Anyone's Dad (or Mum) work at Davy's?

Did you go to the "Field Day' with games and sports. Do you remember the amazing Christmas display the Drawing Office staged - eg the Dr Who Dalek? '64//'65?

What happened to the company in the end?

I never worked at Davy United but was a regular at the Sports and Social club, probably the best designed and well managed of its type. The Manager wa called Brownhill, who went on to manage Bakewell show I believe, really nice guy and lovely family.

Friends who worked at Davys included Roy Smith, Wendy Wragg, her brother Malcolm, Frank Hammond, Joan Foster, good people smashing memories.

I lost touch many years ago. I do not know exactly why the place closed down but guess like the rest of british manufacturing did not get the government support that competitors got, unions got too strong and beligerent hence uneconomical.

Anyone's Dad (or Mum) work at Davey's?

Did you go to the "Field Day' with games and sports. Do you remember the amazing Christmas display the Drawing Office staged - eg the Dr Who Dalek? '64//'65?

What happened to the company in the end?

hiya helbco, my dad use to work as a crane driver at davy's his name was jack briggs.

I worked at Davy' as an electrician, left in1972 and my Father retired from Davy's in the 80s. As a boy I went to the sports days at Myrtle Springs (Davy's Sports Ground) Later on they built the existing sports club & ground at the side of the factory. Had a number of names and now Davy has come back as Davy-Markham.

Anyone's Dad (or Mum) work at Davey's?

Did you go to the "Field Day' with games and sports. Do you remember the amazing Christmas display the Drawing Office staged - eg the Dr Who Dalek? '64//'65?

What happened to the company in the end?

Hello,

I worked in the engineering drawing office at D-U from 1957 to 1965.
In fact our section was the first to work in the new drawing office when the building opened in December 1957. The rest of the drawing office arrived from Park Iron Works the week after.

Regarding the Christmas decorations, the whole thing started at Christmas 1958. The management put up a notice that year saying that because it was a new building, there was to be no decorations attached to the walls or ceiling, ect. Some Smart-Alec in the office - I cant remember who - read the notice and pointed out that it didn't say anything about decorations attached (or anchored) to the floor.

Some of the boys then went down to the chemist shops in Darnall and bought/ordered all the ingredients and lab equipment needed to make hydrogen. It was quite an industry with all these gas plants bubbling away under peoples desks. Once they had made enough hydrogen, it was pumped into enough balloons to hoist up sets of Christmas decorations. Of course, to stop the balloons floating away, they were anchored to the FLOOR.

The next year, they used the ventilation registers in the ceiling as anchor points and hoisted up the decorations. The weight of the decorations was so great that some of the registers were almost torn out of the ceiling. It cost the company a fortuned to get all the damage to the ventilation system repaired.

Because they were now banned from using the ceiling, etc., thats when the Daleks and all the other amazing motorised machines made their appearance. After that, the decorations got more and more spectacular every year. I left in 1965 so I don't know what happened after that.

Regards

I worked for Davy United Instrument Company during 1866 to 1968. We were a subsidiary of the main company making electronic control equipment for all kinds of industiries as well as for rolling mills. They were a great group of people and even helped me to get my stuff packed when I emigrated to Canada. I can just heaer some of you cynics say " just to get rid of him ". I'm not telling.

I worked for Davy United Instrument Company during 1866 to 1968. We were a subsidiary of the main company making electronic control equipment for all kinds of industiries as well as for rolling mills. They were a great group of people and even helped me to get my stuff packed when I emigrated to Canada. I can just heaer some of you cynics say " just to get rid of him ". I'm not telling.
Wow It must have a poor company pension scheme,Or did it just seem that long?

I worked in Davys tool room from 72 to 84. Why do people always assume that when a firm goes bust its the union to blame. I had left davy when it finished but as I understand it it was a disasterous conract with penalties that sent the firm under. So far as i am aware the union didnt negociate that contract. The firm continues but seems to be in a much reduced form.
People I remember from Davy Dave Bower, Eric Mawe, Ralph Pounder, Len Ducker, Frank Straw, Albert Dryhurst and loads of others. Perhaps we should have a reunion if theres enough of us left.

I worked at Davy's from 1959 to 1961. I was in the offices and worked on the top floor in a mechanised accounts department. The accounting machines were called Hollerith machines and used punched-cards for data collection.

I was the only male operator and worked in the machine room with a supervisor called Esme (sp) and another operator called Gwen (I think) she was married to a Polish gentleman. There was also an operator called Rita.

