Pudsey blaze: Leeds family firm sees silver lining to hard two weeks

When Ben Wilson got to the site in Pudsey that night on February 6 he knew that the building was gone. He said: “It was soul destroying.”

MPM was set up by his father Brian Wilson 40 years ago. It manufactures fibreglass mouldings for everything from bath panels to water tanks.

Production has ground to a halt at the Pudsey-based firm, which employs 35 staff.

The Wilson family has endured a difficult couple of weeks. On the day of the fire, which also led to nearby homes being evacuated, Ben Wilson’s brother Syd Wilson had just undergone a major operation.

Mr Wilson said: “I didn’t know quite how I was going to ring my parents and let them know.

“My brother had just had a five-hour operation on the same day so my mum and dad had been at his bedside in hospital.

“My mum lasted about 30 seconds before she burst into tears when I rang with the news.”

Despite the tough two weeks, MPM has been heartened by the response to the fire.

The landlord has offered to put the company up in another building. In the interim, MPM’s suppliers, customers and neighbouring companies have offered to help out with office and manufacturing space. Hopkins Catering in Pudsey stepped in the morning after the fire to offer support.

“The morning after the fire I saw Victoria Hopkins and she just said whatever you need to get the business going again just let me know,” Mr Wilson said. “I’ve cleared a meeting room and that’s your hub for as long as you need it.”

The boss of MPM is asking customers to keep faith with the business as it gets back onto its feet. The company hopes to be back in production in the next two weeks and to deliver on a strong order book.