I worked in the Export Dept., at Bedfords from 1960-1972, great workplace and people and would like to hear from anyone who was there during that period.

Neil

Did you ever come across Frank Terry in the offices of John Bedford?

Happy Days!

Did you know Ernest Senior who was Foreman Electrician?he worked there for about 19 years until his death in 1969

Highnote, thanks for your mail.

The name Ernest Senior certainly rings a bell and whilst I did'nt have dealings with him personally (I was in sales) it was a busy period for the electrical lads as lots of alterations were being made to the main office block and we therefore saw an electrician(s) most days of the week. Were you related to him or in fact did you work with him at JB's?

regards
neil memmott

PopT,

Happy days indeed.

Do you have any recollection of which particular office Frank worked in?, I'm a bit vague on this one but the name should be telling me something because it sounds unusual i.e. two christian names together.

Have just noted your location(s) very nice too. We were in NZ/Cook Islands last year and had a great time.

Regards
neil memmott

Know it well Neil :)
Peter left in 1974, can't remember when he started, must have been around 1968.

Marion

Mags,

How did you get in ere' Eh:-)

Neil Memmott

You couldn't mistake Frank Terry as he was an invalid with only one leg, the other he left behind in France when he was in the Hallamshire Regiment in WW1.

He wasn't a tall man and carried a bit of weight, wore spectacles and was a very jovial character.

I believe he worked in the accounts office.

Happy days!

I worked in the Export Dept., at Bedfords from 1960-1972, great workplace and people and would like to hear from anyone who was there during that period.

Hello Neil,
I was there from around 1970 to 1974,worked in the toolroom at the end of the yard 2nd floor,had plenty of laughs though, despite some of the gaffers being a bit regimental,some of the workforce were real characters.Good times they were.

Hi Gritman, good to hear from you.

The Tool Room, Jack Carr's place, I remember that well, it was on your way to the canteen. Yes it was a fairly happy place to work particularly before the Take Overs, you were a name and not just a number in those days which counted for a lot.
I used to live not too far from Jack, he lived up near to Graves Park whilst I was at Meersbrook and went to his local (The Mount Pleasant) on a few occasions.

What are you doing these days, retired or still grafting?

Nice to hear from you, thanks.

regards
neil memmott

Hiya Neil,
Yes Jack Carrs place,Jim hamilton was his underling.Ernest Dawson was another name i recall, i think he was head of training or something like that,could be personal officer.I got out of the mechanical engineering side of it after i had finnished my apprenticeship and went to work in the great outdoors,been there eversince and still at it.

PopT,

Thanks for your post. You have got me wondering because there was a man who fills you're description that ran the Forwarding Dept., in the early sixties. He was an invalid with a shot leg. I remember his car, I'd never seen one kitted out like his i.e. hand controls only. I think it was a Ford Anglia, but the surname does'nt fit, I believe the man who I remember was called Smith. If he was an accounts man then he left before I joined the Company.
The accounts as far as I can recall was headed up by Alfred Brookfield, Financial Director, and next door was his secretary, a little woman, usually bubbly but could turn, Arthur Smith was in there too, a staunch Owl with a lovely Scottish wife, they had one son and lived at Hollinsend.
Accounts Depts. in those days were usually full of women & Bedfords were no exception, I don't remember many but I do remember Joyce ???? who later became Ballard after marrying David Ballard who was the Publicity Manager, funnily enough he had a Ford Anglia too, two tone blue I think. Lived way, way up Halifax Road somewhere.

You can tell I'm getting old because I'm rambling. Great to talk to you again and I look forward to the next time.

regards
neil memmott

Hey Gritman,
You have just brought back two names i.e. Jim Hamilton and Ernest Dawson and your right on both counts. As I was in sales the Tool Room was'nt an everyday visit for me but the characters around the place made it that everyone seemed to know everyone else. Ernest Dawson as you say was in training and employment and generally worked out of an office up the road, what did they call that place? it was where the Bright Bar Dept., was located, just tucked in after Slack Sellars and before Wigfalls service Dept. (Eh, were goin back a pace ere lad).
Do you remember Mester Baggley, had is office in the yard opposite the time house, big fella, so much so he leaned forward and the little one armed guy in the timehouse who sold fags and things, I can't remember his name at the moment but he was pretty sharp no matter his impediment.

