Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Does anyone have any information on anyone living today that worked in the Toolroom between 1940-1946 under George Crawshaw
Trevor B Williams

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

My grandfather was a foreman around that time, his name was Arthur Livesey, sadly though no longer with us,

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

My father worked there around this time, his name is Norman Haythorne.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Hinsha
Glad to here from you, i worked in the tool room at H&B and seem to remember the name did he work at the globe works,how long have you lived down under

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Hi Trevis2

Thank you for you reply, I left Accrington in 1962, I have been back several times and will return this year. My father worked in H @ B but not too much is know, he is dead now and I do remember the area, I was put into the pre school? near Richmond Hill Street and often saw the H @B furnace from there. I was a young nipper at the time. My father was only working part time, simply because there was not enough work for everybody. I do recall the name Crawshaw however. Please contact me if you wish to correspond. I was born in 1942. Few people from this era are available to contact.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Sorry I misled you, I have just been corrected by my dad, who has a better memory than me and he is 82yrd old, he tells me my grandfather Arthur Livesey didnt work in the tool room but the ring frame room on the top floor of H & B and he wasnt foreman he was a shop steward. I couldnt have got it more wrong.
I was just wondering if anyone has any photographs of INSIDE H & B
I have a couple of the outside if anyone wants them. I too left Accrington in 1962/63 at the age of 12/13yrs and returned to a much changed Accy in Oct 2004
Sheila

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Hi. I was an apprentice in the toolroom at H&B, from '62 to '64, as part of a 6 year appreticeship. In '64 I finished my time and in '65 was moved to the Planning Office, where I wrote programs for the Numerical Control machines that H&B were investing in.
The Toolroom foreman in my time was George Crawshaw.
Other names I remember are: Jimmy Butterworth, Alec Staff, John Elwood, Wilson Penny (who smoked Balkan Sobranie in the afternoon), Harry Day, Herbert Sutcliffe, Roy Bradley, Alan Taylor, Albert Cronshaw, Dick Ingham, Charlie Whalley, Bob Jackson, Kevin Birkin. There are lots of others that I cannot recall, although I can see their faces.
I recall them with affection; they are the ones to whom I am indebted for the skills, knowledge and work ethic that have allowed me to have fulfilling, comfortable and useful life.
I am Ivor Gears and would be greatfull if some one else can fill in the gaps of my memory.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

John Ellwood was my grandad, I often heard him talk about Alec Staff but dont remember him mentioning any of the other names - I think he retired in about 1970 or possibly slightly earlier after long service to H and B

Any memories of my Grandad would be most welcome

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

I was born 1944, lived Arncliffe Avenue, sister was Anne. Our dad worked H&B when I was a youngster---Walter Brennand

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

John Ellwood was my mentor for a time in the Inspection dept. I remember him with great affection. Alec Staff was in charge of the Inspection dept. in my time, but he became forman when George Crawshaw retired. When I was a Planning Engineer, I could approach Alec to get tooling made on my say so, with paper work to follow. He and some of the names I have mentioned, were not allowed to enlist in WWll, and although only teenagers, ran the toolroom throughout the war, the older skilled men having escaped early.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Did you work at TMM? If so, I think I met you once or twice.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

I worked in the toolroom in 1971 I did 6 mths as part of my apprenticeship. Alec and his brother Harold were in charge...Alec was foreman and Harold I think was the chargehand (both deceased I think). Some names I remember...Phil Wardle, Arthur (forget), Brian Sutch, Alan Parsons, Charlie Whalley (now deceased).....In Tool planning I remember Ronnie Webster,Alan Hellack, Fred Wild...I'll have to think of some more...

Phil

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Hi.
I was in the Planning Office in '71, writing programs for the NC machines. I remember Jimmy Butterworth, Stewart Kenyon(Cougar) and some of the Jig & Tool draughsmen, John Lowe, Gordon Birtwistle(Maigret), Trevor Duckworth, Joe Rayner, Alan Taylor, Gerry Pilkington and Tony Wilson.There are many others who I can recall but not name

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

I remember some of those...wasn't Joe Raynor in charge of the planning office, under Ronnie Webster who was Production Manager. I remember someone called Alan..lived on Grantham rd near Hollins lane. They were in the same office together, Jig and tool, Planners and the workstudy guys....I worked on Workstudy for a while.....

Phil

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

My grandad Wilson Yates worked at H&B not sure what department though, my dad also served his time as an electrician there Bryan Yates is his name.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Hi Ivor,
coincidentally I have a couple of friends who live in Woodbridge....Paul and Lesley Hands.....drive a couple of large motorcyles in the area...forget the address...

Know them?

Phil

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

My Dad worked at H & B in the early 60s, not sure where but I used to wave to him through the windows down willows lane. Donald Mackey (gone now!!!!!) anyone remember him?

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

My dad worked at H&B throughout the war years in the fluted roller section at Stevenson St.He told me many tales of his fire watching duties there,and his dalliances with the influx of female labour at that time.He retired after 35 years there with a gold watch(never knew what happened to it).His name was Albert Duckworth.....
I also worked there for 4 or 5 years in the same section in the early 60,s before migrating to Australia.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Hi. I don't know them. I actually live in a village called Rendlesham, but Woodbridge is our postal town.
You workstudy guys wore white coats with green collars; the planners had blue collars, the Jig & Tool drafys had red collars. Can you remember the name of the guy in charge of the workstudy dept? (or ratefixers as they were known to me)

Ivor

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Yeah the colours are right....When I was there Keith Harrison was in charge...I seem to remember Derek Hull (wore a hairpiece), Harry ?, one lad on planning was an albino if i remember..very white hair and dark glasses...cant remember anymore names at the mo...

