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GEC WITTON WORKS

This is the way into that city of the mass's we new as THE G.E.C. FACTORY.
It was like a wave of human kind at 5.18 p.m. most evenings in this road with Bus's lined up to go all over Birmingham.
Any one remember those days?
 
aston said:
This is the way into that city of the mass's we new as THE G.E.C. FACTORY.
It was like a wave of human kind at 5.18 p.m. most evenings in this road with Bus's lined up to go all over Birmingham.
Any one remember those days?
Click to expand...
I remember those days parked in Dulverton Avenue very well as we were not allowed to park in the works (unless you belonged to the elite) and during the 60's we had a Dagenham Dustbin (Ford Anglia) and when I seen one in your thumbnail it reminded me of the hordes of employees rushing out of the works to try and get their cars onto the roads in an attempt to beat the worst of the traffic and to catch a bus - it was worse than leaving Villa Park after a footie match, but at least in those days footie fans were much more considerate than they are in this day and age.
Keith can you tell me if the Dudley and Thursfield in one of your mail-ings was Steve and Vic respectively please?
 
Don't Worry Jean, You can amend if you go back to your original message,not that you should do that now, I have made some mistakes this week, we all do, trouble with me is i did not have enough wine to drink. Plenty of wine and i can write a roaring speech...Cat:)
 
Catkin said:
Don't Worry Jean, You can amend if you go back to your original message,not that you should do that now, I have made some mistakes this week, we all do, trouble with me is i did not have enough wine to drink. Plenty of wine and i can write a roaring speech...Cat:)
Click to expand...
:rolleyes: Thanks msg Cat my problem is insufficient TEA as I tend to use (or try to use computer) when everyone else is still in the land of nod and usually when my husband is up and about he keeps me well refreshed with pots of tea. I can survive without wine but not tea and also the dreaded weed (a cigarette) - I know it is a nasty habit in this day and age but at nearly 70 having smoked since 14 it is not an easy thing to pack up - the one thing I have done is reduce my intake of nicotine and increased my tea levels, which could be just as bad for the health but what the h...!!! Bye for now:shh:
 
This picture taken from the Tame Valley Canal just of Salford junction at the back of G.E.C WORKS WITTON.
It shows the unloading of coal from the canal boats for the GEC BOILER HOUSE, note the red chimney with the magnet sign built in to the brick work,this logo was later to be used and registerd by G.E OF AMERICA,so could no longer be a trade mark of the G.E.C UK.
(G.E.C. however still used the word magnet on site ie "THE MAGNET SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB WITTON")
ASTON
 
Good morning young sir: I have vague recollections of this chimney. When I first started at the GEC in 1963/64 I worked for about six months in the old offices just across the bridge on way to Magnet Club (the one on the right as you go to end of bridge before turning right). Must have enjoyed my time there as I cannot even remember who I worked for or even name of department!! All I can remember is my boss was about 6ft+ and as broad as he was long and of course it was my first job when I moved from the North East to Birmingham. I left Newcastle on last train out on 28 February and arrived at Snow Hill station on 1 March 1961. Hopefully someone (or even yourself) can remember what the department/division was. There are two christian names which come to mind but may not be associated with this area - one is Ian..... and the other was, I think, Victor/Vincent.... or something like that.
 
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Does any body know where I can contact the GEC pension fund?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
My late father Fred Wills worked at GEC xpelair until he retired in 1984
 
Hi Roger, The heavy eng; part of GEC was taken over by ALSTROM (Thats after it was Parsons Peebles).
I have an address for the Rugby ALSTROM OFFICE:

UK PENSIONS DEPT
ALSTROM LTD
NEWBOLD ROAD
RUGBY
WARWICKSHIRE
CV21 2NH

Tele N0 01788-557402or01788-557403

They may be able to help you in the right direction
THE BARON eX GEC WITTON & RUGBY
 
Hi Ex GEC Workers.

I started at GEC Witton in 13th April 1953 as apprentice, there was 13,500 staff working there then.

I start in the Big Shop Freddie Pitt was the boss, and Dudley Poole mbe was his assistant, also worked in the Small Motor, Standard Shop & the dreaded DA.

DA was were the Goblin Hairdryers, Vacuum Cleaners etc, and a lot of women?worked, I had the misfortune to doing my 8 weeks over Xmas,never seen anything like.

