T C harrison Shepcote Lane

[Pete R 10]

anybody out there who worked at T C Harrison between 1971 and 1976?

[datal 10]

I worked as a mechanic there from 1970/71, Charley Debain was the foreman & Cyril Jackson was in charge of the pump/diesel room & Rodger Simms (of Simms coaches) was a mechanic there.

I hated working there, too much favoritism & a few bad memories for me.

[Pete R 10]

Yes I remember those two, I worked in the paint shop with Geoff Neal, Dave Pratt & Lewis Holmes, I also remember: Graham Brunt, Dave & Phil Bratley, Eric Hancock, Stuart Dracott, Les Skelton, Jack Cave, a little burmese fella called Ron (can't remember his surname), Do you remember Roy Creane the mad irish fella?

There was the JCB dept with Gordon Gregory, Ian Titterton, & Bob Neal the bloke who drove the low loader.

[datal 10]

I do remember some of those names.

One of the blokes helped himself to most of the tools from my tool box, I found out who it was & reluctantly I had to damage his tool box to 'retrieve' them back, I was ready & waiting for some kind of confrontation but luckily for him he never approached me.

I was never given an apprentice & it was difficult to earn a good bonus, but those with brown noses & were right up the gaffers back end, including the guy who nicked my tools (mentioning no names) would have three or four lads each, who'd be earning good bonus's for them.

Although there was some good lads there, I left after about a year.

[maharg 10]

hi

i worked in jcb dept left in 1975 there was

mick gosney,brian titerton,stuart grayson,john ? (smooth),me graham taylor,glyn ? (lip),

+ a few more was lewis holmes the sign writer ?

[Pete R 10]

Yes i remember the names mentioned, especially the 'lip' who was glyn bell, tony vizard was in charge with gordon gregory as the foreman, other names- mick elrick, horace chapman (storeman), bob neal, cyril jacksons dad (the sweeper upper), I was the paint shop apprentice at the time (the lad with the long hair), lewis holmes was the sign writer, I've got some good memories from that place.

 

Nostalgia, it's a thing of the past

[steve122 10]

I started work there in 1975 as a 16 year old.

I was with the JCB side with Ken Woodhead and Harold Taylor.

[ianmarriott 10]

i started as an apprentice in 1976,ron was the foreman if i remmber,cant remmber any names accept rivet who introduced me to newcastle brown ale,sadly i had a motorbike accident and couldnt continue but i loved the time i spent there

[steve122 10]

Hi I think the JCB foreman was Rod Mather.

I was up there recently and was amazed to see the depot still there but next door the massive Tinsley wire all gone.

 

regards

steve

[diggerdigger 11]

Hi I think the JCB foreman was Rod Mather.

I was up there recently and was amazed to see the depot still there but next door the massive Tinsley wire all gone.

 

regards

steve

 

Yep,remember them all ! Jack Cave the big chief,Harold Taylor the sales manager,Ken Woodhead (RIP) his assistant,Malcolm Mcdougall (RIP) the rep.

Christine and Karen on the switch / tannoy shouting "EDDIE LILLEY TO THE PETROL STATION" about 80 times a day ! Big Bob Neal the low loader driver Horace Chapman (RIP) in parts,Rod Mather service manager,Mick Gosney (RIP) top fitter,Dave Shepherd in Truck division service,truck sales Ray Walker,Ian Shepherd,Ralph Clarkson,Ian Wooton,Peter Mennell all headed up by the funny Les Skelton.Ron Jarvis up in admin,Barry Hand (RIP) as accountant.Marion Frost and Bert in admin office.I could go on....

[steve122 10]

yep - please do go on, I remember those days clearer than last week

There was also Evelyn in the office with Marion and Albert and she used to have to go round and take notes to be typed up later.

There was also Howard Summers in accounts and Gary Bott. Everyone used to go up there to make arrangements for vehicles to be taxed and ordered.

I'll never forget Rod Mather who could really swear, I thought he was great.

[Pete R 10]

Hi diggerdigger & Steve 122.

 

I worked in the paintshop but when a second hand digger was sold Mick Elrick and I used to work until 2 or 3 in the morning repainting it so Bob Neal could take it to wherever.

 

I can also remember cleaning Harold Taylors' car (inside & out), ankle deep in fag ash.

 

I left in 1976 but remember Glyn Bell having a nasty accident in his escort van.

 

It's sad to hear some of the chaps have passed on.

 

People I can remember who you've not mentioned - Ian Titterton, Roy Creane, Dave & Phil Bratley, Dave Pratt, Albert Hoult, Barry Holt, Ray Walker, Cyril Jackson, Spud, Eric ? (PDI department), Harold Chapman, Graham Brunt (McGill), the rest I can remember the faces but not the names.