Love blossomed over a flat tyre
THE ECHO archives have thrown up some interest in recent weeks from readers, and when Looking Backer Liam Coleman was hunting for stories from 50 years ago he came across the news that engineers and mill furnishers Z. Onions and Sons were vacating their premises in Derby Road after over 100 years and would be moving to a new work shop and store.
Regular Looking Back contributor Mike Jones has been in touch and sent in several photos of the area of Derby Road where the engineers had their premises.
Mike said that according to Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History, the firm was formed by Zachariah Onions in 1852 and by 1890 was producing Paraffin Engines.
It was listed as still operating in the 1970s following its incorporation in 1958 and the move to Station Avenue.
Mike said that 39 Derby Road (Where the engineer’s premises originally were) was just down the road from the larger shop front of the Clarke and Partridge plumbing business.
He also said that a Zachariah Onions, of nearby 60 Regent Street, is recorded as having died on 11 April 1898, and that presumably this was the founder and the business was then taken over by his sons.
He said: “I can’t remember whether the shop front itself was used as a retail outlet, but the firm was clearly open for business in the early 1960s, albeit somewhat run down, prior to the move to Station Avenue.”
Another Looking Back reader has been in touch and told us of her Zack Onions love story, and how a flat tyre ended in marriage.
Mrs Paul Hallam, 75, from Loughborough contacted Looking Back and told us that her husband Barry served his time at Zack Onions and Sons and qualified as a heating engineer.
She said he served his apprenticeship on leaving Limehurst Boys School and was called to do his national service for two years before he returned to Zack’s, and Mrs Hallam said that this was where they met.
She said: I used to park my bike near the boiler house at Whiffen and Sons’ rear entrance via Zack’s, and Jack Bailey, the boiler man, used to let my tyres down and get Barry to pump them back up for me!
“Jack used to say “there is a nice young man working at Zack’s, I’ll let the tyres down and get him to pump them back up for you” and so the rest is history!
“We were married in 1962 and sadly Barry passed away in 1985.
Pauline said she remembered quite a few of the “chaps” at Zack’s and said they were all very friendly.
She said: “I remember Harold Dexter (Chatty); little Tommy Freeman, Bob Granger (Crocket), Derek Hassell, Henry Onions, Len Stone, Johnny Wilder, A young boy with tight black curly hair who lived on the New Ashby Road.
“A Mr Cook also worked there and as his cortege travelled along the Derby Road passed Zack’s all the men stood in silence, outside the shop front of the premises to pay their respects to a former colleague.
“Ken Onions and nephew, also worked in the offices, and also a Sid Goodson who lived on Knightthorpe Road in Loughborough.
“Barry went all over the country with work - him and Len Stone travelled to South Shields and was stranded there in a very bad snow storm.
“Melton Mowbray (The Cheese Factory) was a place frequently visited, Barry used to make and install the wires attached to the cheese machine’s - hence how the blue cheese Gorgonzola has got veins.
Do you remember the engineers Z. Onions and Sons? Maybe you used to work there, or maybe you know anyone that used to work there? Please contact Looking Back on 01509 635806 or email liam.coleman@trinitymirror.com