Hi All. I have just got a mail from Pete McCreary introducing your forum...Are there any ex Ward apprentices out there..where do I start...what about at the beginning. All those names out there must remember ALBERT MORGAN he was the progress chaser. When Albert finished his National Service in 1955 he was jobless ( after working for Langs Brushes). He played football for Weoley Castle where Bill Kenney was the chairman ( Bill bored the turrets on a big 10 at Wards ), Bill got Albert a job at Wards. Albert was there from 1955 to the sad end! How do I know all this, Albert married my sister in 1958 ( when I was 5!). Albert sadly passed away last year at 85. I am sitting in Albert's house , visiting with my sister in Headless Cross, Redditch right now mailing this. My name is Tony Gough and I started at Wards on 5th August 1968 ( aged 15). My aunt, Amy Evans worked in the canteen ( who can ever forget the dripping crusts!). My sister worked at Boxfoldia in Dale Road. I have always thought that Wards has been in my blood. It gave me the greatest start in life, best training anyone could wish for and gave me my best friend for life, Pete Mc Creary. Pete and I went on to work together in South Africa and USA. We have been together many times, in many places around the world, having a beer and we would say...not bad for a couple of lads from Wards in Smelly Bloke! I worked for the South African agent for Wards, BESCO. I went into sales and my very first sale...was a reconditioned Ward 2D. I told the customer it was a good one..because I reconditioned it! Peter won't mind me telling you that he is still in machine tools after all these years but spends most of his time between his home in LA and his coffee farm in Hawaii. I was lucky to retire at 49 after selling my company in Birmingham, by the Aston Science Park. As we say not bad for lads from Wards in Smelly Bloke. Back to Wards. I remember so well Arther Parish telling us all it was all over but the 5 years I had there were some of the best times of my life. Let's do some name checks. Training center, Phil Luke and Jim Salmonds ( Tom Carabine was in charge of training ). Ronnie Bass was my first boss on the small Caps, Harry Blueitt, Eric James ( and Eileen ). Someone mentioned John the labourer..Johnny Goldberg. Pete and I used to see John in Town and we always bought him a drink, we played him up wicked! I worked on Drilling with Pussy, Center Lathes with the Burridge Twins, The Grinders ( who remembers the old lad who used to go for a walk in the shop at lunch and had to be shown back to his machine because he got lost and then continue to grind to a 10th of a thou!). I used to give my bacon sandwich to Dave Tyres in the Hardening shop to keep warm till the 10 am tea break. I also worked for Sam on Top Caps ( 1st machine on the left by the Tool Room ). I remember like yesterday using a box tool to turn the end of a lead screw before it went back to thread grinding to finish it off. Johnny Huges and my old mate Malcom Argyle in the Tool Room. Malcom and I played football together on Sundays, we also played together For Wards when we won the Wards Cup at Blackpole, which I captained. Ted Williams presenting the cup. Talking of football, of course I remember you Roger Austin. Dick Page, John Day ( all older than me ). Anyone remember who used to write Knockem on the company notice board ( can't remember his name but I can see his face, he played in the same team when we won the cup). Pop Eye, the gate keeper, Tony and Jack Farrell ( which one was the fork lift driver, think it was Tony). Terry Box in the pattern Shop, Harry Woodward. Bottle, on Saddles ( who used to shock us all eating grubs at lunch!). Of the lads of my year . Malcom Davis, my old mate ( went on to work on the Prince of Monaco's ship as an engineer for 3 years). Trevor Hemus and I went to work in Germany together ( he still lives there) Neil Buffery ( half pint Buffry), Dinga Bell, Tony Traner, Phil Hands, Dave Smith ( Orange Box, he went on to marry Malcom Argyle's sister ). Joe Webster ( I was his best man , as he married an old girlfriend of mine from the Stirchley CineBowl ( nee Pavilion). Can't forget Ray Gadd, shop Maintenace. To finish off history Ted Williams was our Chairman, anyone remember his brother Frank, of F1 fame. The racing car came to Selly Oak once with Piers Courage as driver, sadly he was killed in a car crash in our car. Piers was from the Courage beer family. I got to know Frank though Bernie Ecclestone and told him of my connection to Wards. I kept in touch and always managed to get tickets for Grand Prix around the world, sadly Frank is no longer with us. I hope all reading this enjoyed the great memories that Wards gave us, Birmingham born, Wards made, that's me. If anyone wants to contact me, please do at
bcfctonygough@hotmail.com.