I finished my apprenticeship and had to do National Service in The RE's,
I returned to end up in the Turbo Shop, working for the infamous Mr. Colley. till I left to work for CEGB, Hams Hall PS.

Iv'e some stories I could tell about Witton did you know that during the war it was called HMS Witton, manufacture of electrical equipment for the Navy, that's how Dudly Poole got the MBE.

Any old mates remember me Ray Griffiths.
 
Ray Do You Remember Bill Turnock The Forman, Connie His Sec; In The Da Or Derek Matthews He Is My Cousin?
I Started In E.d.o. 1955, Next Stop After 18 Months Was The Da Dept;then Switchgear Relay Shop Before Going Into The Admin Block Estimating/turbo Sales.
The Baron
 
Hi, "Baron" thanks for the Pension contacts, I will follow it up.
I was apprentice for 5 yrs then worked at GEC LRPD sales from about 1953 to 1964. Went through all the CA Parsons and Parsons Peebles changes.
I think the pension fund went overseas but not sure!! I am now 65 so looking for a pay out!!!
Roger
 
I know that name ROGER WILKS! I also worked in LRPD Sales around 1963, then went in to LARGE TURBO GENERATOR SALES with Jim James working for Dan Craig then Alf Coutts.
My be you remember me Keith JENNEY? (THE BARON)
 
Hi Kieth, I have to search deep depths of the old memories and I,m afraid your name does not jump out. Have memories of Glyn jones, viv horder,frank clare,(morris comerie moved to endinborough), brian clements, Adler the boss, bob & Di baldry (My sons god parents) Les willock, sam bullingham,Mr Kawan my section leader, len moor, and a little indian guy who,s name just out of reach, and a Barry Atkins.
Used to do Archery on the magnet club sports field with Frank Airy (I think thats his name) and a fred?? (tin smith)
Roger
 
Hi Roger, Len Moore & I were good mates back in the 1970s, we used to go HYDROPLANEING at Boadymoor Heath. Viv Horder has now passed away we had some goodtime him & Jim James. The last I hear of Di 7 Bob Baldry was that they moved to South Africa after Parsons Peeble went to RR.
The little Indian Guy you speak of would be ADI HARDA.
Les Willock is no longer with us either he used to play a mean SAX in any band that he could remember him playing at the Magnet club dance.
The comercial manager was Bruno Adler, Glyn Jones took over as office manager from Dan Craig.
Like you I found the sport at the magnet club fantastic played Inter Dept BOWLS, FOOTBALL,CRICKET,GOLF (Golf was run by Mr Merry of PCD He had one arm but could he hit a good golf ball, full down the rugby pitch.
Its been GREAT swaping memories ,how about this one the main gate,
REGARDS THE BARON
 
Hi GEC exWorkers.

My Dad worked in the Small Dept, mother worked in Transformer, brother worked in Switch Dept.

I was an apprentice in LRPD, Big Shop, Std Shop, Small Motor, Turbo and the dreaded DA for 8 weeks that's where the Goblin Vacuum Cleaners, and hairdyers were made.

After 2 years national sevice in the RE's I finished in up as fitter in Turbo Shop the boss was Mr. Partridge, and the foreman's was Wal Colley & Stan Jaques.

The Big Shop was Freddie Pitt & Dudley Poole MBE.

GEC works was HMS Witton during the WW2 making Electrical Equipment for the Navy, that's how Dud Poole got the MBE.

I have many a tale about GEC Witton, I was there when they had the big explosions & fires ,rotor in overspeed pit Oil tank under test explosion, and the Hydrogen bang I joined CEGB after this Hams Hall.

Any of my old mates out love hear from you.

I had some very happy years at the GEC Witton, when I started in April 1953 there was 13,500 workers, sad what Mr Winestock ( I don't think you spell it that way?) done to the family works.

Ray Griffiths
 
Hi Baron

Looks like we've a lot in common, our love of North Devon and Ex GEC.

Do you remember Turbo Shop.

Test Bed Area with 85/60 Megwatt machines

Yes one with the hair is me lifting an inner stator in to 200 Meg Machine for Kincardne.

The large stator in the other picture the Hydro Electric in Pitlockory in Scotland.

