I'm thinking of writing a history of Laycocks for our Sports club newsletter.
We are still a thriving Sports Club on Archer Rd, Sheffield, but the firm is long since gone.
Are threre any memories you would like to share with me.
Who started the firm?
When did it start?
What did they first make?
What did they make during ww2?
The list is endless.

Get your thinking caps on!

Roger@laycocks-sport

::confused:

I did my apprenticeship at Laycock and worked there from 1977 - 1988, during which time Laycock celebrated their centenary in 1980. I believe the company was originally called W.S Laycock, it was GKN Laycock when I worked there.
W.S Laycock produced the Charron Laycock motor car some time in the 1920s.
Laycast - Charron Laycock (http://www.laycast.com/history.html)
When I worked there the company had three sites in the Millhouses - Heeley area.
The clutch manufacturing and main offices at Victoria Works on Archer Road where Sainsburys car park, MacDonalds etc now stands.
LUK (http://www.Luk.co.uk/intro/history.htm)
Garage Equipment on Camping Lane (Off Fraser Road) which is now the Periwood housing estate.
Overdrive factory, foundry and forge(Hardy Pick) on Little London Road, now vacant land which has been intersected by a new road linking Broadfield Road and Little London Road.
Laycock Overdrive (http://www.overdrive-repairs.co.uk)
Old Heeley Link :
Heeley History Workshop (http://www.oldheeley.supanet.com/)

I was a turret lathe operator at Laycocks during he second world war when they still made garage equipment and a host of other bits and bobs. We had a fire there, which all but destroyed the garage equipment bay, and I recall working all weekend to get it ready for production on the Monday morning. Spanners were necessary items to turret lathe operators and I rrecall the firm insisted on my buying my set from the company’s store. I paid for them weekly. The money was quite good. On a good week piece-work I could earn a fiver. In those days we still had the old white fivers which most shops wouldn’t accept. I always had to call at the Post Office to get mine changed.

To answer the original question, I think they first made car engines. The firm still had some concrete blocks with iron bolts in them, to hold the engines when they were being tested. Apparently, they were forced to stop testing when everyone living around them complained.

Just before you got to Laycocks, there used to be a 1930s office block, a grand design for those days, which was the HQ of Thorntons Toffee. As I write, I’m eating a belated Christmas present of a box of their liquorice toffee. The box tells me they are now based in Derbyshire.

My husband worked at Laycock's for 31 years.
Started late 1950 until March 1982 when we came to Canada. He worked on the Overdrive which was made mainly for Volvo cars.

Cynthia, Ontario, Canada.

I also served my time at Laycocks (GKN Laycock as it was then known) Itwas a member of the 'Birfield' group at that time.
I worked in the design office involved in the R&D off HGV clutches.(1967-71).
I have never since known a firm so full of 'characters'.
There was not one person in the entire work force, (it must have been over 2000 at that time) who was not barmy in one or another. It was a great place to work, but then again as a young bloke you always see the funny side of everything I suppose. One guy who sticks out in my mind is Bill Beet. He was a R&D engineering fitter and the greatest cynic I have known. During the War he was a Flight Sergeant and like all blokes of his age had great dislike of us apprentices, in fact he had a great dislike of everyone, but with a twinkle in his eye (either that or it was murder)

I worked at Laycock's in the Cutter Grind Department from 1959 until about 1965. The boss was a guy named Maurice Rogers. He didn't smoke.drink or swear but never tried to impose his beliefs on anyone else. He was a pefect gentleman and an all round nice guy. Don't know whether he's still around or not.
There used to be two guys who worked in the stores, Lou and Ron. who both had one arm missing. They used to delight in getting us younger persons trapped between their stumps. You couldn't move too far when they did that. All in good fun then but would probably be frowned upon nowadays.

I remember those blokes they were as strong as bulls. They could lift a tote box of a shelf with one hand. I think they had lost their arms in WW2. Do you remember the Machine Shop Foreman Sam Startup, as I say the place was unreal!

See Peter Harvey's first "Abbeydale and Millhouses" book.

There some photos of staff in 1940s/50s and and a photo of the car that Laycock Engineering made for a while after WW1.in partnership with the French firm 'Charron' as well as a good aerial shot of the Millhouses works.

Edit: and a visit to the Local Studies section of the Central Library should be quite rewarding too ;)

Originally posted by artisan
I remember those blokes they were as strong as bulls. They could lift a tote box of a shelf with one hand. I think they had lost their arms in WW2. Do you remember the Machine Shop Foreman Sam Startup, as I say the place was unreal!

Don't remember that guy but I do remember Braithwaite the bookie. I also rember a Sam Marsden who was a setter on the automatic lathes and another guy (name eludes me) who used to talk about his beer consumption in gallons e.g. he only drank three quarters of a gallon last night instead of his usual one and a half.

Originally posted by chuffinel
Don't remember that guy but I do remember Braithwaite the bookie. I also rember a Sam Marsden who was a setter on the automatic lathes and another guy (name eludes me) who used to talk about his beer consumption in gallons e.g. he only drank three quarters of a gallon last night instead of his usual one and a half.


There was another man his name was Harry Sherburn (so my husband says). Do you recollect ?, apparently he died some long tiime ago.
Cynthia, Ontario.

I dont remember Harry but had probably met him as I used go all over the works. What has happened to the firm now? A few years ago I drove past to show my kids where I worked and it was completly demolished

Originally posted by chuffinel
Don't remember that guy but I do remember Braithwaite the bookie. I also rember a Sam Marsden who was a setter on the automatic lathes and another guy (name eludes me) who used to talk about his beer consumption in gallons e.g. he only drank three quarters of a gallon last night instead of his usual one and a half.

Was his name Raymond ? I can't remember his surname, but the story rings a bell.

You could tell which night shift you were working because he wore the same T shirt all four nights, right way on Monday, back to front on Tuesday, inside out with the label at the back Wednesday, and inside out with the label at the front on Thursday. :gag:

Originally posted by chuffinel
bookie. I also rember a Sam Marsden who was a setter on the automatic lathes

Yes that was the bloke, I think Startup was our nickmame for him for him for some reason. Can anyone remember Jack Skelcey in chage of the apprentices

Cant remember the name. What section did he work in?

that must have been before my time. They were only making clutches and transmiissions when I was there

A guy that comes into the club where I work used to work there, call him Joe Winter, anyone used to work him?

Joe Winter worked at the overdrive factory on Little London Road and started the Overdrive repair business http://www.overdrive-repairs.co.uk/about_us.html]

Can any of you remember Keith Hilton or John (polly) Styring who worked in the clutch assembly as tool setters? ;)

Another name, a really nice asian gent. Tall and strong called 'Abdullah Khan' he worked there in the late seventies / early eighties. If anyone knew him please pm me.

owdlad I remember them both, Keith Hilton also worked at Jacobs Manufacturing up until it closed in 2002

We started dealing with LuK (Lamenel und Kupplendsbau) back in the 60's we considered them to pretty rubbish at clutch design at that time. It seems ironic that they took the firm over in the end. Good Old Maggie sold our country down the river

A guy that comes into the club where I work used to work there, call him Joe Winter, anyone used to work him?

My husband knew Joe Winter & his mate Roy Green ( Tool room). apparently they used to go round the clubs singing. He knows most of the other names posted plus loads more, what you would expect after 31 years.
My husband is Dennis Travis as mad a Sheffield United fan as I am.

Cynthia, Ontario, Canada.

There is a memorial to Laycocks in the Sainsburys store on Archer Road. I think it is a stained glass pattern at the bottom of the travelator.

owdlad I remember them both, Keith Hilton also worked at Jacobs Manufacturing up until it closed in 2002

Michael do you have any contact with Keith these days? I would love to have a pint with him (although he was tighter than a...better not;) )

Sorry owdlad no idea where he went after Jacobs closed and don't bump into anyone who knows but if I do find out anything I'll PM you.

I worked at Laycocks from 1977 until really the present day, but under a different company name.
I have many memorys of Laycocks and the people who worked there and there are too many to mention as when i came out of my apprenticeship i worked in the Method Engineers (Super Setters) and worked at all 3 factories.
I also have many memories of the Laycocks fishing club, i started to go on the trips in1978 when 2 coaches used to go, it was organized by Joe Winter and Tommy Blackwell and Charlie Midson used to help out.
I still work with quite a few of the old Laycocks workers but will not say who they are as i respect there privacy.
I also have quite a few of the old Laycocks magazines of which most were from before my time.
We still have chats about the old Laycocks days and they will always be with me.

Going back a long time now.
Does anybody remember the internal works railway at Laycocks at the Archer Road site?
I recall seeing the steam tank locomotive which was used, running in the early 1950s. It was clearly visible from the gate on Archer Road.

Anybody got a photograph?

My dad worked at Laycocks on overdrive about tbis time, bet they knew each other !

did the guy called keith have ginger hair? iremember these names
john north was working at jacobs in 2000.my foreman micklewaithe .pat the storeman took over from two stumps. also a guy called ernest grayson top man..

My dad worked at Laycocks on overdrive about tbis time, bet they knew each other !

My husband worked on the overdrive. He was at Laycock's from 1950 until 1982.
Cynthia.

did the guy called keith have ginger hair? iremember these names
john north was working at jacobs in 2000.my foreman micklewaithe .pat the storeman took over from two stumps. also a guy called ernest grayson top man..


Keith Hilton didn't have ginger hair, he had dark brown (probably grey or gone by now)

Does anyone remember that bloke (I think he was called Jack) who never got warm? We once walked out on strike because it was too hot to work, and Lambert who was the Personel officer at that time was stood at the top of the ramp from the clutch dept laughing his head off because snakey jack was walking up behind us with his bluddie top coat on :hihi: Happy days :D

Both my grandads worked at Laycocks well in the late 1980's,their names were Frank Brammer who worked in the overdrive department, he was asked by Laycock to run night classes at college twice a week teaching people engineering. He worked there from the 1930's upto retiring.

My other Grandad was Robert Ledger who worked in the offices at Archer road
Again he was there quite a few years.
Does anyone remember these people, if so please reply.

Both my grandads worked at Laycocks well in the late 1980's,their names were Frank Brammer who worked in the overdrive department, he was asked by Laycock to run night classes at college twice a week teaching people engineering. He worked there from the 1930's upto retiring.

My other Grandad was Robert Ledger who worked in the offices at Archer road
Again he was there quite a few years.
Does anyone remember these people, if so please reply.

I knew Frank Brammer. He was one of the foreman of the Overdrive Assembly Department. If he is still with us he will know myself because I often sold him charity fund raising tickets etc for Muscular Dystrophy.
Whilst I worked in almost in every section of the works at Laycock. Archer Rd, Camping Lane, Little London. I finished in the Hardy Pick on the Blocking Ring Section it being the most productive one. (Bell to Bell)??!!
I've a number of old photographs of people at Laycocks and I'll send copies to anyone.
I left on being made redundant in October 1989 and to be honest I've never ever looked back or wished I was still working anywhere. I enjoyed my working life at Laycocks and met some very, very good people. Your grand-father was one of the best of them.
I knew Dennis Travis. He always had a smile on his face until I'd inspected the job. I sometimes had to get my birth certificate out to prove that he was wrong!!
I send him my good wishes to Canada.
Joe Winters and crew down at the Over-drive replacements appear to be doing well and I send my best wishes along to ever one else.

I remember Laycocks for the kids' Christmas parties. I seem to remember that the presents were pretty good

does anyone remember John Hobson? He worked at laycocks early 60s till retirment in the 90s, first at little london i think then at archer road we lost him recently i miss him very much, i just wonderd if anyone had any memories of him.

does anyone remember John Hobson? He worked at laycocks early 60s till retirment in the 90s, first at little london i think then at archer road we lost him recently i miss him very much, i just wonderd if anyone had any memories of him.

Every one at the Little London Road knew John. And I think I can speak for everyone, 'He was a good bloke to know and work with'. I'm sorry to hear that he's left us but room needs to be made for others. I'll convey the sad news on to Peter & Mabel.

does anyone remember John Hobson? He worked at laycocks early 60s till retirment in the 90s, first at little london i think then at archer road we lost him recently i miss him very much, i just wonderd if anyone had any memories of him.

Everyone at the Little London Road knew John. And I think I can speak for each one of them. 'He was a good bloke to know, talk to and work with'.
I'm sorry to hear that he's left us but room needs to be made for others. I'll convey the sad news on to Peter & Mabel.

I worked at Archer Rd from 1963 until 1967 ... I obviously heard that artisan was going to work there and got out whilst the going was still good :hihi:

I worked in Production Control as a junior clerk, I remember lots of names from those years. Cyril Heywood was the Manager in charge of that office. It was truly a great place to work and almost everyone from the south side of Sheffield seemed to work there at one time or another. All the 'bosses' at that time seemed to have started as apprentices and worked their way up.

