BEAUMANOR FLUID POWER PRODUCTS
on the occasion of the company's fortieth anniversary
On 11 January 2014, Murdoch and Anne MacKenzie attended the fortieth anniversary celebration of Beaumanor Fluid Power Products.
The company was founded in 1974 by Mr A Balakrishnan who helped Murdoch and others found the Sadhu Sundar Singh Memorial Church in Chennai (then Madras) in 1969. Later Murdoch helped Bala to pursue Engineering studies at Loughborough.
The company was founded in 1974 by Mr A Balakrishnan who helped Murdoch and others found the Sadhu Sundar Singh Memorial Church in Chennai (then Madras) in 1969. Later Murdoch helped Bala to pursue Engineering studies at Loughborough.
Murdoch holding Bala's photograph with Tim
It is very kind of our Chairman, Tim, whom we know as Thirumalai, to invite Anne and myself to this 40th Anniversary Celebration. The work here was begun in 1974 by Tim’s uncle, Mr A. Balakrishnan. I first met Bala, as we call him, in Madras in India in 1968 when I was working alongside very, very poor people, some of whom were literally living on the garbage tips around the city in a place called Venkatesapuram. In the midst of this were small houses, temples and churches, with mud walls and coconut leaves for roofs. There was an aspiration among the local people to build a more substantial church cum-social-work centre with bricks. Being a young engineer Bala said he would build it and so with the local people we designed a multi-purpose building at a cost of Rs11,000 which was dedicated by Bishop Lesslie Newbigin in 1969 and named Sadhu Sundar Singh Memorial Church.
Tim seated on the right; Bala looks down from high above
Bala was keen to study abroad and with my encouragement, and help with contacts, he came to pursue his engineering studies at Loughborough University and in 1974 took the plunge and began a small machine-tooling operation here in Leicester. Anne and I visited it occasionally over the years after we returned to the UK in 1978 and especially when we lived in Birmingham which was relatively nearby. We are not sure if Arun was with the company then but he probably was and it is fitting that tonight he is receiving a gift of a watch suitably inscribed to mark his 35 years service to the company. It was a great sadness for us when Bala passed away in 1995 and on our subsequent visit to India in 1998 we went to visit his family in a relatively remote village where we were greeted with much love and affection and where Tim’s mother removed this ring from her finger and gave it to Anne to wear. It was for us a very moving moment.
Display trailer van housing an exhibition in itself
On Thursday this week, just two days ago, I received this message from India from Samuel Cornelius who was a young boy in 1969 living in Venkatesapuram but who has had a remarkable career and recently retired as Professor of Mathematics at Madras Christian College in the University of Madras. He says:
 Murdoch and Thirumalai in the factory
“I am happy to note that Mr Balakrishnan’s Engineering company is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Kindly convey my greetings and best wishes for the company in the years to come.
We remember Mr. Balakrishnan, who through you built the Sadhu Sundar Singh Church building, which served the community for worship and many social service activities for a long time. A new church building was built last year in the same place and is now serving the community. The congregation is very happy to worship there and a new social service center in the name of Mrs McArthur has been started. A night school is started in the building for the children of the community. More social activities like Day Care Centre for children and elderly people with pre-school and other activities will take place in the years to come. I once again wish all the best for Bala's Company.” |
One of the computer rooms in the factory
Personally Anne and I are delighted to know that, in spite of the recession, the BEAUMANOR FLUID POWER PRODUCTS and the various ancillary operations are blossoming to such an extent that those of us here tonight have come from far and wide to express our appreciation of the excellent services which we receive through the company and to give Thirumalai and his staff our good wishes for the future. It is really excellent now, that there seems to be such close ties between the work here in the UK and the work in India.
Those of us who have been in India know that the name Balakrishnan means ‘a child of Krishna’ Krishna being an incarnation of the God Vishnu – the preserver and protector of creation. The Tamil name Thirumalai literally means a Holy Mountain and is the abode of Lord Venkateshwara so let’s hope that knowing this we will treat our Chairman with even more respect than we do already! Perhaps it is not by accident that the church and social centre building built by Bala was in a place called Venkatesapuram.
Those of us who have been in India know that the name Balakrishnan means ‘a child of Krishna’ Krishna being an incarnation of the God Vishnu – the preserver and protector of creation. The Tamil name Thirumalai literally means a Holy Mountain and is the abode of Lord Venkateshwara so let’s hope that knowing this we will treat our Chairman with even more respect than we do already! Perhaps it is not by accident that the church and social centre building built by Bala was in a place called Venkatesapuram.
The main storage area
Had Bala been still alive I am sure that he would be delighted to see us all here tonight and to know that under the tender loving care of his nephew, Thirumalai, the company continues to prosper and to satisfy many customers. And so in the words of Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations, may we be able to say: ‘For all that has been – Thanks!’ ‘For all that shall be – Yes!’
Murdoch MacKenzie
11th January 2014
In addition to the above we have received an e-mail from Rev Jayaseelan, the present Pastor in the Vyasarpadi Pastorate, of which Sadhu Sundar Singh Church is one of the 4 churches. Rev Jayaseelan writes as follows:
Murdoch MacKenzie
11th January 2014
In addition to the above we have received an e-mail from Rev Jayaseelan, the present Pastor in the Vyasarpadi Pastorate, of which Sadhu Sundar Singh Church is one of the 4 churches. Rev Jayaseelan writes as follows:
Looking down on the factory floor
"Dear Iyyah and Amma,
Hope this letter finds you in good health and strength. We wish you a happy and blessed NEW YEAR. Your dear people at Vyasarpadi and Sadhu Sundar Singh Memorial Church are fine by the Grace of God. The night school at Dr Elizabeth McArthur Social centre is going on well and more than 50 children are benefited in this school. The children with 10 teachers and the in-charge are sending their greetings to you. This year we are planning to start a new programme through this centre. We really remember Mr. Balakrishnan who constructed the Sadhu Sundar Singh Memorial Church. We praise God for his generous contribution. We also thank you for your continuous prayers and support to our Pastorate and ministry.
We are praying for your health and ministry.
Yours in Christ,
Rev Jayaseelan and family.
CSI. Vyasarpadi Pastorate
Chennai"
Hope this letter finds you in good health and strength. We wish you a happy and blessed NEW YEAR. Your dear people at Vyasarpadi and Sadhu Sundar Singh Memorial Church are fine by the Grace of God. The night school at Dr Elizabeth McArthur Social centre is going on well and more than 50 children are benefited in this school. The children with 10 teachers and the in-charge are sending their greetings to you. This year we are planning to start a new programme through this centre. We really remember Mr. Balakrishnan who constructed the Sadhu Sundar Singh Memorial Church. We praise God for his generous contribution. We also thank you for your continuous prayers and support to our Pastorate and ministry.
We are praying for your health and ministry.
Yours in Christ,
Rev Jayaseelan and family.
CSI. Vyasarpadi Pastorate
Chennai"
