Loxley Brothers Stationers

[Downsunder 10]

Hi new on I worked at Loxleys from 1965 to 1972 for £3.00 aweek I was a book binder I remember a few people mentioned Les Hunt his daughter Diane,Tony in the warehouse, Burt Bulivan warehouse, Barry in the yard,Harry Rowley,Mr Mackay binders foreman,Bill Pennington he was very good to me he helped me alot when I could not keep up with the books coming out of the gilotine ,Bill Matthews he supported Wednesday,Brenda Blackshaw packing her sister Irene in binders,Pauline Digbey,Norma Croft,Vickie Marriat,Beryl Pecket,Jose something all binders being a junior at that time I had to collect breakfast money and orders for dinners and teas I did the comps it always took me along time as the men would mess me about half the time I got it wrong I had to have eyes in the back of my head. I will never forget putting together Fishing with Mr Grabtree how I hated that book all these years it as haunted me in the end I got made redundent 72 .

I went on to work at Needham Enginering Company on John Street till I got married forgot alot of this found you all by chance my son was looking for printers and I said I worked at Loxleys which got me thinking and it lead me to the Sheffield Forum hope this as help those looking for people.

 

Hi Elainer,

I used to work at Loxleys too as a book binder with the girls you mentioned. Josie was Josie Cantrill, there was also Pat Hunt and Jackie Milligan, she used to hang around 2 girls in the Litho, Anne Skinner and Kath ? I remember Bill Pennington and Bill Matthews and there was a bloke who used to work the 3 sided guillotine he was called Allan Feetham. The foreman was called Stan when I was there and I used to collect money for the morning teas when I first started and I know what you mean about the fellows in the comps, right rat bags. Also there was an old duck used to sit in a high chair picking whiskers from her chin, Mrs Short I think, I remember her leaving do.

I think I started in 1966.

Chris

[sharrovian 10]

Hello Elainer and Downsunder, I worked at Loxleys from 1952-66 and remember all or most of the people you mentioned, there were some lovely people employed at Loxleys and although I left and wanted to leave I had a lump in my throat as big as a football that day as I left all my pals behind. Les Hunt, a good friend, and Harry Rowley lived near to me but sadly both have passed on now. I worked in the Comps but I'm sure I wasn't one of the ratbags. I went back in 2004 when Loxleys celebrated their 150th anniversary and saw quite a few people who were there when I was, that was a great day ~ ah! happy memories, Don.

[Elainer 10]

Hi Downsunder and Sharrovian yes I do remember you both not all the comps were ratbags there were some really nice guys working there do you remember Jock in the comps I was terrified of him not sure why but I never liked being on my own with him.

I always got on the wrong side of mrs short for some reason she always picked spots of me .I remember Stan he was nice he was always kind.

My best friend was Brenda Blackshaw in packing she married Tony can not remember his last name been trying for years to trace Brenda. Downsunder did you go out with a lad on a bike and lived on Herries Road at 103 I think that is right I could be wrong.How the memmories flood back good to hear from you both keep in touch . Elainer.

[Downsunder 10]

Hi Downsunder and Sharrovian yes I do remember you both not all the comps were ratbags there were some really nice guys working there do you remember Jock in the comps I was terrified of him not sure why but I never liked being on my own with him.

I always got on the wrong side of mrs short for some reason she always picked spots of me .I remember Stan he was nice he was always kind.

My best friend was Brenda Blackshaw in packing she married Tony can not remember his last name been trying for years to trace Brenda. Downsunder did you go out with a lad on a bike and lived on Herries Road at 103 I think that is right I could be wrong.How the memmories flood back good to hear from you both keep in touch . Elainer.

 

Good to get your reply Elainer, yes I did go out with a bloke with a motor bike and married him, been married 38 years now and emigrated to Australia not long after I left Loxleys, 1973. And I did live on Herries Road at 111, I think they've made it into a block of flats now. Do you remember my brother Bill Downs who worked with Ted in the printery on a Heidelburg. I remember Brenda marrying Tony but I don't know what happened or where they ended up. I used to knock around with a girl in the bindery called Cath Smith I nicknamed her banana legs (for obvious reasons). Had a lot of good times at Loxleys but also some bad times too!!