Phil

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

I remember a don mackey who worked in a joiners shop in rishton in the late eighties,used to do a few hours in a morning 3 days a week.he was not long retired a real character.just wondering could this be your dad

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Ivor Gears, I remember you. I'm Jim Ashworth, I worked with Ken Hindle, Bill Ruane Alan Braithwaite, Norman Butterworth, Alan Briggs etc. wasn't it you who broke your ankle in a football match we had with the design office we called our team Toolventus? They won unfortunately.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

I remember John Elwood, he lived up Fern Gore I think or around there. I first met mim when I was an apprentice in the tool drawing office. I took 10:1 layouts of tools down for grinding on the shadowgraph. He was in there with Alec Staff. Then he came up into the office as a planner. That was after the big fire we had.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

I remember that match because I broke my wrist (not my ankle). Did you ever buy a suit length from Bill Ruane?

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

The suit length. I can't remember if I did. I bought a couple of chrome plated horns off him and put them on the Bedford.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

my dad also worked at H&B for many years . his name was Harry Hoyle also very sadly passed a few months after his retirement in 1978 . They called them progress chasers in those days . Suppose that would translate to production controllers these days. My dad was also very involved with Accrington Football combination(remember cleaning all the cups every year for the prize giving) and he was secretary of Sydney street working mens club.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Me dad was on committee yon,when Harry was secretary,;) in fact remember him mentioning yer owd man a time or two.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

My father worked bulldogs for over forty years he was a progress clerk his name was Tom Feeley.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

John was my Granddad and he lived on Brocklehurst Avenue - glad you remembered him after all these years - passed away 30+ years ago but a real influence on my life

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

He was a gent. I can see his face now talking to him in the office, he used to catch the morning bus to work and used to talk to my then girlfriend who worked at Highams.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

I was in the Tool Room around 1966-67 as an apprentice. George Crawshaw was the foreman. I also spent time in Planning and tool design around 1971-73 before leaving Platts. I remember Joe Rayner as head of planning and Ronnie Webster as a manager of something? A few other other name ring a bell but can't place a face to the names.
Ken Nash

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Anyone remember Jim Ward who lived on Ormerod Street?

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Hello Ken, I left Platts in July 1970 and came to Canada. Living in Cambridge now. A few names from Tool Design, Ken Hindle, Bill Ruane, John Watterson, Mick Grimshaw. A good bunch.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Hi Jas

Small world! I have been in the electricity business since I arrived in Toronto in 1981. I am guessing you may have joined Babcocks? Bullougs and Platts were a great engineering experience.

I remember Bill (lived Rawtenstall way) Mike and John.

Couple more names: Dave Slipper (survived stoke while he was there) and Jack Parr.

cheers

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Hi.
I am new to this site.
Does anyone know if Edward Harrison from Emma Street ever worked at H.B.
Thank you for your time

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

My Grandfather Albert (Dick) Swain worked at H&B from approx. 1910 until his retirement in approx. 1950. He was the manager of the moulding dept.
He originated from Birmingham and came to Accrington because of his experience in moulding cast steel as opposed to cast iron.
I seem to remember he had a big send off at the then Ritz Ballroom.
He passed away in 1958 at the age of 78 and had lived at 1, Belfield Rd. for most of the time.

Cheers

Philip Kenyon

Late of Belfield Road

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Hi Sheila,
My father was a time served engineer at H&B , and left in 1936 to go to Leyland Motors...He was born in 1912, sadly died in 1959, and I remember some of the names I see on here....I was born in Leyland in 1939 and moved to Accrington in 2006...dads Name, ( Frederick Francis Dilworth...)

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Bit late getting back to you but yes it was my Dad. He's been gone a few years now and so has Mum. He loved that little job he had with you, gutted when he was laid off.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Was at Tech same class as John Watterson he lived on Thorneyholme Rd back then, He will be 70 now if its the same one? dunno what became of him, aint seen him since Moby Dick was a tadpole, was a good lad though.;)

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Got to be the same John Watterson. He is about the same age as me. He came into the drawing office from the Tool Room and I think he was doing his T2 or T3 up Sandy Lane. We had some good laughs.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Wattie's still with us

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Good to hear

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

Remember Wattie very well at H&B and around town. I recall he was a friend of Steve Coulson who lived on Bold Street.

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

I am Roy Elliott I worked in the tool room to about May 1964 then went into T.D.O. till Sept 1964. I remember all those but I think it was Keith Birkins. There was also the Holden brothers , Tommy(jig boring) Johny(shaping) and I think Abert(fitter). There was also a Tony Hewitson who ran the tool annex section. from the T.D.O. I remember Jim Hartley, Terry Mercer, Brian Carlton, John Law, Gordon Birtwistle. I enjoyed my 10 yrs at Bulloughs t moved to Singer Cobble Blackburn

Re: Howard & Bullough Toolroom 1940-1946
 

My Father worked in the H & B tool room, moving to Leyland Motors in 1936.He was Freddie Dilworth, and died Christmas eve `1959,,,,,,Tony,,,,Son..