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MEM Tyseley

  • Thread starter Thread starter oldgoose
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lisalottie65 said:
Hi. My mom worked at MEM for a short time in the late 70s. She is now 73 and according to the DWP she has a pension with "Delta" but she cannot find out any information. Can anyone help please?
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Lisa , Welcome to the forum I think you will find Delta which MEM became part of are now under the Eaton banner . Well it was when I retired in 2013 we used to sell their material day in day out when I was at work , I do hope you sort it out for your mother .
 
Elmdon Boy said:
Went passed the site of the old MEM in Reddings Lane today, shocked to find it totally demolished and a new housing estate sprung up. More memories of my past gone, I find it so sad.
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equally gutted, seems like all of my past has been destroyed too, MEM, YARDLEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, AP SPRINGS, BAKELITE FACTORY, pubs, THE GREET, THE BRITANNIA (old and new!) THE SERK there are so many more places that are now just memories, sign of the times I suppose, sign I'm getting old definitely!!
 
Living in Reddings Lane I have memories of the MEM, LUCAS, and the other factories up our road. As a young lad me and my mate from down the road used to make a guy around the end of October and sit on the pavement most evenings after 5:00pm to catch the workers with our ''Penny for the Guy!'' shouts as they all made their way down our road to the 44 buses on the Warwick Road to get home! I remember one occasion when my Dad asked me and Steven ''What are you doing watching TV?.....Never mind the rain, it's Friday!! You should be out there with your guy!''....He was right! we made a fortune that evening....Friday, pay day! Happy days!
 
Hello Robert, just a little bit beyond my childhood stomping ground I think, as that would be in Formans Road? my patch was the Warwick road end of Reddings Lane. When Mom took us swimming to Sparkhill Baths we'd have walked back past it on the way home, if we'd missed the 36!
 
Office Jnr said:
Do you remember Dave Bromhall( sales) & Shelia Barge(switchboard) I still see them on occasions. On the switch board along with Sheila, was Sandra & another lady whose name I cannot remember. She was always dressed well. In the buying office was Jim Cox, who I still see but will not speak too, also Robert Bothwell who now lives in Worthing.
I left in 1982 & believe it or not recently took early retirement. After having jobs as office manager working with Martin Gooding, still see Martin.
Then in the tool trade back with Graham Havard ex buyer MEM.
Then for an airline as buyer / project manager.
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Do you remember Sandra's surname on switchboard
 
Optrists said:
Do you remember Sandra's surname on switchboard
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No I can't, but have remembered the other person on the switchboard.
Her first name was Silvie I think, lived in Shirley?
When I went for my interview I was greeted by Sue Pemberton who was receptionist.
 
My Father Raymond William George Worked at the MEM on the Assembly line from the Late 1950's to March 1962 when we Migrated to Sydney Australia where he Started with the MEN in Redfern Sydney.
 
lisalottie65 said:
Hi. My mom worked at MEM for a short time in the late 70s. She is now 73 and according to the DWP she has a pension with "Delta" but she cannot find out any information. Can anyone help please?
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Hi just found this group as I am also trying to find my old pension, my father and I both worked there in the 80s and 90s, was wondering if you found any information about your pension
 
I visited the offices of MEM from time to time as part of the audit team from Peat Marwick. About 1968-70. It's a way of life that's long gone now; very deferential and paternalistic. That's not a criticism, just an observation.
 
Totally understand about the defenrential syle of the perdiod. I joined a black country firm as IT manager in about 1980. My newly acquired team insisted upon calling me "Mr Ellis'. I said, "oh no, please call me Jason". The head of my newly acquired departnent replied, "of course Mr Jason"
 
My grandfather worked there in the 60s and the 70s. Fred Basterfield. He was the Chairman eventually but started as an office junior. I'm keen to speak to anyone who remembers him or to see any pictures? It's lovely and quite eye opening to read all the comments on this thread - how different things were
 
Office Jnr said:
I worked in the buying office 1972-1982. Started as office jnr & left as Assistant Buyer. I remember so, so many names, Graham Havard whom I had a lasting friendship after MEM, till his passing four years ago. Jim Cox, Bob Bothwell, Sue Vincent, Anne, John Leeson, Margret Pratty, Margret Knott, Stan Robins & Richard Carpenter. Glennis, Barbara, June, Irene, Violet many, may more. So sad to see Reddings Lane get bulldozed. Like to hear from anyone who knows me Ian.
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Do you remember my Grandfather Fred Basterfield?
 