Nice to speak to you again and look forward to the next time.

regards

neil memmott

Marion C,

How are you dear? Can Pete fill in a couple of gaps office staff wise i.e. There was Pete, Gier Keys the Norwegian (what was the name of that sandwhich shop in Harvest Lane - it was the other side of the Shell petrol station bang in the middle of a row of houses) but I remember Gier used to love potted meat breadcakes from there with would you believe Piccalli, how Norwegian than that can you get. Anyway, I digress, me making up the male side of things but what about the female side of the office, we had Lynn Heppenstall ace typist, Ann with a big mouth who would rather talk than work, she got married and eventually left to go into the licence trade with hubby, then there was Elizabeth from Hillsboro who was OK but there was a fourth member who I can't pinpoint, who was the 8th member? Any clues?
Were you there when Astrid Koskins the Lithuanian or Latvian had a spell with us, she used to bring jars of that pickled herring into the place, stick a fork into it and ate it till it was gone, we had some funny people in that office and there's still a question mark over thee me old love:-).

Hasten slowly

N

Hi Neil
Peter can't remember the name of the sandwich shop, but he does remember the guy in the weighbridgewho had one arm.
Jean Langford, my sister Kate who did a short spell with you. Me, I only ever wondered in to wait for P occasionally :o)
M

Hi Marion,

Jean Langford of course, how could I forget Jean. I don't remember your sister though, probably after I left. My then sister in law had a short spell with us. She was useless so I sacked her. That went down like a lead balloon with the in laws. The weighbridge man was called Birkinshaw and it was George Baggley with his office opposite. I woke up about four this morning thinking about this lot.
There's so many names I remember which says something about the people we worked alongside, J Arnold Wade was one. We used to call him "The Jaw" after his initials either that or "The Manor Park Lip" after where he lived at that time and his harrassed assistant Ernest Oldfield aka "Longdrop" he was a tall un' was Ernest.
Another character was Ron Toseland with his red and gold trucks, he had some nice equipment (so to speak) had Ron.

N

any one know geoff nuttall

any one know geoff nuttall

The name does ring a bell but can,t remember which dept he worked in.

Does anyone remember a girl called Wendy who worked for John Bedford & Sons around 1950.

Like Grit Man, the name is familiar but I can't put my finger on him yet.

Before my tome, sorry Gerry.

or would you believe "time"

My dad used to work as a furnaceman at john bedfords right upto the time it was taken over by padley and venebles. I was very young but can remember going to his works with my mum. His name was Harold Russ

KJ, How you doin'?

I did'nt know your dad personally because if he was a furnaceman I think he must have worked in the rolling mill at Effingham Road/corner of Bernard Road. Wonderful mill that, it ended up being one of the only mills in the world to roll hollow mining drill steel. Padley & Venables were competitors of Bedfords and used to buy their Hollow Mining Steel from Sweden rather than us (Bedfords) but when deliveries from Sweden started to slow up P & V where finding it hard to keep delivery promises, so they placed orders on Bedfords but Bedfords were so busy in the Drill Bit Dept. (Arnold Wades Dept) and in BRDC (Bedford Rock Drill Components) that our rolling mill supplied our own requirements before anybody else. This frustrated P & V to the extent that their parent company "Tarmac" yes the mighty "Tarmac" put in a takeover bid for Bedfords and Tarmac eventually won and raped the company dry selling off the handtool division to Spear & Jackson who themselves were bought out I believe by the Neill group who were bought out out by some American Firm and here you see the demise of the greatest tool making city in the world. Shame but good to see 'Footprint Tools' still alive and well I hope.
Sorry KJ I've digressed too far, hopefully if someone has read this and knew your dad, they will be in touch, I hope so.
regards
neil memmott

I worked in the Export Dept., at Bedfords from 1960-1972, great workplace and people and would like to hear from anyone who was there during that period.My auntie used to work at Bedfords around that time. Her name was Mary Austin, and her Maiden name was Walker

Hiya Parkwooder,

Do you happen to know which department she worked in, it would help if you do as Bedfords employed a lot of women particularly in the File, Precision File and Manicure departments and of course in the warehouses.
Please remind me what the names of the two pubs were on PWS, I think the bottom one was the last to go and the top one the first. Had a pint or two in each, long time ago now, memorys' shot:-)

regards
neil memmott

Hello Niel,
I'm not too sure about which department, but I know it wouldn't have been warehouse work. Did they have buffer's? that would have been more up my aunties street, or something similar.
Yes Niel the parkwood hotel was the last to go. The one at the top was called the Douglas Inn.

Do you happen to know which department she worked in, it would help if you do as Bedfords employed a lot of women particularly in the File, Precision File and Manicure departments and of course in the warehouses.
Please remind me what the names of the two pubs were on PWS, I think the bottom one was the last to go and the top one the first. Had a pint or two in each, long time ago now, memorys' shot:-)

regards
neil memmott[/QUOTE]

Hi Parkwooder, no Bedfords did'nt have buffers as such but they did have a lot of lovely lady file cutters who dressed themselves up in a similar manner to Buffers to keep the muck off them caused by the job they were employed to do. I had a lot of respect for them lasses, salt of the earth they were, hard working, best jokers in the world and never a dull moment. How they put up with the hammering of the machines they worked I don't know, there were no ear muffs in those days.

