Why we'll miss the Westbury chimney... and why we won't

Opinions on the giant structure set to come down on Sunday next weekend are very much split, with some who cannot wait to see the back of it and others viewing it as the end of an era.

One person who falls firmly into the first category is John Bush, the former Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, who has lived in eyesight of the chimney for 53 years.

The 78-year-old said: "We lived here when the chimney went up and were terrified about the amount of dust it might cause, along with lots of other people, but thankfully the wind has always been kind enough to blow it in a different direction.

"However, we didn't like the sight of it too much when it went up in 1961, so I planted a tree in the front garden to block the view of it. I still remember planting that tree very well, and I think it's now nearing the end of its life – a bit like the chimney.

"I know that some people rather like the look of the chimney, but personally I'll be happy to see it gone and will be watching on with excitement on Sunday morning."

Unlike Mr Bush, The Blue Circle Bowls Team, who play their matches at the White Horse Country Park Bowls Club, are not so glad that it is being erased from Westbury's landscape forever.

Mary Gale, the team's ladies' captain, said: "I think the club will miss the chimney when it's gone.

"That's because teams from other towns across Wiltshire have always used it as a landmark to find our club when they come to play against us – they head for the chimney and know that we're pretty much underneath it.

"Funnily enough, we have our inter-finals day a few hours after the chimney is demolished – hopefully there isn't any rubble on the pitch or we'll have to get the hoovers out."

A Facebook group called Westbury Cement Works - The Final Chapter was launched when news broke that the cement works were to be demolished. It has since been joined by 338 former employees who have shared memories and pictures in the build-up to the blast.