My wife has found this site by accident today and I am delighted.
Sadley but inevitably I now know that a number of people I remember have passed away.
I joined MEM in 1973 as a Chartered Accountant working with David Judd and
continued until 2003 by which time I was employed as the Company Secretary.
After a few years I was promoted to executive status and no longer took my cup of tea
off the trolley as recorded by another contributer to this site.
I remember Mary who appeared twice a day dressed in black and white and carrying a tray
with a tea pot etc.
There was however at least one tea pot lid which did not fit properly and if you were unlucky
and did not notice this you would find on pouring out the tea that the hot liquid would tend to
run down your sleeve instead of into the cup.
This happened to me several times including one time when I was offering tea to a guest.
I have many other memories of MEM but the above does rather stand out.
 
I used to work at Newey Goodman back in the days when people used nappy pins. Eurobrake, Serck and MEM, all are long gone. I was told there were MEM plants in Spring Road and Kings Road, don't know whereabout.
 
Susan Reeves said:
I used to work at Newey Goodman back in the days when people used nappy pins. Eurobrake, Serck and MEM, all are long gone. I was told there were MEM plants in Spring Road and Kings Road, don't know whereabout.
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The MEM factory Spring road had a very high/big square clock tower by the main gate, you could see this clock for miles around,keeping good time.(no excuse for being late).
Stephen.
 
Hi, Came across this site. My father Goher Rehman was a tool setter and worked here between about 1963 and 1978 does anyone remember him?
 
Just wondering if anyone from my time at MEM (1980-1988) remembers me at all. Wages Office junior to start and my Dad Reg Grice was over the printing Dept. I remember several names mentioned. My boss was Dorothy Ward and the girls I worked with Chris, Josie, Doreen to name a couple. Would be great to hear from anyone who remembers
 
oldgoose said:
I worked in the buying office of MEM in Reddings Lane in the 1970's. It was a well-established company and quite quaint and old fashioned in many ways. Waitresses dressed in black and white would bring tea and coffee round to the managers. The ordinary workers got two ladies from the canteen pushing a trolly with big urns on it. You were only allowed to use the lifts if you had a disability, were a director, or were pregnant . There were attendants in the toilets all the time, constantly making everything clean (even though the building was old).
I loved it there.Does anyone esle remember it?
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I worked as a Progress Chaser at the MEM during the summer holidays between 'O' and 'A' levels and then University during the late 1970's. First summer was at Spring Rd where the 'specials' were made. Only name I recall from there was a colleague called Barry Bennett who played bowls for 'The College Arms'. Next two summers were at Reddings Lane where I 'chased' out of the bottom office where my dad Albert Baghurst (MEM 1960's to 80's) also worked with colleagues Les Macefield, Horace, Rupert and the manager was Barry. Very easy work and not difficult to see why it was needed, or why a computer could easily cut the workforce by 95% in later years. My uncle, Albert Bennett worked in the Bakelite shop. Many happy memories and I am proud to say I once worked in UK manufacturing.
 
Susan Reeves said:
The MEM Spring Road wasn't far from the Reddings Lane site then
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A 5 minute walk - out the front door and left up Spring Rd to Reddings Lane, and right turn towards Olton Boulevard. I used to occasionally walk Bakelite strips for printing from one to the other to make sure they got there and were given priority.
 
Hi all

Was wondering if anyone could help.
I am trying to locate any documentation (preferably brochures, catalogues, technical product data) on the Memshield 1 range of switch gear, specifically panel boards.
I believe this range was launched around the mid 80's and was in production until around the early to mid 90's when it was replaced with the Memshield 2 range.
Eaton have no information that dates back this far and doing some digging online it appears that a lot of MEM archives were simply abandoned and left to be lost in the demolition of the Reddings Lane factory around 2017, which I find the lack of respect for the MEM history to be very sad.
It's a long shot, but thought it would be worth a try
 
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