I also remember the children's parties as my father worked there for a while in the 50s ... the pressies were good, Ned Ludd is right! And all employees got a hamper at xmas too.

I worked at Archer Rd from 1963 until 1967 ... I obviously heard that artisan was going to work there and got out whilst the going was still good :hihi:

I worked in Production Control as a junior clerk, I remember lots of names from those years. Cyril Heywood was the Manager in charge of that office. It was truly a great place to work and almost everyone from the south side of Sheffield seemed to work there at one time or another. All the 'bosses' at that time seemed to have started as apprentices and worked their way up.

I also remember the children's parties as my father worked there for a while in the 50s ... the pressies were good, Ned Ludd is right! And all employees got a hamper at xmas too.

Can you remember the woman who we use to call, ' T--s on Sticks '?
She was about 42" with very thin legs
Ray Morris ( Groo-Shaw!!) was always engaging her in a conversation.
I would have been working either in the Clutch or on the Car Washers at Camping Lane during your time. Though I went to South Lincs in 1967.

Can you remember the woman who we use to call, ' T--s on Sticks '?
She was about 42" with very thin legs
Ray Morris ( Groo-Shaw!!) was always engaging her in a conversation.
I would have been working either in the Clutch or on the Car Washers at Camping Lane during your time. Though I went to South Lincs in 1967.

In that era, men were usually still respectful to women to their faces and that sort of conversation wasn't normally carried out within our earshot, so no, I don't know who she was ... :cool:

Hilda Clayton, Edith Parker, Bill Fairbrother, Keith Bywaters, George Ramsden, Joan Reaney, Stan Cadman, Rita Maher, Margaret Yeardley, Jill?, Jane Spencer?, Marian ?, man who always wore regimental blazer, John ? body building person, Peter Parkin/er? all in the office.

I could probably remember more people if I saw the names but that's all I can remember just now. I got a transfer to work at Felco Hoists in South Kensington in 1967 and never saw anyone from Archer Road again :(

I presume Laycock-sport is long gone from the forum, but if they were still interested in historical morsels I can tell them that the Laycock family grave is in the General Cemetery, it's quite a nice one too, a photo of it would look good as part of the archive. Contact them here. (http://www.gencem.org/)

In that era, men were usually still respectful to women to their faces and that sort of conversation wasn't normally carried out within our earshot, so no, I don't know who she was ... :cool:

Hilda Clayton, Edith Parker, Bill Fairbrother, Keith Bywaters, George Ramsden, Joan Reaney, Stan Cadman, Rita Maher, Margaret Yeardley, Jill?, Jane Spencer?, Marian ?, man who always wore regimental blazer, John ? body building person, Peter Parkin/er? all in the office.

I could probably remember more people if I saw the names but that's all I can remember just now. I got a transfer to work at Felco Hoists in South Kensington in 1967 and never saw anyone from Archer Road again :(

I agree entirely with you and add that society was better of for it also. However facts need recording for those who follow us and history.
On the Felco hoist job at your time at Archer Road, Millhouses Works were (Foreman) Alf Alcock who lived at Millhouses and (Chargehands) D Cooke, Derick Wallace were working on the job.
I have in my garage a Felco Hoist. I'll have to find its number and traced if you progressed it!! It was working some years ago.

I presume Laycock-sport is long gone from the forum, but if they were still interested in historical morsels I can tell them that the Laycock family grave is in the General Cemetery, it's quite a nice one too, a photo of it would look good as part of the archive. Contact them here. (http://www.gencem.org/)

Are you certain that the family that you refer to are the,'Laycocks Engineering Family'? Another Laycock string had, and may still have, a painting business down near Granville Road. I would be pleased if you could clarify this as in the roundness of time I may well write my memories of working at Laycocks. They still pay me my pension.

My husband and his Dad both worked for Laycocks for many years.My husband worked in the garage looking after all the wagons and company cars,when the garage closed he moved onto the shop floor making overdrives.

My husband and his Dad both worked for Laycocks for many years.My husband worked in the garage looking after all the wagons and company cars,when the garage closed he moved onto the shop floor making overdrives.

Did they have name. About 2000 more also worked at laycocks.
But I can not recollect them if they don't have a name!

Sorry yes they had names Herbert and Mark Warner

A relation of mine was a manager at the Archer Road site...Ron Carr.

Dick Tedds, an old rugby mate worked in the m/c shop. He sadly died a few years ago of cancer

someone mentioned xmas parties, i remember them with great fondness they used to show warner bros cartoon, googy daffy duck etc, and we would have the usual jelly and icecream, great memories and we would always get a pressy i probably went around late sixties early seventies.

Sorry yes they had names Herbert and Mark Warner

I knew Bert very well. Prior me leaving to go to a job down in Surfleet, Lincs.
He went with me very early on a Monday when we were on the night shift.
He was living at Manor Park I believe then but left eventually to live on HutcliffeWood Road in the 80s. Mark most probably would know me though I can not place him at the moment. Many men at work had nick names and you mainly often knew them like that.
You will appreciate that generally in a workshop its not 'After you sir!!'.

I agree entirely with you and add that society was better of for it also. However facts need recording for those who follow us and history.
On the Felco hoist job at your time at Archer Road, Millhouses Works were (Foreman) Alf Alcock who lived at Millhouses and (Chargehands) D Cooke, Derick Wallace were working on the job.
I have in my garage a Felco Hoist. I'll have to find its number and traced if you progressed it!! It was working some years ago.

I actually prefer the way it is now, at least now we know the way men really think about us when the 'lads' get together. The myth of respect for 'good' women is shown to be a sham just to delude us into doing the housework or something :rolleyes:

Shopfloor people - Jack Forshaw (his daughter Wendy worked 'up the drive') wasn't there also a chargehand called Harry Alcock? Larry Lamb who used to train the apprentices ... I can't remember anyone else at all, and yet I worked in Goods In and Despatch at various times during my training ... weird! We were always in the Stores too, buying new overalls and shoes! I remember one of the one armed guys from Clutch Control. Might have been Lou?

I didn't work at Silvertown, I was in the offices at South Kensington - although I did have to sign off the safely certificates for the Wedco Wire Slings ... if yours is signed 'ruby dazzler' that would be totally amazing!! ;)

Sorry yes they had names Herbert and Mark Warner

My husband (Dennis Travis) told me that unfortunately Bert Warner died some years ago, he must have been your father, we send our condolences.

Albert Smith-- my husband cannot recall you, is that your name or is it a pseudonym ??.

Regarding the men with only one arm, he started to laugh and told me that they were always larking about and hitting him with their stumps.

I always read him these messages and the ones on the Sheffield United thread as it brings back memories of times gone by.

Best wishes to all old Laycock employees.

Cynthia, Ontario, Canada.

My husband (Dennis Travis) told me that unfortunately Bert Warner died some years ago, he must have been your father, we send our condolences.

Albert Smith-- my husband cannot recall you, is that your name or is it a pseudonym ??.

Regarding the men with only one arm, he started to laugh and told me that they were always larking about and hitting him with their stumps.

I always read him these messages and the ones on the Sheffield United thread as it brings back memories of times gone by.

Best wishes to all old Laycock employees.

Cynthia, Ontario, Canada.

For Dennis with the lovely Black Wavely, clean looking hair who always looked clean & tidy.
Remember:- Phill Beaumont - Noel Stevenson - Ted Moulson - Derrick Mullins - Robbo - Wagg - Colin Wragg - Ken Rodgers - Harry Sherburn - Jack Stacy - Ken Ball -
Next line was the Annulus
You often called me 'Hawk_Eye' and other words occasionally when a yellow card went on the job, This entailed me producing my 'birth certificate!!'.
I was 'gold fingers' Inspector.

As soon as I read your latest submission to Dennis he said ,"Of course I knew him we always argued a lot".
He also remembers all the other names and is suprised that you didn't mention Ray Hill, Len Hill, Alan Moulson and Harry Jackson.

Regarding him always looking clean and tidy, he has always been fastidious with his appearance and I cannot remember him ever going out without a tie on even to work, until we came here. It is very hot in the summer, some days it goes over 100 F and averages 85F, so he does relent and goes out with an open neck shirt.
He sends his best wishes to all his ex Laycock mates.

Cheers, Cynthia, Just east of Toronto.

As soon as I read your latest submission to Dennis he said ,"Of course I knew him we always argued a lot".
He also remembers all the other names and is suprised that you didn't mention Ray Hill, Len Hill, Alan Moulson and Harry Jackson.

Regarding him always looking clean and tidy, he has always been fastidious with his appearance and I cannot remember him ever going out without a tie on even to work, until we came here. It is very hot in the summer, some days it goes over 100 F and averages 85F, so he does relent and goes out with an open neck shirt.
He sends his best wishes to all his ex Laycock mates.

Cheers, Cynthia, Just east of Toronto.

So I hope all those ex Laycock get there finger out and put thee oar into this thread.
Regarding arguing, its a inspectors way of life.
They always look for what is wrong, or may go wrong. Anyone can see what is right!!

my grandad worked there, Reg Chapman, anyone remember him?
dont know when he was there but can find out exact dates...

my grandad worked there, Reg Chapman, anyone remember him?
dont know when he was there but can find out exact dates...

From memory I think I can recollect a Reg Chapman who worked at the Archer Road Division. A Mick Chapman, Who may be related, became the Manager of the Over-Drive Division at Little London Road. I always admired him because from small beginnings he took the opportunities offered him, educated himself by going to evening classes, often sitting with me on the night shift doing his home work, (Asking me all the hard questions!!) and aimed high. If the GKN management took care of him later when the firm closed, I do not know, I can only hope so.

My dad, Harry Miller, worked at Laycocks for years! Yes, I can remember all those parties, fantastic for youngsters :) !! The other thing I remember is that engineering smell as we walked through the works area to the canteen for the party. Nowhere else seemed to smell like that ever!!! I can't recall any of the names on here, nor anyone that my dad spoke of except possibly someone with the surname of Tissington or something similar, sorry I can't be specific.

I'm not sure of the dates he worked there, possibly in the early 50's and if memory serves me right, he left for a while around 54/55, but went back again - I think that was at Archer Lane . As far as I know, he worked on overdrives (in fact I think I might still have one of those plastic sacks with the black markings on for overdrives!!!).

I'm not sure exactly when, but I think around 58 or 59, he borrowed at tent from someone at work - I think it was a lady - for us to go on holiday to see if we like camping.

Around 60/61 he suffered a heart attack and was in hospital for what seemed ages (it probably was in those days!!). He continued working at Laycocks, but on an easier job and I think that was when he started at Little London works, but his health deteriorated and he also had stomach ulcers. Eventually, he passed on in 74 as by then he had also been diagnosed with cancer.

Does anyone remember him - I know its a long shot as there were so many employees.
.

My dad, Harry Miller, worked at Laycocks for years! Yes, I can remember all those parties, fantastic for youngsters :) !! The other thing I remember is that engineering smell as we walked through the works area to the canteen for the party. Nowhere else seemed to smell like that ever!!! I can't recall any of the names on here, nor anyone that my dad spoke of except possibly someone with the surname of Tissington or something similar, sorry I can't be specific.

I'm not sure of the dates he worked there, possibly in the early 50's and if memory serves me right, he left for a while around 54/55, but went back again - I think that was at Archer Lane . As far as I know, he worked on overdrives (in fact I think I might still have one of those plastic sacks with the black markings on for overdrives!!!).

I'm not sure exactly when, but I think around 58 or 59, he borrowed at tent from someone at work - I think it was a lady - for us to go on holiday to see if we like camping.

Around 60/61 he suffered a heart attack and was in hospital for what seemed ages (it probably was in those days!!). He continued working at Laycocks, but on an easier job and I think that was when he started at Little London works, but his health deteriorated and he also had stomach ulcers. Eventually, he passed on in 74 as by then he had also been diagnosed with cancer.

Does anyone remember him - I know its a long shot as there were so many employees.
.

I'll come back and I hope others will who remember Harry.
He worked in the Maag House at Little London Road works, checking the various gear angles and finishes.

Hi STENNER, Re you father working at Little London Rd, my husband has been trying to recall his face and wonders if he had a moustache, if so he knew him.
He also thinks that your father lived off Scarsdale rd. Please let me know if he is correct.

Cynthia, Canada.

Hi STENNER, Re you father working at Little London Rd, my husband has been trying to recall his face and wonders if he had a moustache, if so he knew him.
He also thinks that your father lived off Scarsdale rd. Please let me know if he is correct.

Cynthia, Canada.

