BOLTON businessman John Entwistle, who set up British Turntable almost 50 years ago and developed it into a company with a global reputation, has added a new string to his bow.

For the 74-year-old has written his first book — entitled Bolton Born and Bred — all about his life and how he set up Bolton Turntable, later renamed British Turntable.

He found he liked writing so much that he has started his first novel and wants to publish a book about the history of British Turntable which next year will celebrate its 50th year.

He said: “I had reached an age when I wanted to know more about what my father and grandfather did and I wanted to let my family know about my early life.

“So I began writing it in longhand 18 months ago and I found I really enjoyed the process and have started a novel and I intend to write a book about the company’s 50th year next year.”

He is having copies specially bound for his children to keep as mementoes.

Although he officially retired in April the company he set up in 1959, he still works three days a week at the company offices in Emblem Street.

“I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t do some work — I’ve tried golf but I like to be here at work,” he said.

Mr Entwistle set up the company after his father, who worked in the motor trade, wanted a turntable for his car showroom — a highly unusual request in the 1950s. Though Mr Entwistle was qualified as a cost accountant, he had worked for a year in engineering and told his father he would build him a turntable.

It was successful and he set up in business in one room in Flash Street mill while still working as an accountant for De Havilland.

He sold his first two turntables to a sceptical car dealer for £275 each and Bolton Turntable was born.

Since then, the company, though employing only 17 staff, has developed a turnover approaching £5 million and is represented throughout Europe and North America.

The company makes tiny solar and battery-powered display turntables through to enormous turntables capable of soundlessly rotating 70-tonne tanks.

It also has a Hoverair arm which used high pressure air pads to float huge weights at exhibitions and on factory lines where heavy machinery needs to be moved.

“We can lift hundreds of tons by floating them on half an inch of air,” Mr Entwistle said.

“We export to around 130 companies worldwide and we are one of the leaders in the world in our field.”

l In the Bolton News and Bury Times Business Awards 2008, Mr Entwistle was presented with a Special Achievement award for his lifetime’s work in helping make British Turntable a leading company in the world.