THE man who invented Vimto will be remembered with a new granite plaque to be installed on the house he grew up in.

John Noel Nichols, born in 1883, was brought up at Bank House mansion in Dukes Brow, Blackburn, and went to the nearby Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School.

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In 1908, having set up in business as a wholesale druggist and herb importer, he created the fruit cordial blending grapes, blackcurrants and raspberries with fruit essences, herbs and spices.

‘Vim Tonic’, later shortened to Vimto, was born and soon became one of the nation’s favourite drinks.

John died in 1966 and a blue plaque was put on the house in which he grew up, but it was later removed by thieves.

Now, thanks to stonemason Brent Stevenson, it is to be replaced with a more durable granite memorial.

Mr Stevenson, who owns Brent Stevenson Memorials in Preston Old Road, Cherry Tree, said: “I was talking to Ray Smith from Blackburn Local History Society about replacing stolen plaques and he said, ‘what about John Noel Nichols?’.

“I had never heard of him before and certainly didn’t know Vimto had been invented in Blackburn.

“When this one goes up it shouldn’t be stolen because it won’t be worth anything and as it is granite it will last longer than the metal blue plaques.”

Mr Stevenson said a date for the plaque to be fixed in place had been delayed while bosses at QEGs try to trace a relative of Mr Nichols to attend an unveiling.

Mr Stevenson said he had offered to produce more of the plaques for other local figures where the original blue ones had been stolen.

“We have done one for Jack Walker which has been sat here for six months and we are waiting to be given permission to put it up.

“I am happy to donate more if they are missing, and also to look at putting up new ones to people who have done a lot for the town.”