Tell Dennis that Harry worked in the Maag House and on the Gear Section.
I'm almost certain that he lived on Greenhill.
In the Maag House with him was Peter Carter. John Revell. (Harry was his other shift mate for a while) ? Hargreaves. Ken Rodgers (Foreman) Bill Turney (One eye) ? Thornehill (Turkey Neck.
STENNER:- Your Dads job was to ensure that all the gears that fitted into a Overdrive fitted correctly. They HAD to be correct on:- Size, Angle, Finish, HAD to be quite in operation and the machine which tested all this was accurate to within One Millionth of an inch. Though normally Half a Thousand part of an inch was worked to.
You can appreciate that your father would require assistance in winning argument's on ODD occasions!! He would now tell you, 'You can not love them all the time, On odd occasion's you did have a different opinion, At such times you would always ensure that you worked in a safe environment!!??'.

I remember quite a lot of these people. I worked in the overdrive division on Little London from 1957 to 1962.
The ones I remember mostly were Jack Foreshaw, Ray Morris, (*** a priest!)
Mick Dolan, John Wood, Lol Grant, etc.
I knew some of those who worked at the Archer Rd site; Ray Swinnerton, who built caravans and Don Rollitt.

Are you certain that the family that you refer to are the,'Laycocks Engineering Family'? Another Laycock string had, and may still have, a painting business down near Granville Road. I would be pleased if you could clarify this as in the roundness of time I may well write my memories of working at Laycocks. They still pay me my pension.


I'm pretty certain, but I'll check with the folks next time I'm there, which will be very soon.

I know it's confusing with names, it can sometimes be misleading to spot a famous local name, and the people at the cemetery are usually quite good at specifying when a tomb really is *that* family, and not a namesake. :)

Thank you Purdyamos:- I'm pretty certain, but I'll check with the folks next time I'm there, which will be very soon.

Heeley_Tyke
I remember quite a lot of these people. I worked in the overdrive division on Little London from 1957 to 1962.
The ones I remember mostly were Jack Foreshaw, Ray Morris, (*** a priest!)
Mick Dolan, John Wood, Lol Grant, etc. I knew some of those who worked at the Archer Rd site; Ray Swinnerton, who built caravans and Don Rollitt.

Anymore that you remember especially along with their nick names are welcome.
What did you do on the overdrive?

owdlad I remember them both, Keith Hilton also worked at Jacobs Manufacturing up until it closed in 2002

was jacobs part of frank guylees on archer rd.my farther worked at guylees
1958 his name was frank else.i also worked their as a apprentice sparky.

Going back a long time now.
Does anybody remember the internal works railway at Laycocks at the Archer Road site?
I recall seeing the steam tank locomotive which was used, running in the early 1950s. It was clearly visible from the gate on Archer Road.

Anybody got a photograph?

sorry dont have any photoes only memories.i lived on rydal rd as a boy used to go to train sheds to collect old rags to burn in my clay burner i think they was called torch burners

was jacobs part of frank guylees on archer rd.my farther worked at guylees
1958 his name was frank else.i also worked their as a apprentice sparky.

Jacobs made Drills and Drill Cutches. They were part of GuyLees but never a part of Laycock Engineering. I would suggest that you start another completely new thread regarding GuyLees. A great number of people worked their and some will be part of the Forum. It is all history and someone some day will be pleased that it was written.

sorry dont have any photoes only memories.i lived on rydal rd as a boy used to go to train sheds to collect old rags to burn in my clay burner i think they was called torch burners

I think you mean 'Touch-burner'

Thank you Purdyamos:- I'm pretty certain, but I'll check with the folks next time I'm there, which will be very soon.

Heeley_Tyke
I remember quite a lot of these people. I worked in the overdrive division on Little London from 1957 to 1962.
The ones I remember mostly were Jack Foreshaw, Ray Morris, (*** a priest!)
Mick Dolan, John Wood, Lol Grant, etc. I knew some of those who worked at the Archer Rd site; Ray Swinnerton, who built caravans and Don Rollitt.

Anymore that you remember especially along with their nick names are welcome.
What did you do on the overdrive?

Buying mostly. Boss was Lawrence Hobson and his deputy was Percy Jennings. I heard Percy topped himself in the 60s.

Tell Dennis that Harry worked in the Maag House and on the Gear Section.
I'm almost certain that he lived on Greenhill.


Yes, that's right Albert, around 53/54 we lived at Hackenthorpe for a short time but then we moved onto Lowedges Road and later onto Gervase Place, not far from the house on Lowedges Road. Mum stayed at Gervase place for quite a while after dad had passed on, but eventually moved up to Stannington where she had a flat for a few years before she also passed on.

At Hackenthorpe, I can remember him doing two jobs but it may not have been at the same time - I am not sure as I wasn't that old. I know he had been doing some door to door selling - children's encyclopedia (and I still have mine in it's original box as it was posted!!).

I also know he worked at Laycocks because I went to Ridgeway school by bus and when he'd been on nights, he used to take me to the bus stop still in his working clothes and that smell from the factory (which I recall from going to the parties :) ) was still with him. I seem to remember being teased by someone about it once, but my dad soon put them right the next day - they got a right telling off!!! I did seem to think he worked at Archer Road at that time and only went to Little London after he'd had the heart attack and been told he had to have an 'easier' job.

was jacobs part of frank guylees on archer rd.my farther worked at guylees
1958 his name was frank else.i also worked their as a apprentice sparky.

Did your Father move on to work at Tempered Spring Co?

Yes, that's right Albert, around 53/54 we lived at Hackenthorpe for a short time but then we moved onto Lowedges Road and later onto Gervase Place, not far from the house on Lowedges Road. Mum stayed at Gervase place for quite a while after dad had passed on, but eventually moved up to Stannington where she had a flat for a few years before she also passed on.

At Hackenthorpe, I can remember him doing two jobs but it may not have been at the same time - I am not sure as I wasn't that old. I know he had been doing some door to door selling - children's encyclopedia (and I still have mine in it's original box as it was posted!!).

I also know he worked at Laycocks because I went to Ridgeway school by bus and when he'd been on nights, he used to take me to the bus stop still in his working clothes and that smell from the factory (which I recall from going to the parties :) ) was still with him. I seem to remember being teased by someone about it once, but my dad soon put them right the next day - they got a right telling off!!! I did seem to think he worked at Archer Road at that time and only went to Little London after he'd had the heart attack and been told he had to have an 'easier' job.

Cynthia's husband will recall Harry. On a few occasions (Daily or Nightly) I would act has referee, regarding the up holding of the Queens Language.
I've many happy memories of Harry. Though we must have had a row sometime, I can not recall one, The pressure of the job created argument's over next to nothing. I can see him now, clocking the Helix Angle, finishes and hardness of the gears and splines. The MAAG calculated and created a precision chart of all the gears measurements and Harry would stick to them like he was reading the 'Times Newspaper'. (They were always correct)
Looking back. How we constantly worked to such fine tolerance's is hardly believable. Having arguments about half a thousand part of a inch or a finish about five micros too rough were common!! We all must have been nutty!
The smell of the mistic oil on all our working clothes was a better identification than a finger print. I've walked past people who I did not know, but knew, that they were wearing the clothes of someone who worked at the Overdrive Division.
One thing was that no-one ever bothered to steal anyones clothes!!

Of course Dennis remembers Harry. Regarding the smell of Mistic oil, Dennis never came home in his smock and he always changed his trousers at work, never the less I could always smell the oil and the first thing that he did when he came home was to go and have a shower before we had our evening meal.
He could not work to a thousandth of an inch now as I am sorry to say that he is legally blind. He had his eyes tested each year and had glasses to read, he had a test in December 2005 and his vision had not changed, in February 2006 he had a triple bi-pass and was prescribed blood pressure medication, one of the side effects was that they could , for a short time, cause blurred vision, in May 2006 he complained he was having problems with his eyes but we thought that it was the medication, however, when he asked to see the opthamologist at the beginning of August he had extensive tests and the outcome was that he has a hole in each retina. What a blow that was as he now cannot drive and I never learned to drive on the 'wrong side of the road' when we came here. Fortunately we have a big screen television and he (we) can still watch the three football games on each saturday
I should add that it had nothing to do with the tablets.

Cheers, Cynthia.

I'm very sorry to hear of the problems but I must just say that my memory of Dennis is that, 'He was the cleanest man that I had the pleasure of working with'. I would also add that during my fund raising days for the Muscular Dystrophy Group, He always donated well. Even if we'd just had, or were about to have a row about the job within a few minutes. The kind of work that we were involved in just made it so.
Now you will now just have to start to drive again, having a few driving lessons to start you off, would not be time lost.

Dennis asks if anyone remembers Billy Turney and the story's he used to tell ?, or perhaps Billy is a member of the Forum.

Dennis asks if anyone remembers Billy Turney and the story's he used to tell ?, or perhaps Billy is a member of the Forum.

Bill Turney passed on but I've many memories of his exploits.
If I ever was stranded on a Desert Island Billy and Derick Mullins would be my first choice of companions. Mullo would somehow build a sea going vessel out of sand and old Billy would knock up the navigation charts, make a compass and we would soon be safe!!
One thing would be that I'd never ever be lost for a really entertaining story which would exceed the exploits of 007 or ANY stranger than fiction real life stories by a mile!!
Did anyone have the time to listen to them? Lets have a ear-wig!

anyone work in there in early80s ? if so reveal yourself..........

anyone work in there in early80s ? if so reveal yourself..........

Hawk-Eye from the Blocking Ring, Overdrive, Clutch, Garage Equipment divisions now on Call!

I used to work with Harry Jackson, Keith Godson, Simon Garside and also in our shop later on were Derek Hall and Ernist Bussy, i am afraid Keith, Derek and Harry are no longer with us.
There was also Les Holmes and Dave Spitlehouse working for development in the same shop, i know Dave has passed away but does anyone know if Les is still around, we had some really good times at Laycocks, especially when we were back in the shop but we all worked at all three factories, the main work seemed to be in the overdrive area, oh, and by the shop i mean Methods Engineers, i was in there in the early 80s and have still got a continued service record at LUK, 30 years this year but will always remember Laycoks, they were great times.

I used to work at Laycocks between 76 and 80. Worked in the typing pool as an office junior, but one of my jobs was to hand out the wages on a weekly basis to the factory workers both at Archer Road and at Little London Road. Can still remember all the wolf wistling as I had to walk across the shop floor (I was only 16/17 years old at the time).

Remember the 2nd Christmas I was there, the MD sent a note around the offices saying that everyone had to be back at work by 2.00pm. Our typing supervisor (we called the Dragon) told us if we were not back by 2.00pm we could get sacked. A work colleague and I (both 17 at the time) went to the Sheaf Pub and at 2.30pm decided we would stay out all afternoon, as Laycocks could not sack us, we were so indispensable!!! (Jobs were plentiful at that time)

We never got sacked!!!

For anyone interested, I've got a lot of photographs, scanned into *.JPEG graphic files taken from laycock Engineering Ltd.

I found a Photo Album some years ago that had been thrown by someone onto a scrap skip. These photographs were inside it.

Anyone interested in having a copy just P.M. me.

I also worked at Laycocks in theTool & cutter grinders.My name is Keith Webster,I worked with a lot of the names on here.On our section were John bunting,Dennis Cox,Iworked there before & after call up to forces.Do you remember Doreen in the stores with Roy Green.There was also Cyril (forget his second name ) who worked on the section (think it was centreless grinding) just outside the Stores window,also Johnny Webb ex navy man.
Do any of you remember Tom Blackwell falling asleep in the toilets on nights & waking up about 9.30 the next morning & him building his own house on frecheville.I remember Dennis Lilley also & Harry Wragg, Brian in the Fitters ,I once played a trick on Brian & when I got to work the next day,my mug was welded to the top of my locker.
Oh happy days.
Keith.

My apologies,it was Maureen inthe stores not Doreen,also just remembred another name from Cutter Grinders,Derek Shaw.
Keith.

I have been reading this with great interest,I was an Apprentice from 76 - 79 and worked with Mick Chapman who was my Chargehand at Archer road,I then used to work with Ray (Hill?) down at Little London who was a brill bloke.Some of the apprentice`s I started with were:- Keith Bradley,who ended up working over at camping lane in the Electronics Workshop,Paul Webster (Who was half Canadian (Cannad)) Romeo De Paulo who was Half Italian(I Think),Geoff Lindley who sadly died,And Dave Pass and a few others who`s name elude me.We where taught by Roy Shearman who went to work at LUK at Wales when Laycocks shut.Myself Keith and Paul all left to join Post office telephones in 79 -80.

When I first started with Laycocks I worked in the cutter grinders at archer road works with Maurice,do you remember Harold Broadhurst,walked with two sticks,I think it was about 1958.I then moved down to Little London Road,the Chargehand on the Cutter Grinders was Malcolm,he had a Bond 3 wheeler car,then I think Bert Warner took over from him.Another one I think I remember aws Doug Haigh ? he died of a heart attack one night must have been around 1959/60,then there was Ron Carter.There was also another Chap named Derek or Dennis who was a Setter who emigrated to Australia.