Bottom left is a picture of GEC Witton from the air

Happy Memories Ray still in wet Devon
 
aston said:
This is the way into that city of the mass's we new as THE G.E.C. FACTORY.
It was like a wave of human kind at 5.18 p.m. most evenings in this road with Bus's lined up to go all over Birmingham.
Any one remember those days?
Click to expand...

Do you remember CID Sid the GEC Works policeman with black gatters, he used to report you for hiding in doorway of Transformer/ Turbo Shop if you won't to make a fast exit at 5.18
 
aston said:
This picture taken from the Tame Valley Canal just of Salford junction at the back of G.E.C WORKS WITTON.
It shows the unloading of coal from the canal boats for the GEC BOILER HOUSE, note the red chimney with the magnet sign built in to the brick work,this logo was later to be used and registerd by G.E OF AMERICA,so could no longer be a trade mark of the G.E.C UK.
(G.E.C. however still used the word magnet on site ie "THE MAGNET SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB WITTON")
ASTON
Click to expand...
Sadly the boiler house and power station and main LRPD test have gone but the Chimney remains today you see from the Lichfield to Birmingham train
 
THE BARON said:
Ray Do You Remember Bill Turnock The Forman, Connie His Sec; In The Da Or Derek Matthews He Is My Cousin?
I Started In E.d.o. 1955, Next Stop After 18 Months Was The Da Dept;then Switchgear Relay Shop Before Going Into The Admin Block Estimating/turbo Sales.
The Baron
Click to expand...
No I don't remember them I worked with two guys responsible for test the hairdyers some used to rattle and we had to reject them then the trouble started with the women who's work you rejected.
I also worked with a guy on who used to work on developement work on specialised motors in Brantley Rd, like Radar motors for fighter aircraft and very very small and fast motors for working with nylon.

Unfortunately I work in the DA over Xmas and I've never seen women act like it my life 25 were take drunk, Dint moore used to be the Manager of the DA there was another strange one.
 
CID Sid put me under house arrest for a joke when I worked part of my apprenishp in DA Dept.
I was so keen to go home that I ran down the shop floor gangway and in doing so took two hairdryers with me on to the floor, Sid had just entered the works and fingered me back to the boss's bandstand, after a stern telling of he let me go & after that every time we meet in later years he would remind me.
It seemed to be the done thing for most people to get ready for home in every nook & crany & when that bell rang at 5-15pm Electric Ave became a sea of human kind,it was like watching the tide come in you just could not stop that crowd rushing for bus's geting their bikes form the bike sheds.
Ray, I used to love seeing the two 60toners in the turbo bay lift a rotor or stator on to that test bed & the noise they used to make on test.
THEM WERE THE DAY WHEN I THINK YOU COULD SAY WE LIVED ON GREAT BRITAN
 
Do'es any body remember T J Smith he was the squire of Shenstone he was one of the Directors.

Working in the Big Shop you were require to buy your tea of the tea trolley that used to come round at 10.00, & 15.00 hrs.

You were not allowed to make your own tea, but we used to put billy cans on the gas rings up and down the shop.

If Smth used to come down at tea time and see a can on the gas, he'd stand and watch it boil dry and go through the can and then walk away, you daren't have gone and pick your can up.

Do you you remember tea woman talk about iris in "Off The Buses" film she was pretty
 
This one posted before (post 15 ) but you may know me from this? IT'S ME DOING A HARD DAYS GRAFT in what was the old std machine block after C A PARSONS had converted it in to what they said was open plan offices? NO WINDOWS JUST OVER HEAD LIGHTING TUBES. It was the worst office layout I have ever worked in and dark, lack of fresh air !!!,when you walked out side it made your eyes close up it was so bright after a day in that place.
So glad when we moved to Parsons Peebles Projects Tyburn Road.
 
THE BARON said:
This one posted before (post 15 ) but you may know me from this? IT'S ME DOING A HARD DAYS GRAFT in what was the old std machine block after C A PARSONS had converted it in to what they said was open plan offices? NO WINDOWS JUST OVER HEAD LIGHTING TUBES. It was the worst office layout I have ever worked in and dark, lack of fresh air !!!,when you walked out side it made your eyes close up it was so bright after a day in that place.
So glad when we moved to Parsons Peebles Projects Tyburn Road.
Click to expand...

Sorry I don't know you, you may know a guy who used live up the road from me when I live in Four Oaks before we moved to Devon, Peter Russell he lived in Dower Road if you know him he died about 18 months ago so a neighbour informed us.
 
