VIRTUALLY all of the cement works' former employees see the demolition of the chimney as a sad occasion, marking the end of their much loved workplace once and for all.

Ask anyone who had some form of connection with the works and they will more than likely tell you that it was a great place to work with a friendly atmosphere, exciting roles and regular social events.

But while its removal may well symbolically represent the complete mothballing of the works, ex-workers' memories of their days there will live on eternally.

Trevor Heeks worked at the cement works for 14 years between 1978 and 1992 in three different areas, mainly in the laboratory.

He said: “I absolutely loved working my time at the cement works. It might sound a bit daft but it felt like the people you were on shift with were your family.

“There was always someone to support you if you needed it, which was nice to know with the 12 hour overnight shifts.

“We used to pack cement bags to go out to the Falklands during the war and we would put cigarette packets and newspapers in them for the lads over there to enjoy.

“I became town crier of Trowbridge when I was working at the cement works and I used to strengthen my voice by shouting down the tunnels – I'll never forget those days.”

The 122 metre chimney will in fact be the second chimney to be felled at the site following the demolition of a 250ft structure which took place on Friday, October 1, 1965.

Colin Cooper worked in the wages department at the cement works for 35 years between 1962 and 1997 and witnessed the first chimney come down.

He said: “They had to demolish the original chimney to build the bigger one we all know today after another kiln was built.

“It was quite exciting watching it, people stood on viewing planks rather close to the chimney and some people got covered in concrete slurry after it splashed all over them.

“I still remember them walking past me looking like they were wearing white overalls."

When news broke that the cements works were set to be mothballed, a Facebook group was started up by Gary Bradbeer, who worked at the cement works between 1989 and 2009, for former employees to reminisce about working there.

He said: "There was a real community atmosphere at the cement works and we all got stuck in together, taking the rough with the smooth.

"It's going to be emotional seeing not seeing the chimney there anymore - the skyline will change and nobody will know that there used to be a cement works there."

In the early 1980s, the cement works' heroic 6-a-side team were the Southern Area champions three years in a row, beating other cement works from as far and wide as Plymouth and Northfleet on their way to lifting the trophies.

Ken Holloway, 79, started working at the cement works in 1961 after seeing a job advert for a clerical worker in the Wiltshire Times and stayed until 1997.

He said: "The office accommodation was a wooden building where I provided clerical and switchboard support for two civil engineers, whose job was to lay out the site for footings and other things.

"At this stage, it was a Greenfield site and my mode of transport to work was a bicycle which I did for many years, as did many others, and wellingtons were the footwear as the site soon became very muddy.

"Blue Circle was a caring company to work for with excellent catering facilities, a good social side with a social club being built across the bridge for Saturday night dances, winter indoor activities of badminton and skittles, and summer pursuits of golf, bowls, fishing, football and cricket.

"With a few days to go it’s time to say goodbye to Mr Chimney, you have served the area proud in many ways."