Farewell to a great name.

Byline: By Gayles Tomlinson

The takeover of an historic Tyneside company has resulted in its famous name being scrapped.

Alvis Vickers in Newcastle has merged with BAE and will now be known as BAE Systems Land Systems.

It brings to an end decades of fame for the Vickers name but union chiefs said the move is good for the firm's 475 North East workers.

BAE Systems bought out Vickers, which is based in Scotswood Road, Newcastle, in June and as reported in later editions of last night's Chronicle, announced it was merging the firm with RO Defence to create BAE Systems Land Systems.

The new firm hopes to be a leading manufacturer of military vehicles but it means for the first time since 1927 the Vickers name will be dropped.

GMB regional organiser Lee Ions said it was sad the name would be lost but said the merger could only be good news.

He said: "It is disappointing to lose the Vickers name because of the history behind it. I think there will be a lot of people disappointed but it is a sign of the times.

"I see the takeover as a positive step. Hopefully it will open a few more doors for the company as opposed to slamming a few shut."

A spokeswoman for the new firm said they felt the new name was needed to give the land systems an identity.

She said: "We felt it was quite important to name the organisation to reflect the nature of the business. It was felt a new identity for the new business was the best way forward."

She said the merger would help to give the firm more muscle when bidding for work.

She said: "It is very good news for BAE Systems as well as Alvis Vickers. By bringing these two businesses together it gives us a strong base to compete in the land systems market place."

The name Vickers dates back to 1927 when Lord Armstrong merged his successful hydraulic and tank-making firm with the Sheffield-based Vickers Company. Lord Armstrong started off the success story in 1847 with his engineering works on Tyneside. He was later asked by the Government to improve the Army's artillery and the company began a long expansion into one of the world's greatest engineering, shipbuilding and armaments empires.

After the merger to form Vickers Armstrong in 1927 the firm was involved in the re-armament programme before the outbreak war in 1939.

After the war the firm built the first British nuclear submarine, the first British V-bomber and the Viscount and VC10 airliners.

The company's aircraft, shipbuilding and steel businesses subsequently changed its name to Vickers Defence Systems and in 1993 was chosen by the Royal Army of Oman to build Challenger 2 tanks.

In 1999 Rolls-Royce bought Vickers Defence Systems to enhance its portfolio of civil and defence industries.

Alvis then bought the firm in 2002.