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Atarah · 11-09-2004, 20:34

William Wiggins Cocker, born 1897 in Higher Antley Street, Accrington (family originally came from Preston) As a boy he attended Hannah Stret School and later St Andrews.
After starting work as a commercial traveller with Woolley of Blackburn (it later became Cupal), and then founding a small one-man business in Infant Street (think where the wedding cake shop now is, once occupied by Robinsons coach and travel agency) - With help from his cousin, Dr Wesley Cocker, they began to manufacture chemicals, selling resins to the paint trade and together made the active ingredient for the famous antiseptic we all know as "DETTOL". He then expanded his operations to build "Cocker Chemicals" in Nook Lane, Oswaldtwistle.
He was managing director of the firm until 1963 when he went to live in St. Annes.
Much more detail on this gentleman is available.

11-09-2004, 20:34	#1
Atarah Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: ACCRINGTON Posts: 2,358 Liked: 95 times Rep Power: 11531	Sir William Cocker William Wiggins Cocker, born 1897 in Higher Antley Street, Accrington (family originally came from Preston) As a boy he attended Hannah Stret School and later St Andrews. After starting work as a commercial traveller with Woolley of Blackburn (it later became Cupal), and then founding a small one-man business in Infant Street (think where the wedding cake shop now is, once occupied by Robinsons coach and travel agency) - With help from his cousin, Dr Wesley Cocker, they began to manufacture chemicals, selling resins to the paint trade and together made the active ingredient for the famous antiseptic we all know as "DETTOL". He then expanded his operations to build "Cocker Chemicals" in Nook Lane, Oswaldtwistle. He was managing director of the firm until 1963 when he went to live in St. Annes. Much more detail on this gentleman is available.