Made in Lavenham

Made in Lavenham

Saturday, 29 March 2014

Aerosols / Stores...

In the aerosol factory, (which I’m reminded was known as “The Station” as it used to be the train station before it got decommissioned in the 1960s), lighter fuel tins had been known to explode and shaving foam could get everywhere too. There was a huge old machine at the end of the line for sealing boxes, and it’d always be covered in glue and get stuck – so the fitter (Stephen) used to have to un-jam it.

Mr Pye was the manager and Jasper drove the fork lift truck.

Apparently there was a man called Bryan who was supervisor in aerosols, but I don’t recall him (maybe he was there before/after me).

I do not recall hearing the radio in there as the machinery made far too much noise.

We were allocated tasks for each day (loading the tins / putting in the valves / weighing / watching the water tank / putting caps on / packing / boxes) and we would try to swap with the other girls throughout the day (especially if you had a horrid job). I remember a few of the names of the other girls who I worked in there with: Annette, Cathy, Dawn, Martina, Violet & Joyce (Violet and Joyce were nearing retirement age). I think that we broke it down into 4 sections (start until morning break, after break til lunch, after lunch until afternoon break, after the break until home time.)

As well as the aerosol factory the building housed the soap machines and a warehouse. I remember that there was a lovely girl called Jackie who worked on soaps. She was a talented artist and used to bring in some of her wonderful pictures to show us.  Apparently the supervisor in the soap department was a man called Alf.

There was no canteen as such, but a room with a few tables and chairs and a hot drinks machine. If you wanted a hot dinner you would have to go down to the works canteen at Riverside Works – or go into the village.

As well as the aerosols and soaps, there was a large warehouse at The Station (aka The Stores).  A chap called Graham was the stores manager and old German guy called George Schuler was a floor supervisor/ manager. They wore white coats while the others had to wear the brown coats. I believe they shared a little office just outside the stores not far from where you clocked in.

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