A LEOMINSTER business has been celebrating its 150th anniversary this summer.

The Orphans Printing Press, now known as Orphans Press and Orphans Publishing, was founded in 1873 at 10-12 Broad Street, and is now operating from the town's Enterprise Park.

To celebrate the event, two books on the history of the press have been published - A Friend in Deed, a biography of founder Henry Stanley Newman by Maggie Waldman, and a special edition reprint of the 1883 book the Story of the Orphan Homes.

A blue plaque has also been erected on the buildings at Broad Street to honour their history.

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The team at Orphans, inspired by the philanthropic endeavours of their founder Henry Stanley Newman, decided to give back to the local community to mark the historic anniversary.

After reading the annual reports of the Orphan Homes, director Helen Bowden discovered that there used to be an orchard in the garden at Newman House.

Now that the building is used as social housing, she wanted to do something that would both honour Mr Stanley and the residents of Newman House. The decision was made to by restore the garden and plant a new apple tree.

Mrs Bowden and the team, along with author Mrs Waldman, spent the morning with representatives from social housing providers Stonewater and Platform Ltd.

The grounds team from Platform cleared away the old shrubbery, ready for planting in the winter. Stonewater funded a ‘Happy to Chat’ bench, for the residents to sit and enjoy their spruced-up surroundings.

Orphans added in some buddleia in their signature shade of burgundy to brighten up the borders. There are intentions to return to the site in February to continue the work.

A Friend Indeed can be purchased at https://www.orphanspublishing.co.uk/book/a-friend-in-deed/