02/05/2026
APS at 25…
Yesterday evening, we began celebrations for our landmark anniversary year with a special dinner at the Titanic Hotel Belfast, located in Titanic Quarter Belfast within the original Harland & Wolff offices.
The event brought together the six original founders of APS that is Gary & Chris current directors and past directors Ivon, Alan, Ivan and Warnock along with four original members of staff who are still with the company today — Sheena from Sales, and George, Gary, and Alan from Despatch.
The evening began with a drinks reception, followed by a guided tour of the Drawing Offices and key heritage rooms. Led by the Concierge, the tour offered a fascinating opportunity to view the artefacts, restoration work, and stunning interior decoration of this important maritime heritage building.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Warnock began his career in the Harland & Wolff drawing offices before moving into the aluminium business in the 1980s, making the visit especially meaningful as he reflected on earlier days.
Reminiscing and laughter set the tone for the evening, particularly over dinner in Lord Pirrie’s office, where there was no shortage of stories to share from years gone by. Conversations stretched not only across the past 25 years of APS, but also back to the 1980s and 1990s, when many had worked together at Reynolds Systems and NonFerrous Metals before APS was established.
The original staff members still with the company were warmly thanked for their commitment, loyalty, and professionalism over the years. A glass was also raised in memory of absent friends who were taken too soon while employed at APS.
