Famous Leyland People

[shuffy]

Many congratulations to your nephew Dipsy, now that is an achievement to be proud of.

[noel]

Schwans Pizza factory home of Chicago Town Pizzas. Well done.

[LDunlop76]

Well done, Jonathan!

[johnwalton]

quote:

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Originally posted by William R

What about the "Lady" who paraded outside the Post Office during the War - was her name, I forget, she used to wear a fur coat and always had a word for the lads. (very tongue in cheek, sorry) I`ve mentioned before, Sergeants Pollitt and Turner of Leyland Police, they were famous!! and what about Butcher Lord? W.R.

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[plumdutch]

Hello Jo64
As I lived opposite the Conservative Club on Towngate Leyland from birth in 1940 until 1960 I recall your grandad and his open topped Jaguar motor quite well. He was obviously a mover & shaker in that circle!!!!!. Clarence was a larger than life figure, alway's cheerful, friendly and smiling.
As you are most likely aware, there are several references to Clarence on the old LML workers are you there [1st page 2nd item - RonW on 5th page]
Regarding your more immediate family, Maureen, my wife, and I attended your Mum's & Dad's wedding. Barbara & John. In our youth and early teenage years I was a very close friend of your Dad, along with Bantam & Wacker and I would really like to know how John is keeping and what he is doing now.It would certainly push back the 50 years or so since I last spoke to him. Maureen was also very friendly with Barbara and would be interested to know how she is keeping.

[anacortesdamp]

Peter:

Were you the Holmes that lived in the row of houses just west of the War Memorial or was that Derek? I assume you're from the greengrocery Holmes family. We were regular shoppers every Saturday. I remember a big green Lagonda parked out in the "backs".

We lived at number 7 Church Road, which became a doctors' surgery after we left, and got the bus stop where the front garden used to be.


Frank Damp
Anacortes, Washington State, USA

[Alan Marsden]

Peter, did you work for a time at B&R Taylor's , in Sandy Lane ?

[William R]

Can anyone remember how and when the Taylor brothers set up their business in Sandy Lane?

If no-one, I can come back.

W.R.

[Alan Marsden]

William, I started working there in early 1961, I believe that both brothers Ron and Brian had worked at Leyland Motors . At that time they had the two end terraced houses in Sandy Lane, later they bought the next door making three in total, perhaps ten people were working there at that time.

[William R]

Thanks Alan for that. Back in the 1950`s the brothers worked as draffies in the Jig And Tool D.O. at the M.O.S. Factory which had just opened, I was working a few yards away in the Layout Section, and we were all working against a very tight schedule for the order of the new Centurian Mk.7. tank, and the delivery date expected.

At that time the drawings for tooling up the tank were being rushed out as fast as possible, but the brothers had the foresight to see an opportunity. The need was there, the expertise was there, the working day was being fulfilled, but that was not enough to meet the deadline. Brian and Ron took a gigantic step at that time by leaving the Company to set up their own business as Contract Draughtsmen in Sandy Lane. They procured the draughting machines and so on and then approached their colleagues at the M.O.S. Factory to put in extra hours after they had finished work, at their new premises. I believe the money was agreeable for working unsociable hours, but they did it. I remember them coming in with rolls of completed drawings for Harry Fowler and Johnny Mac to go through and work progressed. They worked hard, got a good reputation as Contract Draughtsmen, and drew people in from all sources to design for them.

These were the type of people the country needed after the war, they were forward looking, and only wanted to give the best service at the time it was required, and were not afraid of taking up the challenge.

The Centurian was produced, but the brothers continued to provide a professional service in many fields. I do not belive they got the recognition which they deserved at the time, but surely, when history is written, they will be remembered for their unstinting efforts in setting up their Company, and providing, as Winston Churchill once said - The Tools To Finish The Job.

From such small beginnings, worthwhile Companies emerge, they proved that they had it them, and enjoyed the fruits of their labours. After all, mention the name, and someone knows them.