Walmsleys

Any old Walmsleys ladd out there from '73 to 84?

my dad worked at Walmersleys for many years until taking early retirement due to health problems.He worked in the drawing office.His name was Bernard Vose.He worked there so long he was part of the furniture

I don't know the name mamvee, but he would most likely have known my dad... he worked in the drawing office too. His name was Norman Batho.

Oganeil , I worked in the Top erecting shop from 1963 to 1969 served my time there as a Fitter. Great memories

Damned shame the place closed. Last time I was around there the place had been split into small industrial units. Sad to see it go. I was a plater there from '73 to '84 and baled out when everything got transferred to Bolton. I left Wigan in 1998 and just lost touch with everyone.

Come on you blokes who worked there , must be lots of you still kicking around, lets hear from you

mi borother worked there a think because wen i was a kid remember going to kids christmas party also new a bloke what work there burt winstanley from ince

The name Burt Winstanley rings a bell

Albert Winstanley worked in the shot blast machine with Jack Curless his brother Ernie Winstanley worked with me in the Fab shop under big Jimmy Dooney. I would guess oganeil is Neil B.

Oganeil is Neil B! I remember Ernie W very well. So, come on Curly, gizza clue who are you?

you asked brian for my email and also on f/b

I never got it...... JC by any chance?

bang on pal.

Th'only bloke I could remember wi curly 'air. (mind you, FB gidditaway)

Alf Hill worked there for a long time.

Oh aye, Billy Oakley was a curly un too

My dad was wages mon, Tony Conroy.

excellent photo of your dad in work album

Bennielechat..... I never realised it was your owd mon there!

He short paid me by 13 pence in 1975!!

Bennie , was your father a man about 5foot 8 with blond hair?

This is my dad at work, he didn't have blond hair but he was about 5 8 aussie.

I'm new to the messageboard but I wondered if anyone remembered my dad. He started at Walker brothers and retired from Bolton Walmsleys. His name was Jimmy Eatock.

Hi Pam firstly welcome to WW was your dad the brother in law of Chris Walls and worked in the Fab shop planning officer manager .

Hi Curly.Yes that's my dad. My Uncle Johnnie Hitchen worked at the same place as well.

I knew Jimmy very well good bloke not sure of Johnnie Hitchen though great place to work real good spirit amongst the men.

I also remember Jimmy Eatock.... great guy. Had many a laugh with him when I had to spend three months in the planning office while I was serving my time!

This thread has probably gone cold now but in reply to mamvee - yes I remember your dad Bernard Vose. I worked in the drawing office at Walmsleys from 1968-72. Bernard was a Senior Engineer and I was a humble draffy (draughtsman) who sometimes did work for him. He was a lovely kind man who didn't bully or pressurise to get work done but got it through respect. I used to keep my eye on him because he would sometimes have a diabetic reaction if he didn't eat during the morning and I would give him a Kitkat to stabalise him.

I have only read this page recently so this is another late response to oganeil. Yes I remember your dad Norman Batho, he worked in the drawing office with me. He was a real character, always joking and cheerful. He was friendly with another draughtsman called Rod Allen they knocked about together. I also remember he liked a pint, I think his favourite watering hole was the Ben Johnson at Marus Bridge.

I know Rod Allen, he worked at BNFL in the 1980's.
Other Walmesley's / BNFL people:
Harry Stevens
Eddie Highton
Phil Marsden

Hi stuart.
Thanks for that. What a small world, I worked at UKAEA Risley in the 1980's as a draughtsman which is on the same site as BNFL .I assumed that Rod Allen stayed on at Walmsleys to the end as I'm sure he was a Walmsleys apprenice. Does anybody know when the Pagefield site was shut down ?. I was transferred to the Bury operation in probably 1971 like most of the Pagefield drawing office. I also know Eddie Highton would that be from Rose Bridge School ?.

raymyjamie,
Which drawing office did you work in at UKAEA?

Hi Stuart - I worked in E Block in the Reactor Technology Design Office usually known as RTDO. I was there for 18 months in 1981/82.

I worked in CPDO, Chemical Plant Drawing Office, 1975-1981. Last 2 years we were in T Block.

Should have been a cell block

Should have been a cell block

Stalking me again, Fat Boy?

Hi Stuart.
Looks like we could have been on site at the same time - if
only for a short time.
Were you a 'draughtsman' like me ?.
Actually I think we were called Technology Officers.

Yes.
Professional & Technical Officer Grade III.

Oganeil was your Mum called Phyl? My Mum used to work with a Phyl Batho at the Shell petrol station up near the M6 at Marus Bridge.

