Rock Oil celebrated 80 years of trading in 2008 and all in the firm were extremely proud to reach this milestone. The business, still in the same family, was started back in 1928 by one Fred Malone, the father of the current chairperson Barbara Hewitt. Fred started the business after leaving his previous profession of weights and measures fancying a change and something he could sink his teeth into. The business ticked over nicely with a small locally based operation until World War 2 when rationing of many raw materials meant the business had to take a back seat. It was post World War 2 when the business really took off, gradually building up custom and purchasing its first sign-written van in 1958. 1966 saw a few major changes with both Barbara and her husband Ted becoming directors of the business. This was also the year when Rock Oil acquired its first tankers allowing them to deal with bulk fuels for the first time. A couple of years later Rock moved site to Wharf Street where they were when the premises burnt to the ground in 1973 and to make matters worse were uninsured. In 1975 Ted became the MD after Fred sadly passed away meaning he had a serious job on his hands to rebuild the company after the total loss of the building and all materials.

With blending being taken care of by another blender for a short time and backs to the wall, the business slowly but surely recovered. We then entered into the 80’s back in our own rebuilt plant and blending again but with a choice to make. Either pile it high and sell it cheap or gain some credibility. With serious technical products it was decided to become involved in racing. It was then that Rock entered into the motorcycle market. The need for the lubricants to be able to perform to the highest possible level was essential because of the high demand on components in motorcycle engines and gearboxes. Technical excellence backed up with the involvement in racing, meant the Rock name quickly became synomonous with top performing motorcycle products. It was at this time the current MD Charles started becoming active in the running of the business and he spent many a wet weekend at race circuits helping the Rock Brand become established. The first major team to become involved with Rock was the Kawasaki ‘Team Green’ off road team. It is fair to say even to this day Rock are still remembered for the involvement with Kawasaki. It was also during this time that Rock gained its first export customer and since the mid eighties has built up a very good level of export sales with many good friends all over the world. Towards the end of the eighties Charles took over as MD due to Ted having some serious health issues from which he recovered but then took a back seat to leave Charles to handle the day to day running of the firm.

The 90’s saw a number of major changes including the move to the present purpose-built site and during this time two other well established lubricant firms were purchased and subsequently brought their business under the Rock banner, these being A.E. Bennetts of Liverpool and Nickerson Lubricants of Halifax, both long standing independent lubricant blenders with their own specialised areas of business. These acquisitions and the new plant meant Rock was ready for the next phase in its history. Ted maintained a major involvement in the business until sadly he passed away in 2005.

In 2010 with Charles still at the helm, the business is the largest it’s ever been with nearly 70 employees and a turnover double what it was 10 years ago. Barbara still plays an active part in the running of her father’s business and is as enthusiastic now as when she became a director over 40 years ago. With the next generation of the family now actively involved in the running of the business it won’t be long before the Rock story takes a few more twists and turns on its way to celebrate it’s 100th birthday.