Hornby 100th Anniversary

RNS Number : 4367P

Hornby PLC

10 June 2020

 

Hornby PLC

10 June 2020

PRESS RELEASE

10 June 2020

100^th Anniversary of the First Hornby Locomotive

As of June this year; it has been 100 years since Frank Hornby announced the first clockwork tinplate locomotive. This pioneering product led to his name becoming synonymous with model railways and that wonderful heritage continues to this today.

Over the last century much has happened including world wars, economic crises and of course this terrible global pandemic which hit our shores earlier this year. However, customers derive a great deal of value from our products and stick with us in good times and bad. Hornby has been more fortunate than many and our sales have held up well since the lockdown started. Our staff have been fantastic throughout, adapting and responding to the challenges, helping to support the continued demand from our customers.

We have found many new and returning customers purchasing our products. Families are building plastic kits together, bringing out their railway systems, setting up their slot car racing sets and introducing our brands to their children and grandchildren. We are so fortunate to own Hornby, Scalextric, Airfix, Corgi, Humbrol and our portfolio of international brands which still mean so much to those in each of the markets they serve.

Initially, we ensured that we were able to survive the crisis physically, emotionally and financially. We then looked for ways to help others. Our main focus was on supporting the National Health Service, offering discounts to NHS and Emergency Service operatives. As the situation developed, and our employees suffered the loss of their loved ones around the world, we felt that we had to do more.

In April the wonderful fundraising effort by Captain Tom Moore inspired us to produce a model of the GB Railfreight Class 66 diesel locomotive which had been named after him, with the profits going straight to the NHS. We experienced overwhelming demand and we sold out within hours of release, raising approximately £140,000 for NHS Charities Together, which will be donated on the launch of the model, later this year.

Hornby is proud of its British heritage and proud to celebrate this 100-year anniversary.

We look forward to providing a detailed update to our shareholders on the 18th June regarding the financial performance for the year ended March 2020.

For further information contact:

Hornby Plc

Lyndon Davies, CEO

Kirstie Gould, CFO

01843 233500

Web: www.hornby.plc.uk

Liberum Capital Limited (Nominated Advisor & Broker)

Andrew Godber

Edward Thomas

020 3100 2222

Financial PR Advisor

Scott Fulton    07788 144993

 

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