When I first started with Laycocks I worked in the cutter grinders at archer road works with Maurice,do you remember Harold Broadhurst,walked with two sticks,I think it was about 1958.I then moved down to Little London Road,the Chargehand on the Cutter Grinders was Malcolm,he had a Bond 3 wheeler car,then I think Bert Warner took over from him.Another one I think I remember aws Doug Haigh ? he died of a heart attack one night must have been around 1959/60,then there was Ron Carter.There was also another Chap named Derek or Dennis who was a Setter who emigrated to Australia.

That Chap named Derek or Dennis was probably the one who went to Canada.
' Cynthia on the forum knows him better than most of us.
Unless you are refering to another Derek or Dennis who left the Dana Clutch to go to Perth, Austrilia.

Do you remember ' Mabel '.?

Does anyone rememcer the union people at Laycocks? During the time that I was there 1969-79 the works convenors were Ted Simmonds (bloody useless), Denis Piper (raving communist), Colin Taylor (also a communist,but seemed to be sensible nonetheless, especially for a bloke in his mid 20s'), he was a VERY big feller and was affectionately known as the Red Barrel (after the Watneys beer of the same name that was popular at the time) and Ian Thackeray, who had been Red Barrels right hand man and sidekick but was just a poor mans imitation.

That Chap named Derek or Dennis was probably the one who went to Canada.
' Cynthia on the forum knows him better than most of us.
Unless you are refering to another Derek or Dennis who left the Dana Clutch to go to Perth, Austrilia.

Do you remember ' Mabel '.?

Dennis remembers that a Derek did leave Laycock's to go to Australia, he worked the opposite shift to Dennis on the overdrive. Unfortunately he cannot remember Derek's last name.
Regarding Jeff Lindley who died, he was an apprentice on the overdrive when we came to Canada, Dennis gave him a lot of his tools. We heard of his death from my brother, Dennis was quite upset as he said that he was a 'good lad'.

Cynthia.

Dennis remembers that a Derek did leave Laycock's to go to Australia, he worked the opposite shift to Dennis on the overdrive. Unfortunately he cannot remember Derek's last name.
Regarding Jeff Lindley who died, he was an apprentice on the overdrive when we came to Canada, Dennis gave him a lot of his tools. We heard of his death from my brother, Dennis was quite upset as he said that he was a 'good lad'.

Cynthia.

Please ask Denis, If the Derek who went to Australia was the one who was really interested in Motor Rallies? I believe he lived at the time in Dronfield.

Does anyone rememcer the union people at Laycocks? During the time that I was there 1969-79 the works convenors were Ted Simmonds (bloody useless), Denis Piper (raving communist), Colin Taylor (also a communist,but seemed to be sensible nonetheless, especially for a bloke in his mid 20s'), he was a VERY big feller and was affectionately known as the Red Barrel (after the Watneys beer of the same name that was popular at the time) and Ian Thackeray, who had been Red Barrels right hand man and sidekick but was just a poor mans imitation.

Regarding the above,' A great deal of water as now gone under the bridge '.

So it would be nice to have a Union view and Management opinion on matters!

After all the union was mainly responsible for ensuring that the workers at Laycocks were some of the highest paid workers in the engineering sector in Sheffield.

My mother worked there in the 60's the kids christmas parties were great there were two presents I got that I still have: a bag a tell board which was really well made and a childrens tool kit, the saws I still use today indeed my elder brother nicked one of them because it was (Still is ) so use full.

My mother as just been reminded by my Mother that one year I got a electric car which when it hit something changed directed this was very modern high tech when I got it

My mother worked there in the 60's the kids christmas parties were great there were two presents I got that I still have: a bag a tell board which was really well made and a childrens tool kit, the saws I still use today indeed my elder brother nicked one of them because it was (Still is ) so use full.

My mother as just been reminded by my Mother that one year I got a electric car which when it hit something changed directed this was very modern high tech when I got it

If your mother would like to look at some old photographs which I've scanned of Laycocks prior to 1960. I will e-mail them to you as attachments if you P.M. me your E.Mail address.

If she can put names to anyone on the photographs I would be most pleased.

My Grandad used to work at Laycocks some years ago now (he is 74/75 now)

His name is Peter Chambers, and originally from Shropshire.

Will get the exact years he worked there when I can!

Please ask Denis, If the Derek who went to Australia was the one who was really interested in Motor Rallies? I believe he lived at the time in Dronfield.

Dennis say's that he knew nothing of Derek's social life but he now thinks that his last name was Graham.

Dennis say's that he knew nothing of Derek's social life but he now thinks that his last name was Graham.

So that is one out of my mind. I may think of someone else.
The years are taking their toll on my memory!!
But having said that and been called ' All the names under the sun ', they are very happy one's.

My dad,Bill Hobson, was a draughtsman there in the 50's/early 60's.He was a member of the Rifle Club and also played cricket in the team (I think). I have a photo of me being given a gift at one of the Christmas parties in the 60's ( it was a Triang milk truck,complete with churns). Dad also worked at Jacobs before he died in 1964 (aged 39, heart attack) but I'm not sure if he was at laycock's before Jacobs or after.

I've have scanned into *.JPEG files a number of photographs taken at Laycocks. If anyone would like a copy then P.M. me.

My father worked at Laycocks in the mid 70's I remember we went to the christmas party in the canteen, had to go up to santa and got a jigsaw as a present two years on the trot

My father worked at Laycocks in the mid 70's I remember we went to the christmas party in the canteen, had to go up to santa and got a jigsaw as a present two years on the trot

I think that I knew that ' Santa '.
I met him once or twice and he enjoyed every minute of being Santa.

Kevin63, I think we did our first year training together in the Training Centre 77/78 you should remember me, my user name is a big clue, there was only 6 of us started craft apprenticeships that year. Recognise a lot of names on here now the thread has developed, having worked at Archer Rd and Little London Rd sites in my time at Laycock/LUK - good memories !

My uncle Walter Woods was involved with apprentice training there for many years I believe. He was a real craftsman and could make just about anything in metal or wood.

Is this the same as Laycocks building that is near the station? It shut down in the early 2000's I think and has since ain derelikt. I went inside with one of my mates. The building hs been occupied and very heavily trashed by druggies now (needles everywhere). Quite sad as it looked a great set of buildings in its day.

When we moved into our house the husband of the old couple next door worked at Laycocks way back with the previous owner of our house and another neighbour. Their names were Sid Hibbard, Carl Evans and Reg Pike. Does anyone remember them?

Its a real shame what happened to Laycocks it was a big concern and kept alot of the local community in work. I remember passing the red brick building on my way to Millhouses park as a child.

I Play football for laycocks sports !!!!!

Laycocks reunion, Friday 26th October - Norton Country Club.

My apologies,it was Maureen inthe stores not Doreen,also just remembred another name from Cutter Grinders,Derek Shaw.
Keith.



Hello Kieth, I wonder if you remember my Father , Bert Crookes ., pictured here on the right with one of his workmates I think (I don't know his name ). He worked in the cutter grinders until 1977.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/crookesmoorlad/DadatLaycocks-1.jpg

Apart from Kieth..... does anyone remember Bert Crookes from the cutter grinders department ?
(see above post )

thanks for looking

Apart from Kieth..... does anyone remember Bert Crookes from the cutter grinders department ?
(see above post )

thanks for looking

Deecee, talked to you in the past about working with your dad in cutter grind there.
I can't remember how many people were actually in the department when I worked there (1958 to about 1963-4) but there were 3 crews of 3 men each who worked 2 weeks days and one week afternoons. We had to work nights once every 9 weeks.
The rest worked days unless someone was on vacation or sick etc.
Your dad used to do haircutting on Fridays when we were on afternoons.
I was in your dad's crew along with George Marsh and we got our haircut for free for keeping lookout.
Some of the names I can remember working there are Walt Ferris,Bob Bridges, Irwin Brook(s), Tommy Barnett,Jack Marsden, Harold Broadhurst ( he needed canes to walk), Jack Wilkinson (think that's the guy in photo with your dad)and of course the boss, Maurice Rodgers (a real gentleman).
Wish I could remember more.
A sad note is that one of the older guys was called Harry Fields who retired whilst I was there. Unfortunately he retired on the Friday and died on the Sunday whilst working in his allotment.
Maurice had to break the news to us Monday morning, that was a downer I can tell you.
Good department to work and I only left to get more money and steady days.
Take care. :thumbsup:

When I first arrived in Sheffield I was turned down for a job by Laycocks so I find it hard to pass its site without a certain amount of schadenfreude.

Hello Kieth, I wonder if you remember my Father , Bert Crookes ., pictured here on the right with one of his workmates I think (I don't know his name ). He worked in the cutter grinders until 1977.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/crookesmoorlad/DadatLaycocks-1.jpg

Yes,i do remember your father.He was my Mentor when i first went into the cutter grinders at the tender age of 17.I remember well,the queue up the ramp to the raiway sidings,waiting for him to cut their hair.He was a very tollerant man,if i did anything wrong,whilst he was teaching me,no shouting or swearing,just a sad shake of his head & lets do it right this time shall we.

Yes,i do remember your father.He was my Mentor when i first went into the cutter grinders at the tender age of 17.I remember well,the queue up the ramp to the raiway sidings,waiting for him to cut their hair.He was a very tollerant man,if i did anything wrong,whilst he was teaching me,no shouting or swearing,just a sad shake of his head & lets do it right this time shall we.
I remember that he absolutely hated it when the operator or setter was looking over his shoulder when he was working on one of their cutting tools.
He would step back and say "Do you realize that I could be severely burned on the back of my neck from your hot breath ?"
Usually did the trick for Bert. :hihi:

Yes,i do remember your father.He was my Mentor when i first went into the cutter grinders at the tender age of 17.I remember well,the queue up the ramp to the raiway sidings,waiting for him to cut their hair.He was a very tollerant man,if i did anything wrong,whilst he was teaching me,no shouting or swearing,just a sad shake of his head & lets do it right this time shall we.

Thanks for that Kieth , that does sound about right and I can still remember the shake of the head only too well :)

David

I remember that he absolutely hated it when the operator or setter was looking over his shoulder when he was working on one of their cutting tools.
He would step back and say "Do you realize that I could be severely burned on the back of my neck from your hot breath ?"
Usually did the trick for Bert. :hihi:

I can just imagine him doing that as well and adding the obligitory tut tut :hihi:
I remember Harold with the sticks , and Sam Marsden , he was a very good friend to my dad in the Fellowship of ex servicemen . Thanks for your memories :thumbsup:
David

When we moved into our house the husband of the old couple next door worked at Laycocks way back with the previous owner of our house and another neighbour. Their names were Sid Hibbard, Carl Evans and Reg Pike. Does anyone remember them?

Its a real shame what happened to Laycocks it was a big concern and kept alot of the local community in work. I remember passing the red brick building on my way to Millhouses park as a child.

I'm almost certain that Reg Pike was the Secretary of the Sports Club that is or was on Archer Road. I once won the £100.00 lottery and Reg Pike did the presentation. £100.00 was worth a lot then.
( I don't remember what my wife spent it on !!)

Whilst on the subject can Anyone recall if the lock-up Sweet Shop which existed before the Frazier Road Estate was built and was next to the Sports Club, was in fact part of the Sports Club?

I think the lock up sweet shop on Fraser Road survived the fraser estate been built i can remember it on the right oposite the sports club at the bottom just past where the car showroom is now it was where the new houses are now

I think the lock up sweet shop on Fraser Road survived the fraser estate been built i can remember it on the right oposite the sports club at the bottom just past where the car showroom is now it was where the new houses are now

During the time I first worked at Laycocks when the DANA Clutch and Hausserman(?) Clutch were being developed, (A shifts Production then was : 16 DANA.(Tractor) and 12 Hausserman(?)(Car & Van) Clutches then, if we were lucky). Every Diaphapm Spring was tested, inspected and recorded and my Stamp (L5) went on everyone.
That made sure that if they came back, I joined them in the scrap!!.

I did know that the lock up sweet shop was open when the Fraser Estate was started and a lane also ran to some Allotments which eventually Laycock Engineering built on for their Garage Equipment site. (Camping Lane?).

If the Shop was owned by, was part of the Laycock Sports Club or what happened to it I've often pondered.

I left 120 Archer Road to live at Beauchief in 1965 when Ken Morgan, Financial Correspondent, Sheffield Morning Telegraph stood for Beauchief Ward as the Candidate for the Labour Party.

