LAST week we featured Lord Leverhulme and his legacy as celebrated by Horwich Heritage Society.

On Saturday (March 14) there will be a special open day and exhibition about Lord Leverhulme from 10am to 1pm in the Horwich Heritage Centre and anyone with an interest in this great man is welcome to attend.

Lord Leverhulme led an incredible life, even by modern day standards says Horwich Heritage Chairman Stuart Whittle.

"In his 74 years he rose from a humble grocer's son to become the millionaire head of an international soap company.

"But his contribution was much greater than that. What was it that drove him on? He was obviously a very astute business man with a keen eye for what worked — his marketing genius turned a simple bar of soap into a highly valuable branded commodity."

Stuart says Lord Leverhulme's generosity and feel for the circumstances of the ordinary man and woman, born out of his strong non-conformist upbringing, meant he subscribed to numerous social causes for which he is equally famous.

He was the Liberal MP for Wirral between 1906 to 1909 and a member of Lloyd George's government supporting the popular social causes of the day including the old age pension and votes for women.

"How ironic then that a suffragette should burn down his bungalow at Rivington when he was on her side," says Stuart.

Port Sunlight Village is probably the greatest monument to his philanthropy but in his beloved Bolton area he has left us with Bolton School, Leverhulme Park, a restored Hall i'th' Wood, the restored Rivington Barns, Lever Park and the Bungalow Gardens. "Quite a legacy and one we should cherish," adds Stuart.

Although he became the Mayor of Bolton, in recognition for his generosity to the town, there are many people who say he should have had greater recognition.

There is no statue or museum in Bolton dedicated to his memory.

Plans to restore the much neglected Rivington terraced gardens would help to ensure Lord Leverhulme is never forgotten, claims Stuart.

Horwich Heritage Society is hoping many local folk will head for the Heritage Centre on Saturday to learn more about Lord Leverhulme. The society also holds speaker meetings every second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm at Horwich Resource Centre, with entry free for members and just £2 for visitors. Membership is £10 a year.