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Haddon and Stokes Digbeth
- Thread starter skylark
- Start date
L
lynn winterton
Guest
hi
my nan worked at haddon & stokes around that time her name was madge kain, she met my step grandfather there his name was joseph somerville, they live in camp hill and when i used to go to stay with them i would walk down to meet joe at lunchtime and sit on the little wall and share his sandwiches!
lynn
my nan worked at haddon & stokes around that time her name was madge kain, she met my step grandfather there his name was joseph somerville, they live in camp hill and when i used to go to stay with them i would walk down to meet joe at lunchtime and sit on the little wall and share his sandwiches!
lynn
formula t
master brummie
i worked at haddon and stokes from 1972 till 1977 it was the best company i ever worked for.they looked after there workers,they had there own welfare department who would help with outside problems, they had there own surgery with skilled nurses, on site dentist. huge canteen, you could also get cooked meals from vending machines if you were on shift work and a great social club. at the end they were part of the gkn group. as for the ghost story atv today{now central news}did a report on it while i worked there but no ghost was found. there was a chap who used to take the old wipers down to the stores in the basement and as he was going back to the lift a man who he said was dressed oddly went into the lift he called to the man and said hold on i will come up with you but when he got to the lift there was no one in it. he would not go down there again on his own. some say it was the ghost of a man called john roberts who was burnt at the stake on that site years before when it was a church, for converting the bible into english. there used to be a plaque with this information on the wall outside i think they put it back onto the renault building
This is a photograph taken of Thomas Haddon & Stokes. The factory & offices were located in Digbeth. I thought I would share this photograph that my father kept from his time working there.
Did anyone else work there? And if so, did you know any of the Somervilles who worked there?
Did anyone else work there? And if so, did you know any of the Somervilles who worked there?
Attachments
My first job from leaving school was working there I worked in the Offices on the top floor, but often went through the factory. Oh the sights when the lads passed their apprenticeships, bet they dare not torment them now like they used to then. The factory was so noisy. Lovely canteen, and the meals in the vending machines were OK too. For a short time I went into a small office in the press shop, reading the quantities on the machine and noting breakdowns etc. The women there worked so hard, a special breed (It doesn't sound as worthy a description as they deserve - sorry). They remined me so much of my mother who I had seen working on machines at a brush factory. They were a great crowd!!!
john mclaren
New Member
Yep, I worked there 1970 to 1972 in the Met Lab. It was a good Company to work for and lots of interesting people.
diane james
proper brummie kid
I started work there in 1959. It was an amazing place, we had live groups there.
The Modernaires played there a few times.
I lived in Trinity Terrace. Off Camp Hill.
The Modernaires played there a few times.
I lived in Trinity Terrace. Off Camp Hill.
Mary keeling
New Member
bob allcock
master brummie
yes I worked there from 1962_ 78,bob allcock,ex apprentice,new all the somervilles,sadley recently met up with george and paul at alex,s funeral. until the lock down we,ex workers, have regular meet ups at the briar rose in bennetts hill.
Hi Bob,
I was an craft apprentice from 1966 to 1969, I did off the job training at Garretts Green and worked at W H Small, went to the Heath Street Training school for a while and was in maintenance at H&S. I still have my log book from the Training School signed by Tom Hobourn and complete with my first payslip net pay £3.18. 8. I remember your name as an ex apprentice but cannot put a face to the name, mind you it has been 54 years ago. I left in 1969 following a disagreement with David Lloyd on my future training. I was sad to go but it worked out ok in the end. regards Bob
bob allcock
master brummie
HI BOB, THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY,[ SPENT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AT SMALLS LEARNING ABOUT PRESS TOOLS.A FEW NAMES YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ,JOHN MONROE, KEITH NEWBURY, BILLY BRITTON. I DO REMEMBER TOM AND LlOYD ALTHOUGH JIM COCKROFT AND DAVID PLANT RAN APPRENTICE TRAINING IN MY TIME AND MY GOOD FRIEND BOB KAINE AFTER THEM. BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE . TAke care bob.
Hi Bob,
I remember John Munroe, I think he was works manager at Smalls and ended up running the tool room at H&S, certainly way above my pay grade. I worked for a lovely guy when I was there called Charlie Gough who was like a kindly granddad figure, he was a charge hand ( there is a title from the past), his brother Frank was the foreman . I worked on the pressed nut tapping machines apparently designed by Mr Small himself.
I also had another unexpected educational experience when I was there.There was a mature Welsh female press operator (name withheld to protect the innocent) who was very fond of men in general and young ones in particular. Let us say as an innocent 16 year old from an all boys school, I learned things and was made propositions that I did not know happened in the real world. I think I was damaged for life and today would need counselling, but then it was a great story for your mates, I think I am over it now.
