John Corbett Entrepreneur Society
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Saltfest Spa Entrepreneur Society
As a celebration of Droitwich's famous persons to inspire other people to become a successful career.
The Annual event held of the Friday of Saltfest is expected to attract a large audience of Worcestershire.
There is no age restrictions.
The community eagerly anticipates motivational speeches and networking opportunities.
We are looking for new business, celebrities and sports persons and community groups for this year.
Book a FREE pitch.
Book a entrepreneurs pitch. 
BOOKING PITCH
Come Meet Some of the New Business
The Beginning
Examples of Entrepreneur of Droitwich
Salt Licence
· King John: Granted the town a special charter on August 1, 1215 for Salt opening up the way forward for entrepreneurs.
John Corbett Vision
· John Corbett (1827–1901): While often termed a "Salt King" or industrialist rather than a traditional engineer, Corbett was a significant industrial figure who re-engineered the salt production methods in the area. He built the massive Stoke Prior Salt Works and transformed Droitwich with his wealth, acting as a developer of the town's infrastructure, including the Brine Baths.
· Robert Steynor: A 17th-century entrepreneur who broke the borough's monopoly on salt production by sinking his own brine well, altering the town's economic structure. The Gower Family: Early 17th-century figures involved in the "bullary" (salt shares) in Droitwich.
· Sir George Duckett & James Brindley: Responsible for the construction of the Droitwich Canal in the late 18th century (1771
· James Brindley (1716–1772): A pioneer of the Industrial Revolution, Brindley was the famous canal engineer responsible for designing and building the Droitwich Barge Canal. Completed in 1771, the seven-mile canal linked Droitwich to the River Severn, crucial for transporting salt. Brindley is recognized for using innovative techniques like puddle clay for waterproofing and is considered one of the greatest canal engineers in British history.
· John Priddey: Assistant to James Brindley, he acted as the "resident engineer" during the construction of the Droitwich Barge Canal.
The Rebels of Salt
· The Riot Act was read in Droitwich in 1910, after townsmen rebelled amid rumours of election rigging and cuts in salt makers’ wages. 12 men were arrested as ring leaders and imprisoned, but no-one would accept the Establishment’s offers of bribes to give false witness against these honest men, so they were all finally set free from jail.
Developers in Droitwich
· John Corbett (The Salt King): An industrialist and philanthropist who revolutionized Droitwich by building key infrastructure in the late 19th century.
· The school was in Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove. It was built for the children of workers at his salt works, which were the largest in Europe.
· He also established the Corbett Hospital in Stourbridge, almshouses in Wychbold, and the Chateau Impney.
· Chateau Impney: Built in 1875 as his home.
· Auguste Tronquois & Richard Phené Spiers: The Parisian architect (Tronquois) and English architect (Spiers) hired by Corbett to design and build the Chateau Impney in the Louis XIII style.
· St Andrew's Brine Baths (1887) & The Raven Hotel: Developed to establish the town as a spa destination.
Infrastructure Buildings
· F.W.B. "Freddie" and Mary Charles: Renowned conservation architects and timber-frame specialists who worked to record and conserve Droitwich's historic buildings between the 1950s and 1980s.
· Stanley Hall, Easton & Robertson: Architects responsible for designing the Art Deco-style Norbury House in the early 1930s.
· Zeljko Stephen Raguz: Purchased and refurbished Chateau Impney and the Raven Hotel in the late 20th century, adding the Conference and Events Centre.
· The Coventry Charity runs the almshouses The charity was founded in 1686 as the result of horse race! The Earl of Coventry (the owner of Croome Court) won a bet, with his best race horse, resulting in Lord Pakington having to pay for the cost of building the almshousest.
· Droitwich Spa Lido, originally opened in 1935, was designed in a distinctive Art Deco style by architect Edward Prentice Mawson.
· The Droitwich Radio Masts (established 1934 in nearby Wychbold) Designed by L. Rome Guthrie who built 8 Radio Masks around the UK Droitwich a landmark of 20th-century radio engineering, used by the BBC to broadcast across the country and for vital communication during the Second World War. Film
Historical Structures & Families
· The Pakington Family: Held the seat of Westwood House, a 17th-century, Grade I listed building with distinct, four-corner, wing-styled architecture.
· The Norbury Family: Associated with the timber-framed Norbury House, later replaced by the1930s hotel.
Sporting Persons
· Rebecca Redfern: A Paralympic champion para-swimmer who lives in Droitwich. She won gold in the 100m breaststroke SB13 at the 2024 Summer Paralympics and was given the honorary freedom of the town.
· Matt Richards: An Olympic gold medalist swimmer who had a homecoming celebration in Droitwich after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
· Ashley Giles: The former England cricketer and director of cricket lives in Droitwich and was made an honorary citizen of the town in 2005.
· Matt Neal: A three-time British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) winner who lives in Droitwich.
· John Bickerton: A professional golfer who played on the European Tour and lived in Droitwich Spa.
· Dean Holdsworth: Former professional footballer for Wimbledon who has been associated with the town.
· Dave Walsh: A 1940s/50s Irish international footballer and West Bromwich Albion player who lived in and ran sports shops in Droitwich.
· Scott Beaumont: A world champion mountain biker.
· Cyril Harrison: A professional cricketer who played for Worcestershire.
Famous people connected to Droitwich
· Edward Winslow (1595–1655): A Pilgrim Father who sailed on the Mayflower and was born in Droitwich.
· St. Richard of Droitwich (1197–1253): Bishop of Chichester born in the town.
· Richard de Beauchamp (1382–1439): 13th Earl of Warwick, born in Salwarpe.
· Nick Jenkins: Entrepreneur and former "Dragon" on Dragons' Den (Moonpig founder), who was born in the town.
· Ginny Lemon: Drag queen and RuPaul's Drag Race UK contestant.
· Ann George: Actress who played Amy Turtle in Crossroads.
· Kim Johnson: A modern, locally renowned engineer and technical apprentice in the automotive industry, known for his work with Austin and participation in motor sport/hill climb racing.
· Dan Merriman (Winner of Master Chef: The Professionals 2024): Born in Worcestershire and raised in Droitwich, Dan Merriman became a household name after winning the prestigious 2024 BBC competition.
· Gabriel Byrne: The Hollywood actor attended school at St Richard's College at Hadzor Hall near Droitwich in the early 1960s.
Innovators of Droitwich
· Alan Brazier: He invented the Vax, the world's first three-in-one vacuum cleaner that could wash carpets and pick up liquids, in 1977. He established the Vax Appliances Ltd head office in Droitwich Spa
· Lea & Perrins: Although based in Worcester, the creators of the world-famous Worcestershire Sauce (1837) utilized the unique, high-salt content brine springs of Droitwich for their recipe.
· York-Jones Ice Cream factory in Vines Lane, Droitwich Alan York Jones was one of the first in the UK to make the soft or "whippy" ice cream.
Directions
Wondering how to get to Vines Park? Here is some useful information to get you started...
You can access the festival in Vines Park via Gate One (located on Vines Lane), Gate two (accessed via the Saltway), and Gate three (situated by the B4065).
Car Parking
Wychavon Car Parks Saltway WR9 8LB
Directions - VINES PARK
Kidderminster Rd, Droitwich Spa Worcestershire WR9 8LB
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