I joined Laycock as an "Apprentice" in 1964 and met a band of miscreants and vagabonds who eventually welded into a skilled finely honed team of engineers, spending months at work and college.

In the training school was Larry Lambert, ? Woods, Jack Skelcy, Ted Hall, a great bunch of guys.

Unfortunately I cannot recall the names of my fellow apprentices who suffered the casting shop and clutch department.

Does anybody else recall this time. ????

Duffems.

I joined Laycock as an "Apprentice" in 1964 and met a band of miscreants and vagabonds who eventually welded into a skilled finely honed team of engineers, spending months at work and college.

In the training school was Larry Lambert, ? Woods, Jack Skelcy, Ted Hall, a great bunch of guys.

Unfortunately I cannot recall the names of my fellow apprentices who suffered the casting shop and clutch department.

Does anybody else recall this time. ????

Duffems.

Larry Lambert was the Personnel Officer when I worked there in the early to mid 1970s. He was a true 'company man', very anti-union, and best described as a complete a******e, just like the (most of) rest of the management. Jack Skelcey was, at that time, in charge of the apprentice training scheme and he was alright.

Anyone remember Jack Forshaw (Chief Safety Officer), Joe Fletcher (Plant Engineer), Stan Skermer (Head of Security), Brian Pearson (Senior Personnel Manager), Walt Elliott (Works Director), George Preskey (Production Director), Trevor Smedley (Works Manager, Archer Rd. Works), George Goode (Manager, Clutch Machine Shop), Stanley Armstrong (Managing Director), all from the abovementioned period.

I joined Laycock as an "Apprentice" in 1964 and met a band of miscreants and vagabonds who eventually welded into a skilled finely honed team of engineers, spending months at work and college.

In the training school was Larry Lambert, ? Woods, Jack Skelcy, Ted Hall, a great bunch of guys.

Unfortunately I cannot recall the names of my fellow apprentices who suffered the casting shop and clutch department.

Does anybody else recall this time. ????

Duffems.

I think that would be Walter Woods. He was my uncle - see my earlier post in this thread.

Any one remember George Thompson ? His wife Millie also worked at Laycocks in the View Room. George is 90 and living in the nursing home on Woodseats. Dale view on The Dale.

Albert T Smith. Could you send me the old photos that you mentioned please? Are you the same Albert that organised the muscular dystrophy events? I ran to London on one and did the canal races, what a laugh they were. Say a big hello to Pete and Mabel from Simon.

??????????

My husband knew Joe Winter & his mate Roy Green ( Tool room). apparently they used to go round the clubs singing. He knows most of the other names posted plus loads more, what you would expect after 31 years.
My husband is Dennis Travis as mad a Sheffield United fan as I am.

Cynthia, Ontario, Canada.

Surely this can't be the same Dennis Travis who was a Setter on the Capstan Section! The number of sherrockings (just being polite) he gave me for breaking one of the tools whilst machining - you would have thought he bought the bloody tools out of his own pocket! If I recall the foreman at the time was a guy by the name of Wainwright who had a face like a bloodhound - and that was when he was happy!

Surely this can't be the same Dennis Travis who was a Setter on the Capstan Section! The number of sherrockings (just being polite) he gave me for breaking one of the tools whilst machining - you would have thought he bought the bloody tools out of his own pocket! If I recall the foreman at the time was a guy by the name of Wainwright who had a face like a bloodhound - and that was when he was happy!

It certainly is !!!. I have just read your email to him and he asked me who you are ???. He also said, the foreman was Reg Warrington
is he the one that you are thinking of ?.
Dennis is still going strong, he has just had his check up after a triple bi-pass two years ago and he passed all the tests with flying colours.

Reg b****y Warrington how could I forget that name or the person for that matter. Dennis won't remember me by name although it's Harry actually but he spent so much time cussing me that my proper name never entered his head! He may remember me as the guy who was always looking for a Pass Out on Friday afternoons as I was courting a girl from Coventry at the time (and later married) and that's the reason that Reg Warrington was so important to me! Incidentally it became custom and practice on my gaining a Pass Out for everyone to start hammering on lockers and tool boxes and creating the kind of noise that was intended to draw attention to me - so tell Dennis that it worked and also remind him that he was just as guilty as the rest! Would you be kind enough to offer him my best wishes for his good health and tell him that he's part of some very happy memories from that time and he must have meant something as he's still part of a memory that's over fifty years old now! I'll raise a glass to him tonight.

After finishing my national service I got a job at Laycocks in the sheet metal dept. While we were inolved with production projects, most of them to do with the auto industry we also did maintenance work around the factory. I remember one forman's first name of Cyril Cussack?? Managers name Kitcheman who I believe eventually moved to the States. I remember the main company car was a big chrysler imperial. The overdrive product that they were involved with I think they called it the 'laycock de normanville overdrive' They also manufactured railway components and one of those was the railway car connecting apparatus, which I believe was exported to the north american market. Does anybody remember Ken Randal, Ted Hall (I believe he has already been mentioned), Mick Patterson (he was a jazz pianist), and I know has since passed away), Keith??, Les Whitehead.

Hello Kieth, I wonder if you remember my Father , Bert Crookes ., pictured here on the right with one of his workmates I think (I don't know his name ). He worked in the cutter grinders until 1977.


The name of the other guy in the photo (on the left) is Jack Simpson, and at the time I worked at Laycocks there was Jack Simpson, George, Stan Elis, Charlie Brookfield and Harrold, I always will remember them all, but it is Stan that I will remember most, as he died 3 days after retirement, they all worked in the cutter grinders around late 70s early 80s

I have lots of photographs of Laycocks and some old Laycocks magazine's on a disc somewhere, if anyone wants me to email them on, then please contact me, and when I get time I will pass them on, there may have to be a few emails though.

The name of the other guy in the photo (on the left) is Jack Simpson, and at the time I worked at Laycocks there was Jack Simpson, George, Stan Elis, Charlie Brookfield and Harrold, I always will remember them all, but it is Stan that I will remember most, as he died 3 days after retirement, they all worked in the cutter grinders around late 70s early 80s

I have lots of photographs of Laycocks and some old Laycocks magazine's on a disc somewhere, if anyone wants me to email them on, then please contact me, and when I get time I will pass them on, there may have to be a few emails though.


Thanks for your reply kevin63 , I was beginning to think there wouldn't be any clues about the other guy in the photo with my Dad . Now I can put a name on the photo album ,

kind regards
David

Albert T Smith, I have sent you a P.M

Did your Father move on to work at Tempered Spring Co?

no my dad died at work at guylees in 1962 after a opperation 1st day back at.

I worked at Laycocks in the Purchasing Department from 1974-1977. And my grandad Leslie Dean and my uncle Terry Dean both worked at Laycocks in the late 1960s and early 1970s. GKN had a society for retired employee and every year they received a food parcel at Christmas, and a volunteer would call approx twice a year to see if everything was Ok. Even when my Gran moved to London in 1999 to live with us, they still came to see if she needed anything.

Does anyone remember my mum, Edna Towers worked as a cleaner in the early 70's, at 'Laycocks Engineering', Archer Road. There were six other cleaners who worked with her at Laycocks. She used to live on Fraser crescent. She has recently passed away, but i would love to contact any of her friends or families who would have worked with her at the time. please contact us with any information you have. thanks Nickjones2406@yahoo.co.uk

Dear all

I am trying to trace the company Laycock Engineering Company Limited of Archer Road in Sheffield on behalf of somebody who has fallen ill through asbestos exposure.

Does anybody know what the company is now called/what its last known name was? I don't believe it is/was still called Laycock Engineering Company Limited.

Also does anybody know where asbestos may have been located there?

Hi darren, my mother died from asbestos exposure and she worked from 1969 > 1981 in the clutch department or 'the drawing room'. she worked as a cleaner and swept the asbestos dust into bins. if you would like more info please email nickjones2406@yahoo.co.uk

Hi Darren, Laycocks was/is part of the GKN Group (Guest,Keen & Nettlefold). A Google for GKN should reveal details, be warned- they are a very large multi-national!

Kevin63 i have sent you a pm

[QUOTE=Michael_W;866001]Joe Winter worked at the overdrive factory on Little London Road and started the Overdrive repair business.

And my father Ernie Garbutt worked in the overdrive department and started the Overdrive Spares business based in Rugby - odspares.com. Sadly, he passed away last year, but I would love to hear from anyone who remembers him.

Quick note on the Laycock family in the General Cemetery.

There are three burials, and yes it is the engineering family. We have just had someone in who lives in their old house up Stumperlowe, and came in to see the memorials.

Over the years the volunteers have built up quite an archive of material on many of the burials in the cemetery. We've got photographs of Laycock family members and of the house, and obituaries from the Telegraph.

Call the Gatehouse office weekdays on 268 3486 if you want to see them.

I worked at Laycocks from 1977 until really the present day, but under a different company name.
I have many memorys of Laycocks and the people who worked there and there are too many to mention as when i came out of my apprenticeship i worked in the Method Engineers (Super Setters) and worked at all 3 factories.
I also have many memories of the Laycocks fishing club, i started to go on the trips in1978 when 2 coaches used to go, it was organized by Joe Winter and Tommy Blackwell and Charlie Midson used to help out.
I still work with quite a few of the old Laycocks workers but will not say who they are as i respect there privacy.
I also have quite a few of the old Laycocks magazines of which most were from before my time.
We still have chats about the old Laycocks days and they will always be with me.
My uncle used to be a member of the fishing club, his name was Jud Whitead

To PEDRO1, I knew a bloke who worked at Laycock's in the 50's who's last name was 'Whitehead', he was also nicknamed 'Pedro'. Might you be the same person? It would be great to hear from you.

Hi Pedro1, I somehow don't think you are the 'Pedro' I was refering too, it does seem like a coincidence though, are or were you related to Les Whitehead of Gleadless.

I worked at Laycock's in the Cutter Grind Department from 1959 until about 1965. The boss was a guy named Maurice Rogers. He didn't smoke.drink or swear but never tried to impose his beliefs on anyone else. He was a pefect gentleman and an all round nice guy. Don't know whether he's still around or not.
There used to be two guys who worked in the stores, Lou and Ron. who both had one arm missing. They used to delight in getting us younger persons trapped between their stumps. You couldn't move too far when they did that. All in good fun then but would probably be frowned upon nowadays.

Maurice Rogers was my great uncle. I too remember him as being a real gentleman. His passionate hobby was photography and we have loads of family photos taken by him, including my wedding photos which he did as a wedding present. He passed away in 1982.

Maurice Rogers was my great uncle. I too remember him as being a real gentleman. His passionate hobby was photography and we have loads of family photos taken by him, including my wedding photos which he did as a wedding present. He passed away in 1982.

Sorry to hear about his passing but I should have realized,I guess.
How old was he when he died ?
Think he used to live in the Woodseats area and walked to work.
We used to maintain that having him for a boss was like having extra money in the pay envelope.
Don't know a single soul who had a bad word about him.
May he rest in peace and thank you for the post.
P.S. welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear about his passing but I should have realized,I guess.
How old was he when he died ?
Think he used to live in the Woodseats area and walked to work.
We used to maintain that having him for a boss was like having extra money in the pay envelope.
Don't know a single soul who had a bad word about him.
May he rest in peace and thank you for the post.
P.S. welcome to the forum.

Yes, he did live in Woodseats. Nice to hear such good things about him. He was 75 when he died.

My first "brush" with Laycocks was about 1959,when playing with a group(Ricki and the Rebels) played in the sports club at one of their saturday night gigs,little realising that Laycocks would play a major part in my life later.
I started to work at Laycocks in ealy1966 in the foundry waiting for the new foundry on Little London Rd. to open, when I was to be employed in the laboratory.
Ted Godber was the divisional manager,when George Preskey was made up to director status.
Dr.Brian Sheehy was made company metallurgist and thought he was bigger than the job.
During my employment I became a member of the sports club committee along with the then secreatary Don Patterson and other members included Bill Turney,George Goode,Colin Wragg,Harold Bidwell,Joe Fletcher,Malcolm Harper,Walt Elliott and Ray Gillott.Apologies to anyone forgotten.
I played piano in a trio on saturday nights,and solo on sundays.
On one of these saturday nights,Sally Tomlinson....the lady with the overalls,put in an appearance with her husband and daughter.
I finished up marrying her daughter,and leaving Laycocks to go to Shardlows in 1975.

my dad worked there streight from school is name is david pitts,he worked in the foundry till he retired.

Does anyone remember Ken Sharp, he worked at Laycocks in the fifties?

Hi GERRY- was Ken Sharp an inspector of sorts (checked manufactured pieces for accuracy)? I remember Ted Hall, Ron Bestall, Ken Randle, Albert(?) Pashley, Cyril Cussack(?) Foreman, Les Whitehead, Herbert Kitcheman Manager, Mick Patterson, Dennis Cook.