The Parkwood used to be a Whitbread House and the Douglas was Stones I'm sure. I seem to remember the Douglas as the cosiest of the two even though it was right up there in the farthest corner. Why I found myself up there drinking whilst I lived in Meersbrook I'll never know, once you got of the bus at "The Gardners" you were on your own. Good days in any event.

I've still not identified your Aunt Mary but hopefully someone will once they have read the Forum, I've only been a member two weeks and it is absolutely amazing the people I have been in touch with whether we knew each other or not.

Keep in touch if you come up with something else re Bedfords.

Regards

Neil Memmott

I'm hoping someone out there will remember some of the following who worked at Bedfords in the sixties/early seventies i.e.

Home Sales - Eric Booth - Sales Office Manager
Raymond Socket -Clerk extraordanairy
Betty - a single woman who lived in or near Penistone Road, office co-ordinator
Pauline - pretty woman, Salvationist.
John Clayton was 2nd to Eric Booth but transferred to Stock Control,
Apologies to the ones I have missed

Steel Sales Harry Wragg - office Manager
Jack Hobson - Bright Bar Dept.

Buying Dept. Ron Tiddy - Manager
Susan his assistant, (her father was big in Sheffield Club)

Stock Control Ted Brown - Manager
Glynn Kilroe - Chief Chaser
Angela - who became Mrs Kilroe, a lovely lass, last I heard they lived in Worksop. and many others

Packing Room. Arthur Waller
Edith his assistant and pal
Len Allcock - Ace dartplayer, could also pack a mean packing case
Enid/Edna - lovely person who married Edmond Ogden - Works Director
Frwdng Dept. Ken Smith - Manager, disabled but you'd never believe it. Ken was followed by Les ??? - and Doreen Marples was his assistant.

All lovely people and I hope someone out there will remember a name and get in touch, more names to follows.

I'm hoping someone out there will remember some of the following who worked at Bedfords in the sixties/early seventies i.e.

Home Sales - Eric Booth - Sales Office Manager
Raymond Socket -Clerk extraordanairy
Betty - a single woman who lived in or near Penistone Road, office co-ordinator
Pauline - pretty woman, Salvationist.
John Clayton was 2nd to Eric Booth but transferred to Stock Control,
Apologies to the ones I have missed

Steel Sales Harry Wragg - office Manager
Jack Hobson - Bright Bar Dept.

Buying Dept. Ron Tiddy - Manager
Susan his assistant, (her father was big in Sheffield Club)

Stock Control Ted Brown - Manager
Glynn Kilroe - Chief Chaser
Angela - who became Mrs Kilroe, a lovely lass, last I heard they lived in Worksop.
Packing Room. Arthur Waller
Edith his assistant and pal
Len Allcock - Ace dartplayer, could also pack a mean packing case
Enid/Edna - lovely person who married Edmond Ogden - Works Director
Frwdng Dept. Ken Smith - Manager, disabled but you'd never believe it. Ken was followed by Les ??? - and Doreen Marples was his assistant.

All lovely people and I hope someone out there will remember a name and get in touch, more names to follows.

hey up gritman,
i didn`t know that you had worked at bedfords !
I`VE G0T YOUR EX GAFFERS MAHOGANY SH----SE SEAT ON MY TOILET.
I BOUGHT THE CONTENTS OF THE OFFICES WHEN THEY SHUT DOWN & COULDN`T RESIST THE THOUGHTS OF HAVING THE MANAGING DIRECTORS PERSONAL, HIGHLY POLISHED,HARDWOOD,(POSSIBLY HANDMADE) THRONE SEAT.

any one know geoff nuttall
He worked in the File department as a foreman. He left to be a full time driving instructer.

Hi Parkwooder, no Bedfords did'nt have buffers as such but they did have a lot of lovely lady file cutters who dressed themselves up in a similar manner to Buffers to keep the muck off them caused by the job they were employed to do. I had a lot of respect for them lasses, salt of the earth they were, hard working, best jokers in the world and never a dull moment. How they put up with the hammering of the machines they worked I don't know, there were no ear muffs in those days.

The Parkwood used to be a Whitbread House and the Douglas was Stones I'm sure. I seem to remember the Douglas as the cosiest of the two even though it was right up there in the farthest corner. Why I found myself up there drinking whilst I lived in Meersbrook I'll never know, once you got of the bus at "The Gardners" you were on your own. Good days in any event.

