Shower manufacturer Mira is celebrating its centennial year having been founded in 1921 as Walker, Crosweller and Co in London.

Marking its 100^th birthday, Mira has set a target to raise £100,000 for its charity partner Sue Ryder.

In 2021, the company will continue with its sponsorship of Cheltenham Town Football Club and Gloucester Rugby Club, as well as partnering with local charities.

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Mira started manufacturing Leonard, reported to be the world’s first thermostatic valve, in 1936 and moved to Cheltenham a year later.

Leonard was supplied to military personnel in World War II and became standard equipment in institutional buildings in the UK such as hospitals and schools.

Under the Miralec brand it created the first instant electric shower in 1978 and completed the build of a 12,000sqft purpose-built production facility four years later.

In a company restructure Walker, Crosweller and Co became part of the Caradon Group and was named Caradon Mira in 1986.

The shower manufacturer showcased its specialism in electric models with the launch of Sport,  Excel and thermostatic electric shower the Mira Advance.

Returning to private ownership in 2001, having been acquired by Kohler Co, the business expanded its portfolio with the launch of the Fight shower tray, digital mixer shower Platinum and Aspects tap range.

Reflecting the expansion of the company’s products, it invested £6million into a shower tray factory in Hull in 2012 to produce its Mira Flight Safe shower trays with anti-slip.

Five years later the company had produced two million Flight shower trays and its Flight Safe model scooped the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation.

Mira scooped a Queen’s Award for the second time in 2019 for its Airboost technology, which increases volume up to 30% without using any more water.

Most recently the company has introduced Activate digital shower, which can be controlled remotely using a smartphone, and compact Mira Minimal.