I remember Jim or Mr Cockcroft as we knew him and he had an assistant in my time called Ken Buckley who was a nice guy and took us camping etc. When at H&S on mantenanance I worked for another lovely old guy called Joe Reid, ( who had been injured in WW2 daylight raids on BSA ) he taught me lots about engineering and life and treated me like a son. As you said good days
Regards
Bob
I remember John Munroe, I think he was works manager at Smalls and ended up running the tool room at H&S, certainly way above my pay grade. I worked for a lovely guy when I was there called Charlie Gough who was like a kindly granddad figure, he was a charge hand ( there is a title from the past), his brother Frank was the foreman . I worked on the pressed nut tapping machines apparently designed by Mr Small himself.
I also had another unexpected educational experience when I was there.There was a mature Welsh female press operator (name withheld to protect the innocent) who was very fond of men in general and young ones in particular. Let us say as an innocent 16 year old from an all boys school, I learned things and was made propositions that I did not know happened in the real world. I think I was damaged for life and today would need counselling, but then it was a great story for your mates, I think I am over it now.
I remember Jim or Mr Cockcroft as we knew him and he had an assistant in my time called Ken Buckley who was a nice guy and took us camping etc. When at H&S on mantenanance I worked for another lovely old guy called Joe Reid, ( who had been injured in WW2 daylight raids on BSA ) he taught me lots about engineering and life and treated me like a son. As you said good days
Regards
Bob
bob allcock
master brummie
hi.mary, I too would like to find out about clive,who was agreat mate as apprentices, along with ron akril,graham smith,and pete grainger. If you do hear of any of them or anyone else who worked there up until it closed down please let us know. regards bob allcock.
diane james
proper brummie kid
I started at Haddon and Stokes in 1960 as a junior typist, was often sent into the factory where I used to get lots of wolf whistles, it was such a fun place to work. I was also one of the girls to put on a pantomime and we went to a prison to perform, much to my Dads disgust. Also remember the dances where a group,called the Modernaires played. Good old rock n roll.
Diane from Trinity Terrace
Diane from Trinity Terrace
Hi Bob,
I am one of Graham Smith’s daughters. My mum Sheila found this forum. She also has fond memories of working there. I will tell my Dad about this site. I am sure he will be thrilled to hear about it. I will tell him to register. Kind regards Claire
bob allcock
master brummie
hi claire, so good to hear from you, I new graham very well and remember sheila too. graham,ron,robin and pete grainger were top guys to us first year apprentices along with 4 or 5 others of their year. as soon as I send this this I will call bob kaine and let him know we have made contact with one of the top apps. IF GRAHAM can let us know of any one else who was in apprentice scheme let us know, before lockdown we had regular meet ups. kind regards bob.
bob allcock
master brummie
hello again claire, just incase you happen to see this reply its to let you know that we ex.apprentices are meeting up on the 27 of april at the malt shovel stonebridge island 12 noon,we have booked 2 tables.a very good and old friend of grahams, george somerville will be there. all the very best bob.
Hi Bob,
I have spoken to my Dad & he has asked me to let you know that he will definitely be joining you all on the 27th April. My Uncle Mel is going to come along too with my Dad. He was also an apprentice at the same company.
kind regards Claire
bob allcock
master brummie
hi claire, thank you for your reply,have informed bob kaine and we look forward to meeting up with graham again after 50 years or more. kind regards bob.
Hi Bob, Claire pasted on the message to Graham and he will be attending. I am his brother in law and also was a GKN electrical apprentice (start 1966) based at Frederick Mountfords, my induction and couple of my placements were at Haddon & Stokes amongst others. I do hope you don't have any objections to me attending as well.
bob allcock
master brummie
hi mel, of course your welcome,but just been informed in the last 10 minutes the malt shovel at stonebridge has closed.new venue is the malt shovel in barston lane, solihull. b92 0jp.can you both make it, let me know asap. regards bob.
bob allcock
master brummie
hi clair, so sorry for this,have already sent message to mel. new venue the malt shovel in barton lane b92 0jp . the one at stonebridge island as closed. regards bob.
Bob. Yes we will both be there, thanks for letting me know.
bob allcock
master brummie
hi clair, your dad and mel made the meet up and had a great time. reconised him immediately and we had a good chat about the times we had together. I am sure he will be looking forward to the next one, thanks again for making the connection. kind regards bob.
Come across these with Graham on.
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bob allcock
master brummie
hi mel, absolutely top draw photos of ron and graham, just going to let bob kaine know. hope you both enjoyed our meet up and hope to see you both again next time. regards bob.