I've still not identified your Aunt Mary but hopefully someone will once they have read the Forum, I've only been a member two weeks and it is absolutely amazing the people I have been in touch with whether we knew each other or not.

Keep in touch if you come up with something else re Bedfords.

Regards

Neil Memmott
Sorry to contradict you but they did employ buffers ,brown paper leggings and aprons.Also `traditional`cloth turbans.They worked in the manicure dep`t polishing tweezers etc.

I worked in the grinding/hardening shop for chisels/bolsters/hammers/punches about 70-73 approx. A chap called Arnold managed the warehouse upstairs.

It was Arnold Wright

It was Arnold Wright

Thanks for that. I remember when they installed (or was it moved) a file cutting machine, the foundations had to be very deep (due to the vibrations) and were, I think, filled with concrete. They employed two Irishmen to dig it out, I've never seen anyone work as hard digging a hole, and by the time they had finished there heads were well below the floor level. I wonder if similar machines are used today.

He worked in the File department as a foreman. He left to be a full time driving instructer.

hey how about that ! did you know him then he's my dad, he just retired from the driving instructing last year, how do you know him i'm sure he would be interested to know?

:D:help:Hello Neil,
I was there from around 1970 to 1974,worked in the toolroom at the end of the yard 2nd floor,had plenty of laughs though, despite some of the gaffers being a bit regimental,some of the workforce were real characters.Good times they were.

anyone remember a Keith Thompson i think he worked in tool dept,love to hear from him

Hi All
It being Xmas Eve I was getting a bit nostalgic and came across this site...Wow! all then names from "Bedford's"....Happy Times...
I worked in the wages office from 1961 - 1964 and knew all the workers by their clock numbers and can still remember the odd ones even now after 40yrs. My boss was Mary Cox...I used to pay out the wages every Friday in the time house with Mr Baggely and the one armed timekeeper in attendance.If there was anyone who did'nt make it for their pay I was the one who opened that little window in the pay office at the top of the flight of stairs I married Tony Callaghan who worked in the plating shop (electro plating).
Ah Happy times....
MERRY XMAS

Hi Pisces,

Shropshire is a long way from Mowbray Street. I remember the name Mary Cox (I remember her as being a slim woman) and I certainly remember big George Baggley and the one arm guy I can picture without any difficulty but his name slips the memory.
You would remember Joyce in your office the one who married David Ballard the advertising manager. I met up with David years later at Presto Tools, we had adjoining offices up on the very top floor, it was known as the penthouse suite, sadly no more.
Anyway it's good to speak to you, I hope you had a good Christmas, have a happy 2010.

regards,

Pisces, I think I've just had a brainwave i.e. the one armed man in the timehouse was a Mr. Burkenshaw, does that have any recollections with you?

Hi H.S.
Yes I remember Joyce...she started the same day as me...I was in contact with another girl from the same era...she lives in N.Z..(I'll ask her if she remembers).she worked in the same office as Joyce and remembers her too...your surname rings bells but I can't place you.
I see you are still in the Sheffield area...Ive lived up in Darlington and have been in Shropshire for the past 37yrs.
Regards
Pisces

Hi H.S.
You beat me to it!!!....just watching tele and it came to me...
You know what they say...great minds think alike!!!LOL
Pisces

I worked in the Export Dept., at Bedfords from 1960-1972, great workplace and people and would like to hear from anyone who was there during that period.

I did not work there myself,but my younger brother did his apprenticeship there as a electrician Graham Dickinson,the guy who he worked with was called Les,cant think of his second name

I did not work there myself,but my younger brother did his apprenticeship there as a electrician Graham Dickinson,the guy who he worked with was called Les,cant think of his second name

You might mean Les Barber. My dad worked at Bedfords all of his working life until he died in 1972. His name was Joe Hobson and he was a file hardner. His best mate was Cliff Senior.

my mother used to work at bedfords she was a file cutter i think i remember her runnin from the wicker to clock in the xmas partys were at the pitsmoor wmc her name was doris thew they were happy days

my mother used to work at bedfords she was a file cutter i think i remember her runnin from the wicker to clock in the xmas partys were at the pitsmoor wmc her name was doris thew they were happy days

OMG I so remember those Christmas parties. It was packed full of kids and we all had to shout for santa and then go onto the stage for our prezzie. Still got photos from then (black and white of course) lol. Happy days

Wow im surprised anyone rememberd the partys i thought it was me just been nostalgic i drive past the pitsmoor club most days a nd remember the good times its a pity the club is just a burnt out shell now thanks for joggin my memory