I'm not sure Fleetwood, I think Ken worked on overdrives.

Hi Mobile,
Know your father very well.Worked there at the same time I'm sure he'll remember Geoff Bolton,Graham Wharton,Earnest Townsend,Billy Rotherham who I'm sorry to say passed away lasy year.
Tell him Stan wishes to be remembered to him.

yes my dad went to c billy before he died,he left my dad all his camera equipment,he was very upset.whats your surname,

does anyone remember Barry Newsem , they lived on Sharpe Ave at greenhill he had a wife called Judy ? daughter called sarah and son Philip?

Hi Mobile,
My name is Stan Poole

my name is grace and I am the grand-daughter of TED HALL

just to tell you it is TED's 90th (yes 90th) birthday on monday 19th january 2009

if anyone wishes to get in contact with him (he lives in scunthorpe now to be near us) contact me through this site and I'll print off your good wishes (or at least show him)

my grandad still drives + plays golf

oops just realised you can send me a PM and I'll print them off for him

Hi graceyb - If it's the Ted Hall I am thinking of, he used to be on the Clubs as a Comedian/Singer he had a very good mate at the time that also worked at Laycock's called Les Whitehead. As I recall Ted might have been married twice. If this is all correct your Mom is one of these ladies.

Hi gracyb - It's me again, I'm embarrassed, I meant to say one of these ladies would obviously be your Grandma, that is if we are talking about the same person.

I'm thinking of writing a history of Laycocks for our Sports club newsletter.
We are still a thriving Sports Club on Archer Rd, Sheffield, but the firm is long since gone.
Are threre any memories you would like to share with me.
Who started the firm?
When did it start?
What did they first make?
What did they make during ww2?
The list is endless.

Get your thinking caps on!

Roger@laycocks-sport

::confused:


http://genforum.genealogy.com/laycock/

did the guy called keith have ginger hair? iremember these names
john north was working at jacobs in 2000.my foreman micklewaithe .pat the storeman took over from two stumps. also a guy called ernest grayson top man..

Hi

I know this post was a few years ago but my Dad is John North, he doesn't go on the internet very much but if you want me to pass on any messages i would be happy to do so.

does anyone know the late Sid and June Merril?

My apologies,it was Maureen inthe stores not Doreen,also just remembred another name from Cutter Grinders,Derek Shaw.
Keith.

Maureen is my mum. She was known as Maureen Wragg then. She worked at Laycocks until approximately 1960. She later returned to work in the canteen at Little London. She was known as Maureen Barker then. My dad Terry Barker also used to work in the Hardy Pick. They would love to hear from anyone who can remember them.

I have been reading with great interest about Laycocks and Jacobs as my dad worked at both these places. Sadly, he went to work on 3rd December 1984 and died of a massive heart attack, he never even had time to take his coat off. It was a massive shock for all who loved him. His name is Tom Collins(pops) and I would like to know if anyone out there remembers him.
Thanks

tell mr north to put his micrometers away and stop rushing around the factory at a fast pace. ask him if he remembers mr grayson from the other insp dept as i worked with him. also i worked at jacobs after that. did john have black hair if i remember.

Long Shot! - Does anyone remember women Inspectors being brought
during the War. Checking parts for Spitfires.

Hi

I know this post was a few years ago but my Dad is John North, he doesn't go on the internet very much but if you want me to pass on any messages i would be happy to do so.

Louise, I remember John North from working at both Laycock and Jacobs, he will probably rememember me, without giving my full name away on the forum my user name is a massive clue and I worked in the toolroom at both companies. Give him my regards and Up the Owls :thumbsup:

michael w do you remember twiggy who was chargehand and nigel with the beard.

I know Keith Hilton. I am his partner of 8 years and we live in Cumbria. Send me a message and I will pass it on. I'm sure he will look forward to it.

michael w do you remember twiggy who was chargehand and nigel with the beard.

burger, I do indeed remember Twiggy (RIP) and Nigel with or without his beard :thumbsup:
Oh and give my regards to Keith, Juliecumbria, I know him from my time at Jacobs.

Can any of you remember Keith Hilton or John (polly) Styring who worked in the clutch assembly as tool setters? ;)

I am Keith Hilton and worked at Laycocks Archer road site from 1966, when I served my apprenticeship, until 1977. I then went to work at Gordon Tools on Rockingham street until it closed in 1980. From there I returned to Archer Road to work at Jacobs until it closed in 2002.

I now live and work in the Lake District.

I return to Sheffield every 4 weeks to visit relatives and play golf for the Ross & Catherall golf society.

I have very fond memories of Laycocks and the people who worked there

I worked at Guylees in the early seventies, but was made redundant after just a year or so. I didn't know at the time but they did me a big favour as I went on to a much better job where I stayed for 23 years.
Is Guylees still there? If I remember right the entrance was down a slope off Abbeydale Rd. Is that right?
I have a photo of several of the office girls sat on the wall during the lunch break ( all mini skirts and long legs swinging!)

I worked at Guylees in the early seventies, but was made redundant after just a year or so. I didn't know at the time but they did me a big favour as I went on to a much better job where I stayed for 23 years.
Is Guylees still there? If I remember right the entrance was down a slope off Abbeydale Rd. Is that right?
I have a photo of several of the office girls sat on the wall during the lunch break ( all mini skirts and long legs swinging!)

Guylees, or Jacobs Manufacturing as it was called in more recent times was/is at the bottom of Troutbeck Road (the slope off Abbeydale Rd) near the big Tesco, Minimo. The remains of the factory are still there, derelict and 'graffitied', as depicted in some photos I found on Flickr or a similar site. If I find the link I will post it :thumbsup:

Michael W thanks for that. I would be very interested to see any photos.

Thanks for your reply kevin63 , I was beginning to think there wouldn't be any clues about the other guy in the photo with my Dad . Now I can put a name on the photo album ,

kind regards
David
Deecee.
I'm the guy in the photo with your dad, spot on Kevin.
Maurice Rodgers took several photos that day and I also have the one you have..
Those Potos bring back a lot of good memories of some realy good work mates..
Joined laycocks Archer road oct 7 1957, Made redundent Little London rd oct 8 1992

\anybody remember Dick Sargeant?
He was a work colleague after he left Laycocks

I remember being told that during world war two they made the heavy metal supports that kept the bombs apart in side the planes..
A visitor asked one of the machinists what they were for, on being told he asked why they needed so many.
He was told that when the bombs were dropped the supports fell away with them, "isn't that dangerous" he asked

Deecee.
I'm the guy in the photo with your dad, spot on Kevin.
Maurice Rodgers took several photos that day and I also have the one you have..
Those Potos bring back a lot of good memories of some realy good work mates..
Joined laycocks Archer road oct 7 1957, Made redundent Little London rd oct 8 1992

You may remember me,my name is Keith Webster,i worked in the Tool & Cutter grinders at Archer RD for a while,Do you remember Harold Broadhurst & Bert of course.I was transferred down to Little London Road,went on National Service,then returned to Little London Road.The Guys i worked with there were John Bunting,Dennis Cox & Ron (ithink his Surname was Haslam).Roy Green was the Storeman down there at that time.

Deecee.
I'm the guy in the photo with your dad, spot on Kevin.
Maurice Rodgers took several photos that day and I also have the one you have..
Those Potos bring back a lot of good memories of some realy good work mates..
Joined laycocks Archer road oct 7 1957, Made redundent Little London rd oct 8 1992

Thanks for replying Jack, and welcome to the forum !
I still look at the photo quite often , and I can understand your memories of the good work mates, I know my Dad enjoyed his time at Laycocks . Maurice was a nice bloke and a good pal to my Dad.
thanks again
regards
David
:thumbsup:

Hi Keith..
Your Name rings a bell but can't put a face to it yet,
We must have been ships that passed in the night, When I started at Archer road I was on the C4 Reg Warrington was foreman the setters while I was on there where Dennis Smith, Joe Wild, Alan Keyworth, Eric Chapple the ones I can remember off the top of my head...
Tommy Barnett got me into the C/G in 64 the squad then were Bert, Harold, George Marsh. Edwin, Stan, Arthur, George Millner . Tom went into the tool room

deecee.
No problem,
Would like to know, how did you get that photo on here ?...

Hello grinder, you have to download your photo's to photobucket and just copy the url and paste it into your message on the forum , you can open an account free here : www.photobucket.com and just follow their instructions .
looking forward to seeing some photo's of your time at Laycocks !!! :thumbsup:
deecee

Hi Keith..
Your Name rings a bell but can't put a face to it yet,
We must have been ships that passed in the night, When I started at Archer road I was on the C4 Reg Warrington was foreman the setters while I was on there where Dennis Smith, Joe Wild, Alan Keyworth, Eric Chapple the ones I can remember off the top of my head...
Tommy Barnett got me into the C/G in 64 the squad then were Bert, Harold, George Marsh. Edwin, Stan, Arthur, George Millner . Tom went into the tool room

Hey grinder, what about me ?
Name is Alan and I was on the same crew as Bert and George Marsh.
I left to work at Harry Milnes Ltd on Handsworh Road about the time that you came into the grinding room.
I remember you though.
P.S. If you do remember me please don't post my last name on the open forum, I'll pm you when you have enough posts. Thanks

Chuffinel.
Pretty certain I do, Looking forward to it......

Hi everyone
I worked at Laycocks from late 60's to about 1972.
I worked in the large office at the bottom of the drive and through despatch.
John ?? was in charge and someone called Robin???
Bill Fairbrither was in there and a lovely man called Ted. There were lots more but cannot remember their names.
We did all the paper-work that went in the stillages with the clutches.
I loved it at Laycock's. Lovely happy days.
I was also one of the g0-go dancers at the Sports club on a Thursday night with my friend Anna. Her Dad, Walter Allsop, worked on inspection.
Later on I worked in the office that was facing the bottom of the drive with Barbara Fish and Sue ???.
I remember that everyone knew each other and the Sports Club was fantastic.
I remember George Goode had an office on the shop floor near to wher you got hot water for tea.He was a lovely man.
There was a girl called Jennifer Hutchinson, her Dad worked in export. We went on Day release together, she was a real laugh and we had lots of happy times together.
I later married Chris Pennington who was a charge-hand. All our friends worked there, Geoff Dungworth, Ian Barrow.
Would love to hear from any-one who remembers these lovely times.

Hi Keith..
Your Name rings a bell but can't put a face to it yet,
We must have been ships that passed in the night, When I started at Archer road I was on the C4 Reg Warrington was foreman the setters while I was on there where Dennis Smith, Joe Wild, Alan Keyworth, Eric Chapple the ones I can remember off the top of my head...
Tommy Barnett got me into the C/G in 64 the squad then were Bert, Harold, George Marsh. Edwin, Stan, Arthur, George Millner . Tom went into the tool room

I worked with Tommy Barnett, while I was in the toolroom 1983-88, just heard that Alec Dewhurst recently passed away if anybody remembers him.

Hello , my Father worked as a manager/supervisor I think, at Laycock Engineering in the 60`s, his name was Henry Styring and we lived at Coal Aston at the time .

i started work at laycocks in june 1964 just before 3 shifts ended i started in the clutch m/s on archer rd.i have read the letters for a few weeks but ive only just joined the sh/forum.i remember a lot of the names mentioned and a lot more, here goes, eric holland, jim minnard, taffy jones fred brookes,dennis oldham,ken beck,george toothill., all were setters in m/s foremen were ,les hayles, jack hewitt. manager was arthur slynn i remember maurice starbuck benny abbott.
m/s operators were vin grist, tony constantine(spiritualist medium) joe elliot
ken berridge, tommy padley bob bales pat coyne jan tereschak(the yorkshire pole),bill liversedge
we had some characters over the years remember alan wright the paper man. there was a bloke started at quarter to nine on nights no one saw him until two oclock the following morning and then it was benny abbott who fond him fast asleep on a toilet, he said he hadn't worked on nights before and was too tired,another used to wash his clothes in the sinks and dry them over the water boiler,another worked for three days on nights not one of the staff had any record of him down to start until he said this is guylees isn't it. he had started at the wrong firm.

Blimey willybite, you've menioned some names there, was this when the Clutch dept was across the yard or had they moved into the machine shop by then...
Looking back I see a lot of faces who's names escape me or I can only remember their first names, you've put a name to and brought back a lot of faces there.....
Cheers

willybite here
hi grinder some more names from the old clutch m/s bottom of the drive turn left
john styring,jim carlton.chris hutton,ron naylor, edgar wetherington,ivan cooper,derek townsend,ken hewitt,john hunter,ben bennet,horace theaker,fred theaker,les goddard(bream) across yard. there were charlie marsden, (sams brother) bob padley(toms brother) bill perry joe grist (vin's brother) george?? (rocky) in c/ass peter chambers, jud whitehead,jack thompson,brian kelly,jim bryson,harry lincoln,albert needham,don pilkington,bill cook, ron hextall, john wilkes,ken carr,johnnie nell.albert raffo,ray gillot,ted cameron,ernest marsden,alan norris,dennis williams,these last two were setters at the time.

