UK leading company based in Crawley celebrates 90th anniversary with commemorative tree planting in Manor Royal

To mark the milestone, the company held a commemorative tree planting at Crawter’s Brook People’s Park in Manor Royal, close to its headquarters, on Thursday, October 15.

Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, John Barclay, DL, planted a Fastigiate Oak in a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Crawley, Councillor Marion Ayling; Peter Lamb MP for Crawley; Steve Sawyer, executive director of the Manor Royal BID; and representatives from the Crawley Museum.

Founded by Joe Akester in 1936 when he invented the world’s first electrically-operated window fan, Vent-Axia has been a leading British manufacturer ever since. A company steeped in 90 years of British heritage and innovation, Sir Winston Churchill was one of Vent-Axia’s first customers, with the company supplying ventilation to his Chartwell home in 1945.

Vent-Axia’s first official premises were in Collinette Road, Putney, London, before the company relocated to Manor Royal Industrial Estate in Crawley in 1958. At the time, Manor Royal was still in its infancy, with fields opposite Vent-Axia’s offices. As the company grew, Vent-Axia moved to larger premises on the opposite corner of Fleming Way and Newton Road, where it remains today.

Graham Sanders, managing director at Vent-Axia, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating 90 years of Vent-Axia and our long-standing connection with Crawley.

“Since moving to Manor Royal in 1958, Crawley has played an important part in our company’s history, and we are very proud of our British manufacturing heritage and the contribution we have made to the local area.

“It is particularly fitting to mark the milestone by supporting the enhancement of Crawter’s Brook People’s Park on the Manor Royal estate, creating a lasting legacy for the community.

“As we celebrate our history, we look forward to continuing to innovate and build on our success for many years to come.”

The 90th anniversary celebrations took place at Vent-Axia’s headquarters in Fleming Way, which was decorated with bespoke bunting, made from recycled materials and featuring the company’s special 90th anniversary logo.

During the 90th anniversary celebration, guests heard a presentation tracing Vent-Axia’s rich history and achievements over nine decades.

Guests then explored a special exhibition co-curated with Crawley Museum, featuring archive photographs, historic ventilation equipment and artefacts from the museum’s collection, including a commemorative booklet from the 1950 visit of HRH Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, when she officially named Manor Royal and planted a tree in Crawley town.

Vent-Axia also published its own commemorative album celebrating 90 years of British manufacturing and innovation.

Peter Lamb presented Vent-Axia with a framed copy of Early Day Motion 918 tabled in the House of Commons on October 12, 2026, congratulating the company on its 90th anniversary.

The motion recognised Vent-Axia’s proud history as a leading British Manufacturer of ventilation solutions, its longstanding connection to Crawley and its contribution to the local economy through skilled employment, investment and innovation.

Guests at the anniversary event toured Vent-Axia’s manufacturing facilities, gaining insight into the company’s operations.

During the visit, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant operated a 3D printer producing an oak leaf, which will signify the day and be displayed with a commemorative certificate to mark the occasion.

The celebrations also included the cutting of a 90th anniversary cake by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant and the Mayor of Crawley.

The focal point of the celebrations was the planting of a commemorative Fastigiate Oak by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant at Crawter’s Brook People’s Park.

The planting provided a fitting link to HRH Princess Elizabeth’s historic visit 76 years earlier, continuing Manor Royal’s connection to the Royal family while creating a lasting legacy for the local community.

Officially opened by HRH The Duke of Gloucester in November 2014, Crawter’s Brook People’s Park is Manor Royal’s largest open space.

As part of its anniversary celebrations, Vent-Axia also invested in a new planting scheme in the park, in collaboration with the Manor Royal BID, to enhance biodiversity and sustainability within the business district.

The commemorative planting was made possible thanks to the invaluable support of Steve Sawyer, executive director at Manor Royal BID, and the Manor Royal BID maintenance team.

Meanwhile, students from Crawley College generously designed and produced an engraved commemorative oak plaque to mark Vent-Axia’s 90th anniversary tree planting at Crawter’s Brook People’s Park.

The commemorative tree and planting scheme are located next to the Green Lung sculpture curated by the Manor Royal BID and created by sculptor Andrew McKeown.

The sculpture is a striking synthesis of nature and human biology, taking the shape of a human lung fused with tree root, branch and trunk forms, with the lung’s veins and arteries replaced by roots or branches. This is particularly fitting symbolism for Vent-Axia’s anniversary planting since the company is committed to improving indoor air sustainably.

Together, the tree and planting scheme provide a lasting reminder of Vent-Axia’s 90th anniversary while reflecting the company’s wider commitment to sustainability.

Circular economy principles are already embedded in the company’s manufacturing approach and Vent-Axia aims to achieve Net Zero by 2040, a decade ahead of the UK Government’s 2050 target.

Following the tree planting, guests returned to Vent-Axia’s headquarters for lunch, where the Vice Lord-Lieutenant proposed a toast to the company’s 90 years of British manufacturing, innovation and engineering excellence, highlighting Manor Royal’s connection to the Royal family and Vent-Axia’s contribution to the local community.

Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, John Barclay, DL, said: “There is a wonderful Royal connection in today’s celebrations. In 1950, HRH Princess Elizabeth, our late Queen Elizabeth II, officially named Manor Royal and planted a tree in Crawley town, establishing a Royal connection with this important centre of British industry.

“Today, 76 years later, it is particularly fitting that we are marking Vent-Axia’s 90th Anniversary with the planting of another tree.

“Through its support of Crawter’s Brook, Vent-Axia is continuing that legacy, making a lasting contribution to biodiversity, sustainability and the local community.

“I congratulate Vent-Axia on 90 remarkable years of British manufacturing and innovation, and wish the company every success for the future.”

Guests raised their glasses with English sparkling wine from Denbies, a British vineyard recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development, reflecting the sustainability theme running through the day’s celebrations.

Each guest also took home as a gift a Vent-Axia 90th Anniversary bamboo eco water bottle (Mr Bamboo Cup) which is recycled, reusable and recyclable, with a mangrove tree planted for each bottle purchased.

For further information visit: www.vent-axia.com.