Hi Oqaneil

I also worked at the top erecting shop around the time 1984 before leaving for N.Z. my dad also served his time there in the late 1930's - 1940. I see there selling all the Paper Making Machines etc over here in NZ - Most are in a big demand ? enjoyed building / erecting the units & learned a few things on the way. Won a medal in the intershop footie final ! Great times + Great lunch breaks.

Komara

Just for you UKAEA folk, I was one of the first to move into 'E' Block in 1960 our offices being previously in the old munitions filling sheds. Where you aware that the block was so designed to become an emergency hospital in the Cold War period if you visualise the floor layout it will fall into place,two rows of beds and service access route through the middle.

Didn't know that Orrellite, thanks for the information.

Did you know Alan "Chiefy" Lomas, he was one of the first timers?

sorry no, I worked in the Civils design office mainly design work for Winfrith Heath in Dorset ,I did spend a short time up at Dounray

Rodney Day was the Civil Chief Engineer.

Dounreay, so did I. Ormlie Lodge, Viewfirth Club, Upper Deck, remember any of these places?

hi komara if your first name is Kev I think I know you .I served my time at Walmsley's and worked there till 1976 in Barley Brook ,6 Bay and 8 Bay.

In my time at Risley F N Shimmin was Chief Civil Engineer, Davies was his Deputy ,Can't remember the name of the Hostel near the station in Thurso or the club just up the hill from there, spent 6 months there in 1959 ,some days out of Scrabster on the hired local fishing boat taking positioning readings over the sea outfall for the Chemists to take water samples. As I was intraining got the full tour of the site at Dounray including going on the floor of the fast breed reactor just before it went critical later that year

raymyjamie... correct, my dad did like a pint or two in the Ben Johnson. I remember Rod Allen too.

Britgirl... correct too. My mum was Phyllis and did work in the shell garage. I will probably know your mum too.

Oganeil
Please tell me your dad is well & still knockin' 'em back.

He is rmj. Lives in Beech Hill. Not sure which watering hole he uses, but sure he has one!!

Glad to here it oganeil. Give him my best regards.

Hi farrie John Collier here I remember you and Kevin Hinigan coming into to foundry at Barley Brook on a Monday and telling us about doing a runner from a chinese. Do you remember this lot, Bill Trowbridge, Tony Treloare, Jimmy Jones and Dickie Danson the crane drivers, George Benson, George Birch, Alf Hill etc good times.

john 46 I was a good mate of Kevin Hinigan and knew Big Bill Trowbridge both Walnmsley lads Kevin went into the Merchant Navy and I followed him great times

Hi John Staveley here. I was in the first or second intake at the Bolton Apprentice training school and worked as an apprentce fitter from circa 1963 to 1970's and remember most of people referred to above and many more besides but haven't seen any of them having moved out of area. My father Jack Staveley worked in the No 7 Bay (top shop?)as a fitter and spoke highly of several of his apprentices in particular Dennis R in Oz? and ? Leak and several fitters he had lunch with one of which left and worked at Regent truck.
Best regards to everybody.

hi john only just seen your post ,yeah remember um all apart from George benson can't place him at all ,hope you are well nice to hear from you after so long BTW have you moved on from the Corsair ?

Hi I am not the John or Kev in earlier posts (1461)the No 7 Bay I was referring to was the Walmsleys No 7 Top errecting shop.
I was sent up to Barley Brook several times but don't remember any names.
The fitter I was referring to was Terry Hilton but don't expect he reads Wigan World.
Some of the initials of apprentices I remember from Walmsleys Apprentice Training School 1963? where AT MM EC SM DB WB AP NoelI Best regards to them and all the apprentices and fitters in the Railcar shop.

Hi Bernard good to hear from you, yeah sold the Corsair after 10 years, I now live in Shevington, not sure now if that other lads name was Benson, his dad was a painter there called Jack, George was nearly always late and was an expert on working out winnings on the horses for people, tall slim lad with gingery coloured hair

hi john memory playing tricks with me but only George with those features was George Naylor who'se dad worked in Fibrglass shop , but think his name was George as well T T became a director at Walmsleys years later ,he set up a service department to visit mills ,which I did for a few years .seen a few of the old guard over the years but not regularly

Jackbyard , How good to hear from you I was an apprentice to your father for whom I had the highest regard a great tradesman and a gentleman . George Redmond was our chargehand and Stan Barlow was a Fitter in No7 bay also . I am very pleased to hear your father spoke of me as he was a fountain of knowledge to a young boy keen to learn the fitting trade. I also went to the Bolton training school but I am sorry I cannot place you . I do remember Terry Hilton. I hope you are keeping well best wishes

Hi Bernard, George Naylor yes that's the name the old brain not is working properly.
Spot on mate yes his dad worked on the fiberglass rolls a real nice guy.

a mate of mine used to go in the warmsleys called jimmy higham.