Overload...Knew the Clutch lads better when they moved into the big machine shop setters John Styring, snooker at sports club. Jim, fishing mad. and Fred Theaker. Harry Lincoln knew his son John better..Don Pilkington as Convener, Alan Norris ,Foreman ?
What about Sam Marsden, Charlie Brookfield Tommy Blackwell the guy of whom a manager once said," If we made fishing tackle Tommy would be off in a corner making Overdrives"...
So many names, so many great memories

dee-cee asked about bert crookes well i remember bert very well i once asked him where i could have known him from as i'm good at remembering faces,he told me he cut hair at tom's barbers in charles st i used to have my hair cut there the odd time, idont think it was there,it might have been but i thought it was the st philips rd district any how he said he lived down there when he was a boy he said he went to st stephens or crookesmoor schools as did my dad,i asked bert if he knew him and he said yes dads nickname was "fats" whichhe knew.so i must have remembered him from "tom's".i remember harold broadhurst i have known him from when we were in short trousers early 1940she lived two streets away from where i lived when we were growing up,

Overload...Knew the Clutch lads better when they moved into the big machine shop setters John Styring, snooker at sports club. Jim, fishing mad. and Fred Theaker. Harry Lincoln knew his son John better..Don Pilkington as Convener, Alan Norris ,Foreman ?
What about Sam Marsden, Charlie Brookfield Tommy Blackwell the guy of whom a manager once said," If we made fishing tackle Tommy would be off in a corner making Overdrives"...
So many names, so many great memories

I worked with Tommy on the gear section around 1978/79, when I was an apprentice, what a character he was, but there was a few characters back then, seems more so than workforces of today !

Remember Bert once telling me about being in Norway during the 2nd world war, he said he and two other guys were sent to guard a cross roads with one of those anti tank rifles,
Any way the officer in charge forgot about them and when the next morning he remembered and sent someone to fetch them they thought they were all dead but luckily the Parson saw Bert move, He said he was very lucky that day....

Yes M.W there did seem to be more characters in those days maybe it was the fact they grew up in a different era,and looking back I worked with guys who were in the first world war the 2nd and Korea,Suez and many more places, or was it just the fact we were younger then, I'm not sure....

Oh and how could I forget, National Service !!!....

hi jackie palmer
i remember you and anna,chris,geff,pete clark very well you may remember the nick name but you should deffinetly remember 44 bingham park rd.
for the others using this site i worked at laycocks from sept 1965 to may 1970 starting in the training center and ending up in the die shop on little london rd my foreman and later manager there was george cocker, those were the days
best regards to anybody who remebers me ian barrow

hiya grinder some more names from the clutch in the big shop, remember, mac, fitter,john ?fitter,charlie ness,gordon howarth,arthur murphy.(spied arthur today at crystal peaks,28/4/09) big ron and his brother,in joiners,colin taylor(red barrel)john turner,bob egginton, alf ecklid,john mcandilass(candy),tony palermo,brian reece,stuart hoyland,pete dignam,arthur pryor,steve musto,,pete gregory,chris pennington,geoff dungworth,,bill grace (tool room)phil gray,lew brunt,dennis compton,jim rawlins,dennis brookes,albert nash,(tool room).mick suter,mick spivey, brian carruthers,jimmy dunne,albert gillott (storeman) MICK ATKIN still see him odd times at morrisons.

Hi Willy.
Some good old boys there.
I remember once on nights when Sam Marsden was Foreman, he went down into the Boiler House and found the Boilerman and a new guy fast asleep,
In his own calm and quiet way ;) Sam asked what they thought they were doing " I'm showing him the job" said the Boilerman !!!!
Took Sam quite a while to get over that one ...:hihi:

My Dad worked at Laycocks, I think Archer Rd, I was about 8 or so, so this would have been around 1955 onwards, his name was Henry(Harry) Styring . I remember the parties well , I can recall getting the pressie from Santa, often an annual and the noise !!

My Dad worked at Laycocks, I think Archer Rd, I was about 8 or so, so this would have been around 1955 onwards, his name was Henry(Harry) Styring . I remember the parties well , I can recall getting the pressie from Santa, often an annual and the noise !!

I remember a bloke called John Styring who worked at Laycock while I was there but this was late 70s to late 80s, could they be related ?

Most likely, Dad ( Henry ) died young aged 47 but Mother is still going strong at 90, I`ll ask her !

My Grandad used to work at Laycocks some years ago now (he is 74/75 now)

His name is Peter Chambers, and originally from Shropshire.

Will get the exact years he worked there when I can!


i remember your grandfather very well, he was working at laycock's when i started there on 4 june 1964, he worked on the cover assembly, he worked alongside george (jud) whitehead,on the other shift were jack thompson and brian kelly.i remember he left laycock's sometime in 1973 if you go to one of the earlier letters there are some other names inc your grandfather he may or may not remember me my name is bill white.

hiya i have an old sheffield street directory dated 1895and have been looking at the laycock name namely w,s laycock,i suppose the address below was where the name victoria works on archer rd came from


laycock samuel & sons limited manufacturers of hair-seating & curled hair & dressers of brushmaker's materials, 203 portobello street,owlerton works;& crewkerne, somerset & lavenham,suffolk. london warehouse,62 basinghall street t/n 908
t.a "laycock,sheffield" "laycock,london"

laycock charles a (samuel & sons limited) home woodside 396 fulwood road.
mrs laycock stumperlowe grange
laycock ws (samuel & sons limited):government & railway stores contractor & manufacturer of railway carriage fittings &c. leavygreave road & victoria street works, victoria street. t.a invention, sheffield.; t.n 907; & london; home oakbrook, fulwood road t.n 906

some of the near neighbours on fulwood road and nearby roads at the time were,

woof thomas g (cabinet maker)
marples john (wine and spirit merchant)
colver robert ( steel manufacturer)
bedford william b(file manufacturer)
firth edward (steel manufacturer)
mappin sir frederick j.p
mappin frank j.p
wilson george k (snuff manufacturer)
hadfield robert a (steel manufacturer)
flather wm thos (steel manufacturer)
jonas joseph (steel manufacturer)
kayser charles wm (steel manufacturer)
cole robert thomas (draper)
harrison francis (cutlery manufacturer)..

hiya i remember the name albert smith from when i started at laycocks in 1964 i remember he was an inspector in the foundry. also keith heppenstall convenor around the thirteen week strike time 1973. does anybody remember abdul jabbar he was made redundant and three months later he came to ask for his job back.

The first house my parents got in 1946 was a brand new prefab on the Arbourthorne and we lived there till 1952..
One day talking to John Styring he told me he'd lived in a prefab on the same road when he was a kid, so I asked him what number, we couldn't believe it at first, It was the same one...
Small world in it...

Hello there. My dad, Fred Brookes, worked at Laycocks. I lost him in February after a long battle with Parkinsons Disease. I was googling his name like you do and found this forum. It brought back many happy memories, especially the Christmas parties I used to attend with my menace of a little sister :D
Anyone remember my dad?

can anybody remember tony matthewman, he was at laycocks in 60's-70's?

My Dad also worked for Laycocks and is still a member of the Club, he also still plays bowls for them. His name is Ken Morgan. I was only young when he worked there so it would have been from the 60s and I think he eventually left in the 80s.

hiya mrs kenno
i am so sorry to hear of the passing of your dad i worked with him from 1964 until i had to finish work through ill health in 1988, he was always a very,very,nice work mate. you would never hear a bad word said from him, or to him, there was when at work i never heard him say a wrong word to anyone he was the same thoroughly good bloke you could wish to meet, once again i'm so sorry. bill white.

Was his name Raymond ? I can't remember his surname, but the story rings a bell.

You could tell which night shift you were working because he wore the same T shirt all four nights, right way on Monday, back to front on Tuesday, inside out with the label at the back Wednesday, and inside out with the label at the front on Thursday. :gag:

the only raymond i recall was ray gillott ,he was a bit of a boaster, he once told us in his younger days having been entered for the A.B.A boxing championships fought something like five bouts in two days we all laughed at this statement but the laugh was on us the next night when he brought the proof in in his official record signed after every bout it gave his bouts as won 4 and lost 1 he was ko in 5th bout and could not box for 2 months

Willybite, thank you for taking the time to say those things about my Dad. He suffered greatly and everyone who knew him said he didn't deserve it. I'm glad his suffering is over, but I don't half miss him

Sorry Bill, you gave your name and it would have been more polite to use it x

May dad knows Ray Gillot too

can anybody remember tony matthewman, he was at laycocks in 60's-70's?

Hello, is my message invisible, can anyone remember tony matthewman at laycocks in 60's-70's please.

Hello, is my message invisible, can anyone remember tony matthewman at laycocks in 60's-70's please.

where did he work archer rd,little london rd,or camping lane, it would help as i worked there for 24 years and knew very few that worked at LLR ,CL.

I just found this old post while doing a web search on "torch burner"

I think you mean 'Touch-burner'

No - we called them torch-burners. You formed some wet clay into a brick shape, hollowed it out, made holes in each end and baked it in the oven. Then you filled it with engine-waste, oily rags etc. and set fire to it. Blowing through a hole to keep it going, it kept your hands warm when playing outside on cold winter evenings..:thumbsup:

I just found this old post while doing a web search on "torch burner"



No - we called them torch-burners. You formed some wet clay into a brick shape, hollowed it out, made holes in each end and baked it in the oven. Then you filled it with engine-waste, oily rages etc. and set fire to it. Blowing through a hole to keep it going, it kept your hands warm when playing outside on cold winter evenings..:thumbsup:

We called them winter warmers. usually a bit of rag or hay, wood shavings if you could get them to light.
I think you used more energy getting the clay and making them, than you ever got back as heat

I just found this old post while doing a web search on "torch burner"



No - we called them torch-burners. You formed some wet clay into a brick shape, hollowed it out, made holes in each end and baked it in the oven. Then you filled it with engine-waste, oily rages etc. and set fire to it. Blowing through a hole to keep it going, it kept your hands warm when playing outside on cold winter evenings..:thumbsup:

I grew up in Heeley and we got the clay from the "docker"
Definitely called them touch-burners.
Maybe a Heeley thing ? :thumbsup:

We called them winter warmers. usually a bit of rag or hay, wood shavings if you could get them to light.
I think you used more energy getting the clay and making them, than you ever got back as heat

I used to wait until mum had an oven-full of pies and hide one at the back.

I grew up in Heeley and we got the clay from the "docker"
Definitely called them touch-burners.
Maybe a Heeley thing ? :thumbsup:

I always thought that Heeley folk speak a funny language....;) .We got our clay from Hillsborough Park pond (as was) after they drained it for building the concrete sides. Must have been c. 1955.

I used to wait until mum had an oven-full of pies and hide one at the back.



I always thought that Heeley folk speak a funny language....;) .We got our clay from Hillsborough Park pond (as was) after they drained it for building the concrete sides. Must have been c. 1955.

With all due respect you guys were jessies. :hihi:
We lit a fire on the aforementioned "docker" and baked our own touch burners.
Stuck a used matckstick in them to make the blowhole.
Tha doesn't know thee were born. :hihi::hihi:

With all due respect you guys were jessies. :hihi:
We lit a fire on the aforementioned "docker" and baked our own touch burners.
Stuck a used matckstick in them to make the blowhole.
Tha doesn't know thee were born. :hihi::hihi:

Not quite sure what this has to do with Laycock's , but- I came from Shiregreen and we also called them Touch Burners.

Not quite sure what this has to do with Laycock's...

Very little I suppose, but it's a lively debate..:P .At Malin Bridge they were definitely torch burners. So there!.:hihi:.:hihi:

I grew up in Heeley and we got the clay from the "docker"
Definitely called them touch-burners.
Maybe a Heeley thing ? :thumbsup:

All Heeley folk called them "touch burners", the "Docker" was the ideal place for the clay. It was also a good place for sliding down on a tin tray, what kids had to do for fun in those days!
I think anyone who lived in Heeley had/knew of someone who worked at Laycocks at some time. My hubbie started there in about 1964 as an apprentice, his father also had a spell there in the 60's, I had a work colleague whose husband was there, Bill Cooke, also in the late 60's.
At that time if anyone was looking for work they could always get a job in Laycocks.
Duffems.

hya the manpower here at laycocks were always coming and going on the shop floor, they used to come down the shop to go in the works apprentice room above the fitters/joiners/electricians. one day they passed us while we were working sometime in the seventies a comment at the time was things look to be picking up, there were ninety men trooping up the shop, all set on for all three factories, some time later we were talking to cathy from the tiime office and she remembered the exact day it was a monday she said on the following friday ninety three left so the work force were minus three the following monday.
the number of staff were in all three factories were i think about 1,500, a lot of staff were there when i started and were still there when i finished and i was in my 25th year there.

