The History of Marwin Machine Tools, by Brian Kibble
The two founders of the Marwins were Ernie Hopwell and Derek Robinson – they both worked for the well known Wadkins woodworking and cutting tool machinery company on Leicester’s Green Lane and old Mr Wadkin had been hoping they would take over after his retirement – However, they broke away in the mid 50’s and founded their own company on the bottom Anstey Green naming it Marwins after their two wives, Margaret and Winnie. Making precision tools (see the sparmill tool in the advert) for the aircraft industry in the days of the Comets etc they expanded and moved into large corrugated sheds on an ex builders yard next to the Savoy cinema (now Broughton’s Ironmongery) on Cropston Road – they then put up a permanent building – later occupied by Melody Mills the Anstey Wallpaper Company before the cutting tool division moved to Rothley.* Derek Robinson then started his own machine company on the Melton Road, Leicester.
Additional information, by Roy Robson:
*The cutting tool division moved to Rothley, the machine tool division moved to Barkby Rd on Troon Ind Est, along with the mining tool division and hard metal division. The site also incorporated Linvar, which was also part of the group and Westrop Motors and Ashwell and Nesbitt foundry, also all part of the Marwin group. Linvar made Lin bins and racking.
The Machine tool division was sold to Kearney and Trecker in Brighton and continued as KTM (Kearney, Trecker, Marwin) and the Cutting tool division was moved to Barkby Rd.
The cutting tool division was sold to Hydra tools in Sheffield and is now part of the Clarkson group.
Cutting tools patented the process of twisting carbide helically and you can still but their cutters.
I was an apprentice at cutting tools 1987-1991 and many of the guys were from Anstey, I remember Norman Rushin on the photo, he was the milling chargehand. His twin brother Don worked there on the tool and cutter grinding section as well.
I believe Ernie received an honour from the Queen, an MBE or something and Derrick was still alive 2 or 3 years ago as friends of mine were his neighbour in Kinoulton.
Anstey Local History Society 
Your article is not quite right.
The company didn’t downsize and move to Rothley. The cutting tool division moved to Rothley, the machine tool division moved to Barkby Rd on Troon Ind Est, along with the mining tool division and hard metal division. The site also incorporated Linvar, which was also part of the group and Westrop Motors and Ashwell and Nesbitt foundry, also all part of the Marwin group. Linvar made Lin bins and racking.
The Machine tool division was sold to Kearney and Trecker in Brighton and continued as KTM (Kearney, Trecker, Marwin) and the Cutting tool division was moved to Barkby Rd.
The cutting tool division was sold to Hydra tools in Sheffield and is now part of the Clarkson group.
Cutting tools patented the process of twisting carbide helically and you can still but their cutters.
I was an apprentice at cutting tools 1987-1991 and many of the guys were from Anstey, I remember Norman Rushin on the photo, he was the milling chargehand. His twin brother Don worked there on the tool and cutter grinding section as well.
I believe Ernie received an honour from the Queen, an MBE or something and Derrick was still alive 2 or 3 years ago as friends of mine were his neighbour in Kinoulton.
Hope my facts and knowledge are correct and is helpful
Best regards
Roy
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Thank you very much for the reply Roy – I will add your new information to the article. We really appreciate the time taken to send all of these details over. kind regards, Beck
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I was an apprentice in Anstey starting in July 1965. We moved to Rothley in 1967. I left for Rolls Royce in January 1971.
Other youngsters at the time were Alan Cooke, Dave Walters, Tony Otter, John Stone, not forgetting the girls, Sue Varnham and the lovely Mary Barsby.
I wonder where they all are now.
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I too was a Marwi Cutting Tools apprentice from 1977 to 1981 only leaving in 1993 when Hydra took over. Many happy memories….being thrown in Rothley brook on my birthday many times. A great bunch of lads. Who remembers Alan Hill on the killing dept or Bill Tonks or George Moore (I still see him).
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Heenan and Froude Worcester had a Marwin Minicentre and a Modular in the early 1970’s. I operated the Minicentre for a year or more after finishing my Apprenticeship.
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remember the day well.Ernie kicked us lads out off the bar for being to young but Joe Dunham found us another bar and bought us all a pint.
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Last comment should be by Dorrien Geary
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