[Downsunder 10]

Hello Elainer and Downsunder, I worked at Loxleys from 1952-66 and remember all or most of the people you mentioned, there were some lovely people employed at Loxleys and although I left and wanted to leave I had a lump in my throat as big as a football that day as I left all my pals behind. Les Hunt, a good friend, and Harry Rowley lived near to me but sadly both have passed on now. I worked in the Comps but I'm sure I wasn't one of the ratbags. I went back in 2004 when Loxleys celebrated their 150th anniversary and saw quite a few people who were there when I was, that was a great day ~ ah! happy memories, Don.

 

Hi Don, Sorry I can't seem to remember any Don's, you might remember my Brother Bill Downs. There was a young lad who married Barbara Leaning but I can't remember his name either - he worked with my brother as well. I remember doing those (Marie Curie?) Christmas stickers and having to gold dust them. There used to be 000's of them. Yuk!

[eadesy_htid 10]

I work there now (Loxleys Print) and they do specialise in greetings cards.

[sharrovian 10]

I think the Stan you mentioned would be Stan Boddington, he was a great bloke and a good friend of mine, he worked on the large proofing presses, and I remember Jock Morrison. I don't remember Bill Downs. I might be wrong here but I think Irene Blackshaw only retired about 3 or 4 years ago, she lived in the Page Hall area of Sheffield but has moved to live in Maltby. I'm full of titbits of useless information so I will have a nap and when I wake-up I might think of some more.

[Elainer 10]

Hi Downsunder I do remember your brother Bill and Ted also remembered Tonys last name that married Brenda it was Marshall and they moved to Maltby had 5 kids . I know why you called Cath Smith banana legs she got her self pregnant seem to think. You and I use to go round to gether at lunch times with Robena the girl with the long hair remember we would go and talk to the lads in that firm on Heeley bottom I was going out with a lad called Gordon but we were more off than on we never did get married. Those Christmas stamps,Marie curie the overtime we put in and going home covered in gold dust. Good for you marrying that lad and still together hope you are enjoying life in Australia any kids I have 3 boys and 2 grandsons good to hear from you.

 

Sharrovian Irene Blackshaw was the older sister to Brenda and she did live at page hall they also had a cousin called Grace that worked in the Litho was it can not remember the departments well now thats a sign I am getting old .

[sharrovian 10]

Hi Elainer, there was a Grace Brunt who worked in the Litho and also there were twins Doreen and Eleanor Brunt, Eleanor worked in the Litho, Doreen was in the Binders, she was a friend of my wife during her time there (1951-62) and she married a chap called David who was a qualified chemist and they went to live in the Birmingham area ~ all for now.

[Elainer 10]

Hi Sharrovian the Grace you first said is the one I think I am on about do you remember my sister Margaret Evans she worked in the litho with Grace not sure what year but it was before I started there in 65. From the binders I worked in the old warehouse then in the new one built on the end of Loxleys we worked up in the Gods packing posters I worked with an old chap can not remember his name how I hated hights. Then there was John Greshem who worked with Burt underneth us and do you remember the old dear who worked in the canteen when the big boss had people in she would put her black dress on and lace apron and cap to serve them tea God those were the days. I will get back to you when more comes in to my head by the way Merry Christmas.

[sharrovian 10]

Hello again Elainer, I don't remember Margaret Evans or John Gresham, the warehouse on the end was built after I had left, if you remember where the Comps was there was an old air-raid shelter which we used to store jobs which might be needed again, it was always flooded when it rained heavily.

When I worked there the canteen had a lovely old lady called Linda and one or two others but later there was a Mrs Hill who really thought she was something special and couldn't have been more wrong. A story went around one day that a special board meeting was being held upstairs and Mrs Hill was seen attired in her best dress and pinafore pushing a trolley up the room and as she reached the door where the way to the stairs was she turned the trolley and uptipped the cakes and sandwiches all onto the floor, one or two workers helped her pick them and after a quick wipe she trotted off up the stairs to feed the VIPs. My wife worked in the binders 1951-62 so I remember some of them but not too many of the litho girls. All for now and a Merry Xmas to you too.

[lennonman 11]

Hi everyone i worked at Loxley's from 1976-85 and i recognise some of the names mentioned here, people stayed at Loxleys for years didnt they?? I missed the anniversary party a few years ago and it would have been nice to go back and have a look around. Ive posted quite a few messages on previous threads about Loxleys and its good to see Sharrovian on here again. Hello Don and a merry christmas to you! Christmas brings back so many good memories of my time there as a young apprentice in the comps and getting dressed up and going down to the Bridge pub on Heeley bottom for a major drinking session!! Happy days!!! All the best to anyone else who may know me.