REPRESENTATIVES from two Darwen firms rubbed shoulders with the Queen and the Prime Minister at Buckingham Palace this week after being honoured for their exporting skills.

Borden Decorative Products Wallcoverings Division, and Wolstenholme International, received the Queen's Award for Export Achievement at an evening reception hosted by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on Monday.

Three members of staff from each company attended the ceremony, ranging from senior staff to the shop floor.

From Wolstenholme International, operations director Peter Warnes, was joined by Ian Nicholson, European sales director, and stores co-ordinator Alan Houghton.

It is the second time Wolstenholme International have won the award.

Mr Houghton said: "Obviously it is a great honour for the company to be recognised in this way. It is a tribute to the hard work of everybody involved with the firm.

"But on a personal note it is something that will live with me for the rest of my life."

Wolstenhome International has built up a reputation as one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of metallic pigments, offset, flexographic and gravure metallic inks and carbon black dispersions.

Tony Blair and Margaret Beckett, president of the Board of Trade, were present at the event which also saw Altham and Blackburn firms pick up prestigious awards.

James Dewhurst Ltd Manufacturing Divisions in Altham received the Queen's Award for Export Achievement while the Scapa Group's Advanced Products Division in Blackburn received the Queen's Award for Technological Achievement.

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