News Item
07/01/2009 - SIR BOBBY KICKS OFF NEW TAPS…
The newest branch of the North East’s leading independent plumbers’ merchants was kicked off in great style, thanks to one of the region’s footballing legends.
Sir Bobby Robson carried out the official opening ceremony of TAPS at Fossway, Walker marking the launch of the seventh branch - and praised the company for creating new jobs in the current economic situation.
"I want to wish TAPS all the best and it's very brave to expand a business in the current climate," he said.
"I wish TAPS, its owners, its staff and its customers every success."
The new TAPS has been created alongside the Fossway Builders' Merchants which was acquired by Thompson Building Centres two years ago.
The opening continues the company's strategy of opening a plumbers' merchants at every one of their builders' merchants sites and follows the opening of TAPS at the Team Valley in November.
TAPS sites now operate at Sunderland, South Shields, Durham, Team Valley, Birtley and Gateshead, offering retail and trade customers a one-stop-shop for all their plumbing needs.
At the branch launch Managing Director Anne Ganley presented the football hero with a cheque for £5000 for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation which supports the new Early Cancer Trials Unit currently being built at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital which is to be named The Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre.
"I am really grateful for the very generous, thoughtful and kind donation," he said.
"Every single pound donated to the Foundation brings us one step closer."
Mrs Ganley said she was delighted that Sir Bobby had taken the time to carry out the official ribbon cutting ceremony - and pledged further support for his charity.
"It was an absolute honour for us to have Sir Bobby at our official opening and we are all deeply grateful that he took the time to be part of this special day for TAPS," she said.
"As a company we carry out a lot of fund raising activities and I have now promised that 50 per cent of everything we raise in the future will go to his Foundation which really is a fantastic cause."