Hi Willybite.
If you remember there was always a number of guys off the building sites, they came in for the Winter but a soon a the sun shone they were off.
Also when I first started we had quite a few who came after finishing National service..
Think at one time when all four factories were working we got up to about 3,000 +
I had been moved down to Little London when it finaly folded, think, including office staff, there was just over a hundred of us...

Lived on the Arbourthorne, and down Heeley,we called them Winter Warmers.

Think I must have had mine on the Arbourthorne....

hiya grinder did you ever go on the fishing trips in the 60s they were a laugn i remember one time it was a trip to march in cambridgeshire we set off 6.30 on the dot from archer rd finally it was 6.45, down to king st 7.15 then up to occupation lane, by the time we set off it made a mockery of a time-table. we finally got to march but nobody knew the exact place we should be. there were two coaches and we were both going the same way but on different sides of the river, we managed to get started, after a quarter of an hour, the heavens opened, i've never seen it rain so hard for so long,i had five fish in my keepnet all caught in the first 15 minutes one bloke came past he was holding an umbrella that was in shreds, the rain was so heavy, that was arthur slynn, joe elliot had bought a new fibre glass rod that charlie midson had made for him but on the first cast it snapped in two joe hung it on the wall in the shop with a note to say what had happend and where he'd bought it. i finished joint third in the match with 6 oz.a different bit of info i didn't know that one of my g.g grandfathers came from march he had an unusual christian name it was wakefield there were two in our family with the same name, sorry just a passing thought, saw it on genes reunited. small world innit

Hi Will.
Never a big Fisherman really, though that all rings a bell. Only ever remember going on one match with Laycocks and it being my first ever match.
Can't remember where it was but remember we had a long walk to the pegs across about three fields.
My peg had a sheer drop of at least 4ft to the water,the river was wide and fast and it rained all day, half of the lads were only waiting for the pub to open.
Got one bite, nearly fell in trying to get the keep net in the water, dropped the rod and lost the fish !!! Happy days.

Can't remember going again but went to the ponds a few times when I was on nights, nice place but keep your sandwiches in your basket..
John Styring Jim Carlton and Mick Atkin put a lot of work in there I believe..

Sparra
How would I not remember you.
So many years have passed by.
They were such happy days.
Do you remember the time you came to work in a pair of skin tight, yellow, flared trousers.. I cannot remember what happened but it was funny.
We had great times in the Sports club didn't we?
I remember Bingham Park Road and your green mini Cooper.
Last I knew of you you had moved down South and got married.
I now live in Worksop.
If you want to let me know your email. I am on holiday until July but I will look as soon as I get back.

Jackie

Willybite

I have seen you around and about on the odd occasion but I don't think you will remember me, I used to work in the Method Engineers with Keith Godson RIP, Harry Jackson RIP, Derick Hall RIP and Simon Garside, I still see quite a few people who worked at Laycocks and one who you may know (still does not work though) :D Pete Morton, I also saw Richard (Robo) Robinson the other week.
One name others may remember that I still see quite regular Mick Woodward, there were two MWs and I mean the older one who was and is still is as funny as always, he used to work on the Cast iron section then moved to Little London Road. I also see John Styring, Jim Carlton (still fishing mad), Andy Sen, Andy Wragg, Andy Starbuck and a few more.

Willybite

I have seen you around and about on the odd occasion but I don't think you will remember me, I used to work in the Method Engineers with Keith Godson RIP, Harry Jackson RIP, Derick Hall RIP and Simon Garside, I still see quite a few people who worked at Laycocks and one who you may know (still does not work though) :D Pete Morton, I also saw Richard (Robo) Robinson the other week.
One name others may remember that I still see quite regular Mick Woodward, there were two MWs and I mean the older one who was and is still is as funny as always, he used to work on the Cast iron section then moved to Little London Road. I also see John Styring, Jim Carlton (still fishing mad), Andy Sen, Andy Wragg, Andy Starbuck and a few more.

I know the younger one, smashing kid him, one of the best :wink:
:thumbsup:

I know the younger one, smashing kid him, one of the best :wink:
:thumbsup:

You are right with the smashing kid and you say one of the best, well he has to be as he beat me to the apprentice of the year in 1981 I think it was, as far as young is concerned then he will be an old bugger now :D (dam, I'm the same age) :o
Roy Shearman retired last year and was still going strong.
Hope your still keeping well Michael W

You are right with the smashing kid and you say one of the best, well he has to be as he beat me to the apprentice of the year in 1981 I think it was, as far as young is concerned then he will be an old bugger now :D (dam, I'm the same age) :o
Roy Shearman retired last year and was still going strong.
Hope your still keeping well Michael W

I'm well thanks Kevin D, hope you are too mate :thumbsup:
I remember Roy and the bearded Mr Ford, do you remember the others in the training centre with us back in 77/78 ?
Messrs. Carr, Wragg, Suter and Hussain...oh and Oldfield (briefly), not a bad memory eh !
Can't remember things I did yesterday mind, must be that old age creepin up :wink:

I have the same type of memory as you.
I remember the good old days in the training centre like they were yesterday, things have changed a lot since then, I still look over photos of Laycocks now and again to bring back those memories.
I'm fine thanks Michael, still working and still working on early retirement too.

Just found this site this week AND ARE WONDERING IF THIS HISTORY WAS EVER WRITTEN IF SO CAN SOME ONE TELL ME WERE TO GET A COPY
WANTED FOR A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE WHO I AM IN TOUCH WITH AND IS MENTIONED ON THREAD MR SAM MARSDEN STILL GOING STRONG AT 90 THIS MONTH
I WAS WITH HIM THIS WEEK AND WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS ITEM

I worked at Laycocks from Jan.47 to dec. 50. Two years on the shop floor, in center lathes, gear cutters, automatic lathes, inspection dept, etc. and then two years in the design office, before emmigrating to Canada.
I well remember Laurie lambert as Foreman of the Gear shop, the best Foreman I worked for, a prince of a man. Don't remember any other names from the shop floor, but do remember Lightowler, Hough. and others from the Design office.
John hatch.

Only just come across this section. It's a long shot but my brother started there, say 1940 until 1944, then called up. Name, Len Gilpin, worked as a fitter, 6'6 lanky kid, ginger hair, now 86. He started at Laycocks when he was 17, after doing a Government training course at West-Bar?. Probably others followed this route. Like to say that his work experience there started him off on a long engineering career.

I vaguely remember a good natured, tall red headed guy, but could it be Len ? Did he return to Laycocks after his army service?
I was deferred from National Service, year by year, as I was going to night school at Central Tech. and at the University, three nights a week to get the National Certificate of Mechanical Engineering. Then at 21 I emmigrated to Canada.
John Hatch.

I remember abdullah kahn he was a big bugger strong as an ox when I worked with the lads on the clutch press assembly we used to tease him something rotten, we were mad though. the lads I worked with were a great laugh, you never got bored. Anyone remember Pete Birkin I had some laughs with Pete! Hope hes still alive would love to meet him again. I worked at Laycock from about 1971 to about 1987 and worked at all three factories, finished as a welder in Camping Lane. Played snooker and went fishing with John Styring for a few years, used to share our match winnings at fishing, did quite well. They were a good bunch of blokes at Laycocks and you were never short of a laugh. My mother worked there during the war. My brother did his apprentiship there and my uncle was a foreman. His name was Reg Pogmore.

Thanks John for your reply(didnt really expect any at all). Really, it looks as though there's a big age difference between you two. In 1940, he was 17; and started at Laycocks then. Did they make aircraft engines?. He was deffered from then until he was 21 and then called up and went in R.E.M.E's. He did most of his time in their workshops in Palestine until de-mob in Nov 47. Not sure if he then returned to Laycocks. He is the most practical man i've met and i've always been interested in his engineering stories. Would like to hear about where life took you to. All the best, John.

After coming across this site yesterday, I've realised that it wll be of immense interest to my brother, who left Sheffield 50 years ago and is always on about it. He's unaware of this forum and when I tell him about Laycocks, he'll be chuffed to read all you memories. So thanks very much everybody.

I'm almost certain that Reg Pike was the Secretary of the Sports Club that is or was on Archer Road. I once won the £100.00 lottery and Reg Pike did the presentation. £100.00 was worth a lot then.
( I don't remember what my wife spent it on !!)

Whilst on the subject can Anyone recall if the lock-up Sweet Shop which existed before the Frazier Road Estate was built and was next to the Sports Club, was in fact part of the Sports Club?

I can remember buying sweets there when we were kids. It was on a dirt path opposite the sports club and led up to a load of allotments. Where the Sheaf pub stands was a clay pit where we got the clay for our touchy burners. All fields then right up to what is now the Crem.

I remember Chris Pennington, always had flashy sports car and knocked about with a nice girl with long blond hair. That you?

Does anyone recall anyone with the surname of Collis working for Laycocks?

used to play snooker with Ray Gillot and John Styring every saturday morning in the sports club. always used to get in early before the bar opened and then stay all afternoon (hic!). Ron Pilkington played, he was a good player. We had a good team at one bit.

Hi Jogi,
Your brother is 6 years older than I am, and I guess isn't the red haired bloke I have memories of. I don't believe Laycocks made complete engines, but they were still doing some sub-contract machining for Rolls Royce in the late 40s. I can still vividly remember the last job I worked on in the Center lathes section, it was machining some small cylinders that were going to be cast into a rubber ring for a drive shaft coupling. None of the dimensions were critical, plus or minus 10 thou. would have been more than acceptable, but the largest tolerance was plus 1 thou. For every machining operation there were two units provided, as the rejection rate was 50% for each operation. No wonder RR had such a good reputation and were so expensive.
I remember, when I first went to Canada, working for a company that were the agents for Laycocks hydraulic jacks, and were having a real problem with them not staying up. About a year before I left Laycocks, they changed their supplier of the leather cups that sealed off the fluid in the cylinder, the corner radius was too small and the leather was cracking letting the fluid seep out. The problem only showed up in a few jacks, but, unfortunately in all the ones they shipped to Canada.
I eventually got into the Oil Refinery, Chemical Plant and Power plant design and construction field and spent almost 20 years in the US in engineering management .
I retired 23 years ago, after a stint in the US on President Carters 'Synthetic Fuels' program which Reagan killed when he was elected. We returned to Canada as the cost of medical insurance in the US was more than we could afford.

There is a Laycock re-union again this year at Laycock Sport Club on Thursday October 22nd from 7pm

There is a Laycock re-union again this year at Laycock Sport Club on Thursday October 22nd from 7pmDoes anyone from the old old days go to this? I left Archer Road in 1967 to go to Felco Hoists in London. Most of the people I remember would be 60-80 yrs old now. Happy time there though, I loved it and they were a great firm to work for imo.

Yes there are people there through all years, it is worth popping in as you never know who you will meet. I never remember the names though but do recognise faces.

Well that's true, would love to go down....
But just wondering, do they have a chairlift to get me back up ?...:hihi:

Well that's true, would love to go down....
But just wondering do they have a chairlift to get me back up ?... :hihi:

That's one of the problems with having it there and a very good point, they usually have it at the Norton Country Club and it is very flat and easy to get in and out of. I will have to get my mate to take his powered golf trolley there, mind you I bet he would charge for the service being an ex Laycock rate fixer :hihi:

Well if that includes a round of golf he's on......

Hi Will.
Never a big Fisherman really, though that all rings a bell. Only ever remember going on one match with Laycocks and it being my first ever match.
Can't remember where it was but remember we had a long walk to the pegs across about three fields.
My peg had a sheer drop of at least 4ft to the water,the river was wide and fast and it rained all day, half of the lads were only waiting for the pub to open.
Got one bite, nearly fell in trying to get the keep net in the water, dropped the rod and lost the fish !!! Happy days.

Can't remember going again but went to the ponds a few times when I was on nights, nice place but keep your sandwiches in your basket..
John Styring Jim Carlton and Mick Atkin put a lot of work in there I believe..

hiya still see mick the odd time at morrisons meadowhead he's still the same .
saw mick yesterday at above he's walking with a stick now.

Yer, Mick and Mary that rolls back the years..
Think I may well go down on the 22ND, I'll be the one with the red carnation button hole and a cabbage leaf behind each ear..

You can't miss me :banana:

Hi have passed on information about 22/10 to sam marsden he hopes to be there i know some of you remember him. if he does make it please note he lost his wife early this year