Saben

Foreign owned rail companies give the UK the most expensive rail fares in Europe. Do our fares subsidize continental fares !

Mr Forshaw used to continually walk around the section he was in charge of so he got thr nickname "Sputnic" after the Russian satelite!

My father was in the offices at Sandersons but died before I finished school as a result I was taken on as an apprentice electrician in 1959. Being only 15 I worked in the drawing office 1 year then started my electrical apprenticeship. As a result I did work in every department, handsaws, circular saws, segmental saws, hacksaw blades, files, machine knives, rod and sheet rolling mills, the forge and the melting shop. After Keyser Ellison works had a fire we wired the rebuilt workshop there and the reeling machines that were tranferred there. There were no swords or bayonets made there at this time. All the handsaws produced went for export as they were the top quality. The little steam engine was mainly used to bring coal in for the forge furnaces so it became redundant after the forge furnaces were converted to burn oil. The little steam engine was painted with a new livery with the idea of selling it to one of the preserved railways. We apprentices acted as mates to the electricians and were expected to leave at the end of our apprenticeships to gain more experience. Not only that but the wages were very poor for a 21 year old with the best City &Guilds you could get. I got £10 per week when I could get £15 a week electrical contracting. Those they wished to keep got a £5 a week bonus so I left in 1965. I did go back a couple of times to repair a specialist machine.

What happened was that instead of neutralising the acid in the vat as he should have done he decided to open the valve then dash round to a manhole and shovel the neutraliser into the acid as it passed. This would then save him the job of cleaning the tank. Unfortunately he slipped and fell down the manhole so the acid was washing his flesh away as men having heard his screams in the yard next to the joiners shop tried to pull him out.

The Committee received an application for membership from a man who had no proposer and no seconder he also stated he wanted second claim membership as he wanted to race for his Thai team, and he could not even be bothered to sign his form. As there was no proposer or seconder the application could not be considered. At the next meeting members who had not been at the previous meeting came complaining that this application had not been passed. They did admit that the guy was a very awkward person and had said many nasty things about the club whilst on club runs but thought his application should have been considered. I suggested he should re apply with a proposer and seconder. However what happened was his supporters resigned during the next month.

MSG is called Ve Tsin by the Chinese. Most Chinese supermarkets stock it. Sometimes it is labelled "Flavour Powder" in English on the packaging. Thought I would tell you that so you can avoid it.

Yes Chris was the dark swarthy one. Unfortunately where he lived his company car kept on being stolen so our MD stopped him taking it home. I am trying to remember the name of the quality inspector from Sheffield who relocated to Clemson. He thought living in the USA was wonderful at the time. Later on I saw him back at Jacobs Sheffield somewhat disgruntled with America.

Both Jacobs and Black & Decker opened their Suzhou factories at the same time. I know that loads of rejects originally were sent to B&D at Spennymoor for correction. Then over time the rejects declined until Jacobs Sheffield closed and B&D only make Dewalt now at Spennymoor. When I went to Clemson it was the head factory of Jacobs their other factories were Sheffield, Suzhou and 1 in Japan. I had the Visa to go to Suzhou but my company then decided to send someone else to keep me on a bigger job in Birmingham. My speciality was Induction Hardening after I left Laycocks. Remember Chris Morris who used to work for me then left my company to work at Jacobs?

Originally Guylees was at the end of Archer Road next to the Window Shop on the corner. When the Millhouses engine sheds closed the factory& Offices moved into the engine sheds. The vacated Archer Road buildings were put up for sale. At some time Jacobs Chucks of Clemson Sth Carolina USA bought Guylees and changed the name. When Black & Decker moved their handyman drill production to Suzhou, China Jacobs moved their handyman style chuck production there as well. I worked at Laycocks 1966 to the big strike of 1972. Later on when I worked as a machine service engineer. I even visited Jacobs in the USA. ---------- Post added 27-12-2013 at 17:49 ---------- Who could forget your performances in the Sports Club. Does Chris still have a flash car? I used to work with his mate Paul Sharman. Remember the Chinese lad in the computer room? My wife and I go on holiday with him and his wife to this day. We've even been to China Twice

That's a blast from the past, Walt's Ranch House. Used to stop the night before 100 mile and 12 hour time trials. Evening meal was nicknamed "Donkey Pie". One man stopping the night said to Walt "This pie is funny Walt" Walt told him to go and laugh at it then! Beds in the upstairs dormitory sagged so much they were like V blocks. Even Beryl Burton slept there but in a separate shed away from the main building. Had to learn to drive when Walt sold up to take bike out to races.

I was quoting what my wife told me without the expletives she used to describe the directors after they arrived at Clays.

I used to go to the Rockingham St site to repair machinery when it was WH Clay and after it changed name to Paramo tools. The company my wife worked for lost a lot of money due to Parramore Tools not making the payments they should have then going bust. Unfortunately her boss had confidence in Paramore's and had continued to do their work when not getting paid.

Yes Sandra Gittings married Terry. They live in Thirsk now. We still get Christmas cards from them every year. ---------- Post added 06-11-2013 at 13:10 ----------

I was electrical apprentice. Started in 1959 and left in 1965 aged 21. It was almost expected that you left at 21 to gain more experience. I cannot remember any names in Saw department. The one incident I do remember was the Polish guy who worked a miller in segmental saw who home studied got a management qualification. One day he was in overalls, the next day in a suit as a manager in hacksaw dept.

I remember Fred P very well. I am surprised he was still around in 2010. If you wanted say 12 screws Fred dipped his hand in the box and came out with exactly 12. I don't know how he did it without counting them. Once I was sent to the stores for "A long stand" with a description of what I was to get. After a time Fred said "You've stood long enough". Then I realised that I had been had by the electrician I was working with. Happy days but poor wages at Sanderson Keyser.