WORKERS past and present, bosses and a Government minister will today gather to celebrate the centenary of car production at the Cowley plant.

It was 100 years ago to the day that William Morris saw his ambition for a major factory producing cars in his home city of Oxford spring to life in the shape of the Bullnose Morris rolling off the first production line.

Then, just 20 vehicles a week were made. Now that figure has soared, with 900 modern-day Minis a day assembled and sent to more than 100 different countries around the world.

Over the years an array of famous cars were produced including the Morris Minor, the original Mini, the Morris Marina, the Princess, the Austin Maestro and today’s Mini. At various stages in its history, the plant also built Tiger Moth aircraft, ambulances, parachutes and iron lungs.

Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron said: “The substantial contribution which the Oxford plant has made to the local area and the British economy over the last 100 years is something we should be proud of.”

To mark the occasion, a special exhibition has been set up at the Cowley visitor centre with examples of the cars produced along with the history of how the plant evolved to this day.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and Harald Krueger, a director of Mini parent firm BMW, will be on hand today to mark the milestone along with special guests including former plant director Eric Lord, who will be celebrating his 93rd birthday.

A series of special events has also been planned including a special car cavalcade at the plant tomorrow.

Yesterday, Frank Bachmann current managing director of the plant, took a ride back in time in a 1926 Morris Oxford 14/28.

He said: “The Oxford plant has made an enormous contribution to the rising global success of the Mini brand and the plant is and will remain the heart of Mini production. “We can look back on an impressive past, and with everything we have planned for Mini everyone at the plant can also look forward to a great future.”

Workers speak of their memories:

ERIC LORD, worked at the plant from 1940-79.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Headington-born Mr Lord had wanted to join the RAF but a badly injured leg in a motorcycle accident prevented active service.

So instead of flying aircraft, he found himself inspecting their construction at the Cowley plant which had been turned over to building Tiger Moth planes.

After the war he rose quickly through the management ranks at Cowley, eventually becoming a director of the British Motor Company (BMC) responsible for Cowley and MG at Abingdon.

He remembers William Morris and used to have lunch every day with Sir Alec Issigonis, the legendary designer of the original Mini and Morris Minor.

Mr Lord, who is 93 today and still lives in Oxford, said: “I met Morris but he never went around the plant. He would not spend any money and we could not get agreement on anything. The amount of money being spent today is incredible.”

Remembering Alec Issigonis, who had a reputation for being awkward, he recalled: “He was approachable as long as you approached him in the right way. I never found him difficult.”

Mr Lord, pictured, above, with an old Morris Minor, was also at the plant during the industrial strife in the 1970s but has plenty of praise for the workforce.

He said: “The majority of the workers were good, straightforward people who worked hard and earned good money.”

HANNAH CROWDER, project co-ordinator, physical logistics.

Despite being relatively young, Ms Cowder, 25, has worked at the plant for eight years, having joined as an apprentice.

But her plant heritage stretches back much further as she is the fourth generation of her family to be employed at Cowley.

Her great grandfather Eric joined when the plant was just a few years old followed by grandfather Derek and father Alan.

She said: “Almost from day one there has been a Crowder at the plant. My granddad got to general manager level and it would be great if I could do that one day.”

Ms Crowder, right, from Botley, is pictured with a modern Mini Cooper. The former pupil of Bartholomew School, Eynsham, opted to work at the plant rather than go to university and is now responsible for overseeing the supply of parts.

She added: “This seemed like the perfect opportunity to work and carry on my education and I now have a degree in business management.”

DONNA GREEN, training manager.

Back in 1978 when Ms Green, now 51, started an apprenticeship at the plant, there were few women working there outside the traditional roles in the trim shop making upholstery.

She was following in the footsteps of her father Ray Roper and grandfather Ernest Roper, with the working line stretching back to 1927.

She said: “When I started there must have been 20,000 people working here and now there are 3,700 making the same number of cars.

“My dad was a tool maker and the smell of oil always reminds me of him. Seeing how the plant has changed has been incredible, particularly in the last 10 years.”

Ms Green, pictured, above, with an old Austin Mini, is now busy overseeing training for the third generation of the current Mini later this year.

IAN CUMMINGS, retired last year after 43-year career at Cowley.

Mr Cummings, 61, is also the third generation of his family to work at the plant and remembers his father Edmund being concerned about the merger of Morris Motors with Austin.

“He was very proud of Morris Motors because they were seen as making high-quality cars whereas Austin were very much a volume manufacturer.”

Mr Cummings joined what was Pressed Steel Fisher, which was under the umbrella of British Leyland Motor Corporation, in 1969 as a commercial trainee.

He moved into the personnel department, witnessing the computerisation of the vast number of files before becoming an industrial relations officer at a time of ongoing industrial disputes.

“There were endless meetings with unions and management and they seemed to be missing the most important issues of making the best cars cost effectively.”

In 1992 Mr Cummings, pictured, above, with a model of a 1948 Morris Minor, moved into the manufacturing side of the business, becoming production manager.

He added: “It was then I learned what hard work is.”

He eventually became a training director and set up a training centre for Rover 75 production and later Mini.

Mr Cummings, who now acts as a plant guide for visitors, said: “I have seen a lot of change but my abiding memories are of the good people who worked with me.”