Morris Engines, Courthouse Green

Hi, can I ask "was Jack Jones a big man, around 6 feet tall and well built?" He could have been my father, he worked on the track for years. He always went on his pushbike, only a 3 minute ride from Stoke Heath. He was very quiet and reserved. He never talked about his work although I did once make a gadget for him to insert circlips easier. I worked in engineering at the time. Thanks.

Hi Les, thanks for the reply, he was my uncle, yes I remember him getting dressed up in his st.John's ambulance brigade uniform and going off to parade etc. He moved to Binley Woods and was heavily involved with events in the village hall, he lived to the good old age of ninety four. Regards, Paul.

Hi heathite Yes that sounds like him, the one thing I remember about him he used to race greyhounds or whippets, he really was a lovely man.

Hi Mickw Jim Bailey was a setter on the crankshaft section, he had left when I eventually worked on there but I got to know him when I worked at the Grange public house which was run by his daughter and son in law

Hi Heathite yes I knew big Jack Jones he worked on track 4 fitting the gearboxes on the 4 litre truck engine he was a big strong man with his short back and sides haircut very quite polite man always had a smile on his face pleasure to work with he just got on with it ,kept himself to himself a real gent. Best, Les

Hi and thanks for the reply, unfortunately this isn't my father. he had no interest in grey hound or whippet racing. He did keep songbirds for quite a while though. he had Linnets, Canaries and Goldfinches. he set them free after a few years at the church near Wyken Croft. It was a council waste tip at the back many years ago.

Hi and thank you for the info. This does sound like my father, he was very reserved. I knew he worked on the track, but not which one. He used to come home for his dinner every day. It was only a 5 or 6 minute bike ride from the factory to our front door. My mum had to have precision timing with his hot cooked dinner. He could eat like a trooper, or whatever the saying is. He had at least three shredded wheat and an apple cut up in his breakfast and maybe a banana, three quarters of a pint of milk with honey. It used to make me feel ill, the idea of having to eat all of that. We kids went to a couple of christmas parties. I couldn't believe how big the place was inside. It went on forever. They even had a car show there once didn't they? I remember something like a Vanden Plas? The smell of real leather was great. He had seven kids and a favourite phrase of his was "shut that door", he did like his peace and quiet. Seven kids was never going to work was it! Thanks again for replying. By the way, he's passed now.

Hi Les Did you stay until the end of September 1982 ?

hey people heres a memory jogger who remembers Arthur Barnett the weigh bridge keeper his job was to weigh all incoming raw metal coming in to the foundry ? you can read the rest.

Hi all. Does anyone from the late 50's to early 60's remember a Fred Deakin? Thanks

I worked at the Morris from the age of 15 in the offices as office junior and later as secretary to a man called Len who was the Industrial Relations Manager. I left at the age of 24 to emigrate to Australia.

Hello Bozobozo. The industrial l relations manager you mentioned was Len Gibbs I knew him well a very softly spoken man a real gentleman Nice to hear from you so far away if you look on earlier pages you will see lots of photos of the factory being demolished among which are shots of the office you used to work in. All the best, Les

Dear Heathite, I worked at Morris Engines from 1960 to 1970. I remember your Dad, Jack. I worked in the same section for a period of time. I believe his wife/your mother was Italian? Here are a few names of other people who worked with him at that time: - Ray Sullivan - Ray Little - Alan Goode - Bill Lancaster - Bill Harriman - Eddie Walters - Fred Turner - Bob Strong - Bernard Ward(?) - Ernie Moore (who was the chargehand - Bill Lancaster took over when Ernie retired)

Good morning Mr Blue Sky, thank you for your reply. I will ask my mum if any of the names you mention ring a bell with her. And yes, she is Italian, she came in about 1946/7 just after the war.I know my father worked at Morris Engines for many years, he wasn't ambitious or adventurous. He was a plodder really, very reliable and punctual. He never talked about his work mates and he didn't say if he liked the work or otherwise. I think my mum said a chap called Welland (Alf ?) worked with him, he was to become my sisters father in law. He was a small man and lived in Newdigate Road and then somewhere in Wyken. His wife was Elsie. Do you have any knowledge of the Fred Deakin I asked about in a previous question? He was infamous apparently for abusing the works hospital fund, he went on to take his own life because of the incident. I hope I haven't gone 'off topic', apologies if I have but all these comments are in some way related to Morris Engines. Does anyone remember the taste of sandwiches that were brought home by their father? I do, and they were impregnated with the smell of the factory. Uggh!