I used to know a girl called Margaret Wood who worked in the Drawing Office.
I remember a visit by some Russian delegation who left Russian cigaretts for us to try.

I worked in Davys tool room from 72 to 84. Why do people always assume that when a firm goes bust its the union to blame. I had left davy when it finished but as I understand it it was a disasterous conract with penalties that sent the firm under. So far as i am aware the union didnt negociate that contract. The firm continues but seems to be in a much reduced form.
People I remember from Davy Dave Bower, Eric Mawe, Ralph Pounder, Len Ducker, Frank Straw, Albert Dryhurst and loads of others. Perhaps we should have a reunion if theres enough of us left.


Hi,

In addition to working in the Eng. drawing office, I also spent a year in the gauge room as part of my apprenticeship. 1954-1955. At that time, the room was run by a man called Stan Rushforth but he may have retired by 72. Then there was Harry Truman, Alan Smith and Dennis Hennel. Seem to think that Dennis moved on to the Instrument Company.

In the tool room was John Gabitas. Can't remember anybody else.

I knew a Ralph Pounder (a name on your list) but he was a fitter in the 2 Bay fitting shop. If its the same Ralph Pounder we are talking about, my family knew his wife Janet and her parents very well.

Small world

Regards

Stan Rushforth was still there in 1972 as was Harry Trueman both being foreman by that time. There was a Ted Smith in Gauge Corner also Nev Wilson who is still a friend of mine. I am sure it is the same Ralph Pounder as his wife was called Jean. It was a good firm Davys, made the best steel making machinery in the world.

Doe anyone remember Roy Smith who worked there for years? also his wife Wendy? If you know of thier whereabouts i would love to make contact.

Wow It must have a poor company pension scheme,Or did it just seem that long?

I worked there from 1960 to 1973. When I retired in 2006, my pension from Davy's was £80 per year. "Yes, £1.54 per week":rolleyes:

Ptra - that's an apalling pension for such a length of service. Are you one of the victims of the Kvaerner pension scheme?

Falls - did you know my father who worked in the drawing office - see your private messages.

Did anyone know my Aunt (Mabel) who also worked at Davys in Stationery Stores for many years until she retired in either 1973 or 1978?

Pal of mine's entire family worked there, but no longer. Why does everyone assume it's closed now? Its still going, albeit under yet another name.

http://www.davymarkham.com/

My dad worked in the drawing office Bryan Pilgrim and my wifes dad was a crane driver Stan Halliday... open days were great

I worked in the computer room at Davy-United in 1969,The manager was called Beetham I think.I was only there 6 months,went back lorry driving as I couldn't get used to working inside.

My Dad worked at Davy Roll on the furnaces. Walter Reed
My uncle also worked there then moved to Brightside. Alf Batty

my dad was a truck driver there for many years,
he ended up doing a horrible job cleaning boilers b4 he retired.
Sadly he died not much later.
His brother bernard hodkin also worked there b4 he died in 1964.

My dad worked at Davy Roll from 1955 to when he retired a couple of years ago. I used to go to the Christmas partys at the club & some of the summer "do's " they had there. Was one of the best clubs in the ares & used to spend alot of time there when I started at Davy's in 1980.

My grandfather is Ralph Pounder and Jean is his wife. He was amazed to see this site. He's not very well right now and would like to know who it is that knew him. Email me! Been hearing some good stories.

Ralph Pounder passed away peacefully on Monday evening, 7th June 2010. For further information, or to reach his wife, email me on hayley1 @ gmail.com Thanks.

R.I.P ralph..............

Hi everyone,

My Granddad worked at Davey united as the works superintendant. I'm not sure when he started but he retired from the company in 1960.

His name was John (Jack) Reeder. I know he was an engineer by trade so may also have worked in this department.

Does anyone remember working with him?

Cheers,
Andy

My dad worked in the drawing office Bryan Pilgrim and my wifes dad was a crane driver Stan Halliday... open days were great

Hello eeza. I worked in the drawing office at davy united and your dad bryan Pilgrim had is draughting board about 5 feet away from mine. Good guy your dad. I used to ride a big 1000cc vincent motorcycle at the time. ask him if he remembers me gordon clayton I left davys about 1965 .good old days them. must have been the best time of my life Cheers

I worked for Moore and Wright and we were playing Davy United in the intercompany games league (darts, snooker, &etc) at the DU sports club when the news came over the tv that JFK had been shot.

anyone remember Alan Fritchley who was a draughtsman and worked in the Drawing office