joins the company at the age of 18.  Edward starts his career in the lubricants factory including time in blending facility and the finished product filling departments.

The company looks to diversify into different markets, and purchased Stanmore Hall, a 135-van touring caravan site. This purchased formed Morris Leisure and the leisure park is still an important part of the leisure business today.

Diana and David’s youngest son and Edward’s younger brother, Andrew J. Goddard joins the company, having worked for a variety of companies in the lubricants industry for the three previous years to gain a stronger industry knowledge and valuable market experience.

On 17^th July 2004, the partition of Morris & Company Ltd. took place and Morris Lubricants and Morris Leisure became stand-alone divisions of Paterson Enterprises Ltd. Photographed from left to right,  John Alton, Gareth Jones, Andrew Goddard, Edward Goddard and David Goddard, who all became directors of Paterson Enterprises Ltd.

Twelve years after the purchase of the first caravan site, Edward Goddard became the Managing Director of Morris Leisure.  Today Morris Leisure has various caravan sites set across Shropshire and North Wales.

Andrew Goddard becomes Managing Director of the Morris Lubricants division, having held the position of Operations Director previously.

Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, opened the new production facilities, which are still located at Castle Foregate, and are capable of producing 60,000 tonnes of product a year. The investment in the production facilities helped to reinforce Morris Lubricants’ position as the largest independent oil company in the UK.

Paterson Enterprises completes the purchase of GB Lubricants, a 138-year-old company based in Gateshead. The strategic acquisition increased production capabilities and also provided access to new and additional customer groups.

Edward and Andrew Goddard became joint-Chairmen of Paterson Enterprises Ltd, with Edward Goddard becoming Executive Chairman of Morris Leisure and Andrew Goddard becoming Executive Chairman of Morris Lubricants. Photographed from left to right, Andrew Goddard and Edward Goddard.

Morris Lubricants celebrated a large milestone as it reached 150 years of manufacturing and distributing a wide range of oils, lubricants and greases to vast range of industries throughout the world. Photographed from left to right, Andrew Goddard, David Goddard, Diana Goddard and Edward Goddard.

Executive Chairman of Morris Lubricants, Andrew Goddard, became President of the United Kingdom Lubricants Association (UKLA). The UKLA are the voice of the lubricants industry in the UK and its members are actively engaged with other trade organisations on matters impacting the industry.