He Is The Guy Sitting At The Desk In Front Of Me We Worked Together In Projects For A Number Of Years At Witton & Tyburn Road.
Iam So Sorry To Hear Of His Death.
 
Hi Barron and ray The works gate brings it all back walked it many times and also had run ins with CID Sid. Even gave him a pack of fags at Xmas! The Austin A35 parked up in your photo also reminds me of my first Vehicle. I also did rescue duties at the Hydroplane club and remember Bert Noon And Andy Chessman racing their Imp powerd boats. I must know you???
Other name spring to mind Barry Atkins, tom Blewit from LRPD Also did a stint in The Test bay in turbo shop, wasn't there a lady who was the senior tester??? Remember one rotor went through the roof on over speed test!
Worked in MAR development over the canal, and names spring to mind are Ron Bates Widgery, Sid Robb, Little, Jim Benson, Norm Dugard
 
roger wilks said:
Hi Barron and ray The works gate brings it all back walked it many times and also had run ins with CICD Sid. Even gave him a pack of fags at Xmas! The Austin A35 parked up in yor photo also reminds me of my first Vehicle. I also did rescue duties at the Hydroplane club and remember Bert Noon And Andy Cheesman racing their Imp powerd boats. I must know you???
Other name spring to mind Barry Atkins, tom Blewit from LRPDAlso did a stint in The Test bay in turbo shop, wasn't there a lady who was the senior tester??? Remember one rotor went through the roof on over speed test!
Worked in MAR development over the canal, and names spring to mind are Ron Bates Widgery, Sid Robb, Little, Jim Benson, Norm Dugard
Click to expand...

Hi Roger.

I worked on salvaging that rotor it was a 200Meg for Kincardine P.S. one of two, it was on a Friday night at 4.30pm.

The rotor was on it's final overspeed 3600rpm and the impeller touch the thick plywood baffle place round it to prevent it sucking oil and rubbish up into the windings.

Fire brigade just couldn't get to the seat of the fire under ground, there was several 35ton covers secured with 5 ton wedges and at time there ws no cranedriver.

The stator for that rotor is the one in picture which I'm loading in.

The woman you speak of was Prof. Jeanna Dodds and her side kick Pros. Moore, they were this countries leading experts in the balancing rotors with suffered from the double freq. which is the skipping rope effect of a large mass rotating at high speed between beaings.

She really know her stuff, she would sleep on the job till she got in balance, and by god couldn't blast off when things went wrong, but enjoyed working with her.

There was another bad explosion soon after when the same job while on top test bed released hydrogem fronm the stator into the 1000 gallon oil tank underneath and a spark from switchgear caused an explosion.

It blew the windows out on the oneside of the Turbo Shop and sucked the in on the side we had 9 fire engines the in no time.

I was actually on the machine at the time but I ended up down the other end of the how I don't remember.

The two hero of that event the GEC residential fireman, and a sudent apprentice Frank ? Name stopped and fought the blaze.

That's when I left to join CEGB Hams Hall

Happy Day's

Ray.
 
Hi Again Roger, This May Not Be True To Topic But I Bet You Remember This Guy!
The Attached Pics Show Len Moore And I At The World R1 Championshps In Nottingham, Also Len In His Newly Painted Boat I Stayed Up Till 3-00am To Get That Paint Job Finshed And Dry In Time To Get Him On The Water.
By The Way Andy Chessman Was Killed When Competing In Germany Some Years Back.
Hope This Jogs The Old Memories.
The Baron
 
Ray Griffiths said:
There was another bad explosion soon after when the same job while on top test bed released hydrogem fronm the stator into the 1000 gallon oil tank underneath and a spark from switchgear caused an explosion.
It blew the windows out on the oneside of the Turbo Shop and sucked the in on the side we had 9 fire engines the in no time.
I was actually on the machine at the time but I ended up down the other end of the how I don't remember.
The two hero of that event the GEC residential fireman, and a sudent apprentice Frank ? Name stopped and fought the blaze.
That's when I left to join CEGB Hams Hall

Happy Day's
Ray.
Click to expand...

If they were the "Happy" days, I'd hate to have seen a bad one there!
I somehow picture you all as mad professors running about in white coats, like Christopher Lloyd's character in the "Back to the future" films!
 
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