More Brush lads named
IT’S a little while, well over a year actually, since these photographs were first featured, and regular Echo reader Doug Owen got in touch to identify some of the faces, but unfortunately we haven’t published his information until now.
Many to Doug apologies for the delay.
Looking Back contributor Chris Free originally sent in the batch of brilliant pictures for us to share.
Chris said they were: “Taken at Brush Electrical Machines circa 1950.
“My father Tony, with some of his workmates
“I believe this is the armature winding department (from memory).”
Doug, in his eighties and former Brush worker started work as apprentice in 1953.
Like a few of his old Oswestry school (“It was seen as a nursery for the Brush”) classmates at the time, Doug started his craft apprenticeship at the old Brush training centre in Regent Street.
He was lodged at Brooklands in Forest Road. Other apprentices also stayed at The Gables nearby.
When he started at the age of 16, his total wages, with a cost of living bonus of 9s 1d, were 27s 2d.
In total Doug spent 43 years at the firm, including the two years of national service which, by complete coincidence was at Woodhouse Eaves attached to Beaumanor Hall.
After national service he returned to work at Brush Electrical Machines in the winding section.
After seeing the pictures he identified: Richard Hallam, Fred Norris, Aubrey Edinburgh, Walter Willis (previously identified by his sister Sylvia Kinsey) Tony Freer,
Dennis Smith, Phil Newton, Ted Banton and Johnohn Williams.