Mac Industries was the combined brainchild of Scott McCarthy and Anthony Henden (Sailor's father). After Mr McCarthy supplied Mr Henden with weekly photos and humorous stories for the Gatwick police notice board, he suggested that McCarthy set up a website, or business, "McCarthy Industries". This was in early 2001. Soon after, McCarthy started e-mailing clients with a weekly bulletin of 'Weird News', weird and wonderful stories from around the world that were amusing to his clients. This was the forefront of the Mac Industries business - the primitive idea that would grow into this now famous company.

Having continued to deliver Weird News for a number of months, future Blue Mayhem guitarist Lewis Trower was amused to see the vast collection of images on the computer database at McCarthy Towers. He suggested that a website be built - an idea that up until that point McCarthy had completely forgotten about. He started thinking, but thought it best to continue with only the weird news for the time being

In January 2003, the first steps to the Mac Industries site were made, when McCarthy registered the address www.mpwfc.8m.com, and built a website for Marle Place Wanderers FC. This site lasted until late June, when it was agreed that Marle Place would be disbanded. McCarthy had a registered site, but no content due to the closure. Then it came to him - he would make the idea of Anthony Henden and Lewis Trower a reality - it was time to build the Mac Industries site!

The original site was very basic, built using a template. It had just a few bits of content - an Autographs page, an amusing images page, Father Scott's Advice, and something that would turn an up until then quiet and shy boy into an Oakmeeds legend - Sailors Selection. Nobody really knew a lot about Marcus Henden in the summer of 2003, other than that his middle name was Stacey and he was in the RAF. But that was all about to change. Long term friend Scott McCarthy asked Henden to appear in the new site - as Sailor, giving a run down of the best books, films and music using a distinctly homosexual taste. Marcus was reluctant at first, but soon accepted. It turned into a phenomena, Marcus is now known throughout Oakmeeds as Sailor, and one of the most comical and charming men around.

In August 2003, McCarthy shut the Mac Industries site down. The template was restricting what he could do. So he built a new site, a more powerful site, thanks to Chief Executive Mike Fletchers generosity in allowing him usage of a powerful website programme. Peter Chapman, who McCarthy knew very little about at the time, also aided in the development of the design for the new site, and for that McCarthy was grateful. The new site launched with a blaze of glory, and received wondrous feedback. The content was good, and everyone loved in. In September of that year, history was made, when the first Jolly Boys Outing took place, McCarthy, Chris Traylen and Phil Durrant enjoying a trip to The Globe Theatre. 5 more of these outings were to take place.

McCarthy Industries also gained the contract to run the official website of local rockers Blue Mayhem - mainly thanks to one of Mac Industries creators Lewis Trower's involvement in the band. The site evolved, and is still going strong today, although it looks very different to the original, thanks to the input of Neil Gingell and his N31l Productions company.

However, disaster struck in October 2003, when the site was hacked and changed. Many names were suggested as a possible culprit, with Peter Chapman being the one who took the blame. An assault began on him. His site, Burgess Hill Sucks, was boycotted, and attacks on his car, the Chap Mobile, began. These attacks were lead by Elliot Gwynne, who went on to have his own page entitled 'Elliot's Antics', and also gained Oakmeeds fame. A month later however, and both sites visitors had dropped. McCarthy apologized to Chapman, and the 2 sites re-combined as partners - something that is still going strong today.

The success of the site inspired several new sites to spring up - Infinite Dreams, Beastly Baz and N31L Presents. These all emulated Mac Industries in terms of content ideas, but each had its unique twist to itself. All these sites still exist today, although have not enjoyed the success that Mac Industries has.

Chapman was soon to shut down his Burgess Hill Sucks site though, and replace it with Burgess Hill Uncovered. On the night of Wednesday 31st April 2004, a momentous occasion took place, as Mac Industries teamed up with Burgess Hill Uncovered to bring an April Fools Day surprise to Burgess Hill. It was the first of many joint-ventures between the 2 sites, ad Chapman and McCarty became not only business partners, but good friends.

On 1st April 2004, Mac Industries branched into a new area - Mac Industries Stage Performance and Entertainment. McCarthy and Sailor, who had now achieved legend status at Oakmeeds, performed a set of comedy routines at the Oakmeeds Year 11 Social Evening, cumulating in McCarthy dancing in a dress while Sailor sang 'My Heart Will Go On", by Celine Dion. They continued to appear at Oakmeeds, culminating in the Leavers Assembly

In June 2004, having been in existence for nearly a year, McCarthy entered into negotiations with Chapman about the designing of a new look Mac Industries site. Pretty soon, a template had been designed using Chapmans vast knowledge of web design - that template, designed by Chapman and altered and implemented by McCarthy - is what you see here today, the current image of Mac Industries.

However, disaster struck in July 2004, when McCarthy Industries was kicked off of the Freeservers network. However, McCarthy had the site copied days before, and was able to set up home using the greatnow server. Despite the inconvenience, the Oakmeeds Pictorial is still held on Freeservers.

In October 2004, McCarthy brokered the way forward for Mac Industries. He purchased a video camera, and used it to good effect, creating a number of sought after films. Needing to appeal to a wider audience, he knew that the time had come. On 16th November 2004, Mac Indsutries went pro, as Scott purchased webspace via credit card for the first time. With more file space, his dream could be realised, and he was able to share video files with the visitors. It was to be the birth of McCarthy TV - and as Scott himself described it, the start of the revolution

That is the history so far of Mac Industries - but I feel certain there'll be more to add as time goes by! Thank You for reading!

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