THE Remembering ISTEL project continues to attract more support from ex-employees with a blue plaque to be unveiled at Grosvenor House.
The Standard reported in November last year about the creation of an archive for the IT company ISTEL.
It was started by Dave Handley and Derek Coombes who, during a conversation at Redditch Local History Museum, discovered they both worked at the business.
Checking what information the museum had on ISTEL, they found it was limited to two publicity brochures and a mug.
Derek and Dave said they were shocked how little information there was on the company, so decided to rectify that by starting their own archive.
Since then, the collection of information has gone from strength to strength and they continue to connect with ex-employees on their Facebook group.
A feature on the website to put names to faces displayed in publicity brochures has identified 343 at the last count out of 850 images.
Because of the success of the group, the prestigious blue plaque will be unveiled on December 14, with ex-employees invited to attend.
Derek said: “In the 1980s and 1990s ISTEL had offices at many locations in the town.
“It occupied most, if not all of Grosvenor House as its headquarters and built a state-of-the-art Data Centre at Moons Moat.
“Other offices were in St Stephen’s House, Highfield House, Springfield House and Regents Court along with many satellite offices on Moons Moat.
“However, since 2023 when the last AT&T ISTEL company moved out of Highfield House there has been no ISTEL presence in Redditch and the name ISTEL is becoming forgotten.
“This, for a company which, in the fourth quarter of the last century, was an International leader in IT and the largest private sector employee in Redditch, leaves a large gap in our local history.
“ISTEL will be well known to older generations, but for younger generation it’s just a name that their parents or grandparents worked at.
“In addition to the interest of all Redditch residents, we also hope this exhibition is an opportunity for those ex-employees still in the town or within easy traveling distance, to meet up with former colleagues who, perhaps, you have not seen for years.”
Visit istel.redditchheritage.online for more information.