aussie 94 yes he spoke very highly of you and terry and I think there was another one or two others?? who he lunched with who gave him a sugary drink when his diabetes played up. George Redmond was the chargehand and wasn't Fred Makin the foreman in 6 or 7 bay and and Alf Donaldson the other one, all were gentlemen and real characters.
I think you might have been in the very first intake at the apprentice training school if you were the same age as bill trowbridge or the year or two after if you followed Kevin into the Navy as I recall Kevin Hinigan being in our year (1963/64) as well as Alan Turner of Shims tinfoil fame who worked in bottom shop with me and Michael Morgan, David Birchall et al who worked in 6,7 and 8 bays.
It was a great place to serve your time as a fitter, turner, boiler maker and tinsmith. Do you remember Ted Causey in the tinsmith department who clad everything that didnt move with stainless steel.

jackbyard Alf Donaldson was the chief foreman Fred was under him with jacj xholmes. I remember Michael Morgan his Father Ted also worked thre. I was in the first intake to Bolton. Great times back then

Jack Holmes was my father in law. Worked at Walkers from leaving school until he retired.

Jack Holmes was my father in law. Worked at Walkers from leaving school until he retired.

I went to school with Michael Morgan and it was his father who suggested we should put our names forward for interview as apprentices. I haven't seen Michaelfor over 40 years but heard that he became a head teacher. Do you know if he finished his apprenticeship or left early for teachers training college? After serving my apprenticeship as a fitter I was promoted to the plant jig and tool office working with more senior colleagues Jimmy Carr, Ronnie Cox and Les Smallman from whom I learned quite a lot and received a lot of co-operation from Jack Holmes and Co as well as Arthur Penson and Frank Blundell Toolroom foremen, Bert Platt Works Superintendant. Also the boiler shop foreman of Messrs Dooney and Greenway and machine shop foreman Stan? who always chewed chewing gum but I have forgotten his surname.
Have you seen the 30 + photographs of Walkers/ Walmsleys which can be found by going to Wigan World home page then "Albums" then "Work places" and scrolling down to Walmsleys I am on a couple of photos stood next to John Case.

Oops I recall the machine shop foreman was Cliff Gaskell? not Stan.

Jackbyard yes i remember Bert Plat Dennis Walmesley was the works manager

Jimmy Dooney and Joe Greenway were the fabshop foremen, and Billy Garside was the welding foreman while I was there in the 70s and early 80s. There were also two other foremen whose names escape me, one was a smallish guy with a bald heed. Had some great times there until it shifted to Bolton! I baled out before the move and went back to visit a couple of times and realised I had made the right move!

aussie94 you probaly didn't have much contact with but knew of Vinny Clough who was foreman in the bottom shop railcar and Chris Hopkinson (chris hock) foreman over the sub contract building of Nash pumps where i started my apprenticeship. Some of the fitters i worked for were Wally Sayer,Jack Ainsworth,Roy Shepherd who became foreman after Vinny,Ted Porter,Eric Humpheries and John Case.Good times

Jackbyard,

I remember Ted Porter.... he was big into motorbikes wasn't he?

Yes he visited IOM for TT races every year and has posted most of the photos on wigan world under "album" "work" and "walmsleys"

BMW R62, and a GT 750 Suzuki 2 stroke triple were two of his bikes if I remembere rightly. I had a weedy little 125 Suzuki and was jealous as hell!

Organeil. On my first day in the railcar shop the first thing I saw on the shop floor was this top of range Norton twin with a huge fairing and state of the art clip on handlebars; apparently Ted had been working nights and had brought his bike in for security? or doing a foreigner?
At the time I rode my fathers 500cc Norton ES2 and thought I was king of the road until a Walmsley fitter or plater pulled up alongside me on a 250cc Yamaha at that low level bridge near where Parrys is now. When the lights changed I hadn't got out of bottom gear before he dissapeared. That would be circa 1964 do you recall who that might have been

Jackbyard, I'm afraid '64 was way before my time. I only started my apprenticeship in 1973, so no idea who that would have been.

Organeil' I don't expect your father will remember me as I was an apprentice fitter for 5 years then in the Plant Jig and Tool office for 2 years until 1970 and didn't have much contact with the main Drawing Office. Other than accompany the Works Engineer to investigate complaints of extreme low temperatures and look surprised when the thermometer read 21 degrees; after his thumb had touched the back of bulb containing the mercury for a few seconds When you next speak to your father i should be grateful if he would remind me of the names of Chief Draughtsman / Engineer and some of the section Engineers / Leaders in 60's /70's?

Is there a Walmsleys reunion night anywhere.

That'd be a good neet John!! I'd make an effort to get there for that! When were you there?

Early 60s to late 70s. Served my time at barley brook.