18 replies to this topic

[jeb]

is there any one andout there who worked at beechams `1946 to the late1960 who remembers jim [ maintenace and betty powders]?

[JIMMYL]

I worked at Beecham's from 1968 to 1977. Was Jim the Foreman in the ground floor Fitting Shop. If so, then I can get back to you. Betty, well no I can't come up with anything here.

Jim Latham

[non sibi sed omnibus]

Didnt work at Beechams but can say--when was studying at "tech college"used to watch the girls coming out-I beleive Beechams had a horrible way of finishing them just as they were coming onto full money?My mum worked there when we had the flu epidemic.She had quite a few tales of how they were checked-fingernails,hair etc and how they had to measure out the powder and fold the strips!!I am sure there must be many of the Beechams girls who have a few tales to tell as well.Ribena/Germoline.When they had a reorganisation they sacked quite a few people cos new technology was going to save--unfortunately they hadnt realised with new technology you need to workforce to input so they then had to re employ staff.I believe the work then went to Birmingham?

[JIMMYL]

jeb, could the jim you refer to be Jimmy Gee. He was Foreman in charge of Fitting Shop, which was on Westfield St and the corner going onto the staff car park. I think that part of the building has been demolished. Still no info on "betty powders". Sorry, but I'll keep trying.

[jeb]

jimmy gee was forman fitter as stated in the ground floor fitting shop i worked in the electrical department as an electrician i even served my time there it was ahappy place to work at that time

[JIMMYL]

Hello Newbie, Yes it was a brilliant place to work. I loved every second. How many seconds are there in 9 years? Times change and we move on.
Jim Latham

[Dave]

In nine straight years there are 283824000, but that's not including leap years and each extra day would be 86400 seconds long, so for however many there were you just.... OK - I couldn't resist.

[non sibi sed omnibus]

Hi.sorry to be a damp squib.Havnt you forgotten about the earths tilt and spin changing over the millennia?and no doubt climate changers would also say thats affected as well.

[gypsygeoff]

Get a life,who gives a shit about thr earths sodding tilt!!!!!!!.Beechams was brill,I used to walk the gaunlet of the girls when going for me pimmies and a buttered barm whilst being at tech.It was a town icon,loved everyone of they girls,wish I could walk past them tomorrow.

[SKYMAN]

Let us assume that JIMMYL worked for eight hours a day so we deduct two thirds of the
total,because in fact even though he was on the payroll for nine years he wasnt actually
at work,it is a rough estimation that we sleep a third of our lives,work a third ,and a third
recreation,

[Dave]

You'd have to deduct weekends too. I was going off an overall state of euphoria over a nine year span.

[JIMMYL]

Betty Powders may possibly have been Betty McLoughlin (not sure of the spelling), who married John Stevens. John was a fitter at Beechams, working with Stan Gardner, on the Enos and Venos lines. Wish I was there now!

[SKYMAN]

like many other big firms Beechams deserted the town,
now smith cline ( clyne ) now in Barnstaple devon,
i remember when i was around 3,4,5 years old,
we lived about twenty yards from beechams this was the early thirties
all day and all night the 4,8,12,16,clang of the clock at each quarter of the hour,
after the 16 clangs came the hour,when we moved house we had to buy a clock,

[jeb]

spent many hours up the clock tower the view was excellent on a clear day of old st helens. the clock was hand wound until after the war when it was converted to electricity to save some one climbing the tower every few days

[Nanny Ogg]

Wasn't it Beechams had the siren go every morning to get the workers out of bed?