Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1426970
8 I PSAI Association Insight, November 10, 2021 The History of the Portable Toilet Industry in the UK and Ireland (continued from page 7) (continued on page 9) interests of the company in the newly developing UK market. Hence my introduction to Jeremy Hawkins, who regularly travelled to the UK to visit with our joint customer base, from whence a long-lasting friendship has developed. First "Large" Sale by Site A Loo The first large sale of toilet units was made to a company in Sheffield in early 1989 (Porter Plant, Ltd.), yet another of Keith's plant hire contacts. They ordered 50 units for their first procurement, which later grew into the national company Loo Hire (UK), Ltd., under the general management of Peter Booth and his operations manager Chris Almond. Loo Hire was later sold around 1997 to Elliott, primarily a manufacturer of modular and relocatable buildings (a subsidiary of the US Company Algeco Scotsman at that time) and was subsequently renamed as Elliott Loo Hire. I had the fortunate privilege of not only supplying Porter Plant/Loo Hire (UK), Ltd., with their first portable toilet under the brand PolyPortables, but then in 2003 their 10,000th unit, whilst then employed by Shorelink International, Ltd! John Muldoon As previously mentioned, John Muldoon (whilst working for ServiceLoo) approached Keith Furniss and asked if he would sell him a couple of portable toilets. John arrived with the necessary funds and loaded the two flat-packed toilets into the trailer behind his car and departed for Manchester. He presented the two assembled toilets to a couple of his friends who ran a very successful construction company in Manchester, who agreed to fund his forthcoming venture which then became known as Kensite Services, Ltd.—one of the first portable toilet rental companies to operate in the area, which came to be the largest private toilet rental company in the Greater Manchester area. Over time, it expanded into the Midlands and further East. It was still a family-based company, with John's eldest son Liam cutting his teeth both on the shop floor and in the office. John went on to source his toilets from another supplier, again importing from the US and building up a very strong relationship with Earl Braxton of PortaJohn. Unlike other importers, these units were for the sole use of Kensite Services. John also became an active member of PSE and hosted the PSAI board meeting in Manchester in Fall 2004. Richard Search Around the same time at the beginning of 1990, a founding member of PSE (Richard Search of the company William G Search, based in Leeds) also saw an opportunity to enter the portable toilet market. With his connections in the US, he imported the Poly San unit, using this product both for his own interests as well as selling to potential other rental companies in the UK. Site A Loo Expansion Another development in 1993 was the first recycling/flushing toilet, introduced by Site A Loo as designed by the company's sales manager Geoff Worsfold, who came from an engineering background. The first company to purchase this new revolutionary design was Nixon Hire in Newcastle, again a start-up, on the back of a very successful family-run local plant and tool hire company. Nixon Hire, now run by Graham Nixon, went on to establish a number of toilet operational depots around the North East of England as well as venturing into Scotland before