Commando Cleaning Services

Commando Cleaning Services Does any one remember where they operated from, and anything about the company?

Don't know if it is any connection but there used to be a cleaning company in Tamworth called Commando. The business is still there but under a different name. They do industrial cleaning, high pressure stuff

Telephone Directories for 1971 and 1981 show their address as Torrington Avenue

I think the Commando Group did more than industrial cleaning, they were involved in plant installations (machinery moves) etc. Though I never worked for them personally some of my mates at that time did.

Commando cleaning company was dissolved 2001 (based in Birmingham) Commando cleaning services was dissolved 2009 (based in Tamworth) I believe that CCC was the original as it was incorporated 1946

Commando did a lot of work for Rootes and Chrysler at the Stoke and Ryton factories especially during the holiday shutdowns. If it's the same company that I'm thinking about, it was started by Bob Murray who served as a commando during the war hence the company name. Bob and my late father were friends for years. Every June 6th they would have a few drinks together to celebrate the fact that they survived D Day in one piece

Used to be on the corner of Torrington Avenue & Templar Avenue, where Nullifire was. Also used to do work for the Triumph motor company at Canley, whitewashing the sky-lights in the assembly halls during the summer months to try to reduce the temperature inside (before air conditioning)

COMMANDO MOVED ALL THE MACHINESHOP AND OTHER HEAVY EQUIPMENT FROM WATERY LANE WORKS TO SANDY LANE WORKS OCTOBER 1966.

I worked for them a couple of times during Coventry Holiday Fortnight. Both times were at the Stoke Chrysler plant perched on top of a large "A" frame ladder leaning over machinery cleaning lampshades (often with cold water because the heating had been switched off for servicing). It was dirty, boring but quite well paid and a lot of people never returned after the first day. I seem to remember, but could be wrong, that they had an office somewhere around the Butts

I worked for an insurance brokers in Birmingham and we acted as Commando's brokers for about 60 years until they sold out to a large German company in the early 2000's. The business was started just after the war by 2 ex commandos ( hence the name). Their main offices before they sold out were close to the racecourse in Warwick. They did have a separate operation in Tamworth and did carry out a number of different types of cleaning operations.

My Mother used to work at Commandos cleaning co for years after doing her other job as a cleaner at the Canley club as one of the seven cleaners, as a cleaner for Commandos she went on different jobs on different contracts but said the money was good. www.merlinsltd.com

Hello & welcome to you, Wilko Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I have a long connection with Commando from 1962 (age 15) to the mid 1980s. My father was a bricklayer in 1962, and, by 1963 he was made a foreman; later that year he became a Supervisor and then a Manager. My knowledge of names of employes/ directors/accountants/ customers etc is extensive. I can even quote car reg numbers! I am a retired Maths Teacher, aged 68! Any questions? By the way, the. Main man in Commandos in the 1960s was a Mr. Clarke. Managers were Denis (sic) Twist, Dennis Wragg, et al. Their main offices were at Lloyd's Bank Chambers, Warwick and the accountants were Frank Beardsmore and Co. (No relation). The morning meeting place (seven days a week) was the corner of Palmerston Road, (nicknamed 'The Lane', after Stoney Lane, opposite....the original meeting place.) were van drivers collected men and took them to the factories, power stations, etc. Some of the largest customers were Power Stations, BMC, Jaguar Cars*, Humber, Carbodies, Renold Chain, Rubery Owen, Lucas, British Sugar, Pfizers, Southalls (sanitary towel manufacturer!) and many more. I worked at most of these! *over the years, I spent a lot of time at the Browns Lane plant.

Yes, much refractory work was done at motor factories and power stations. One big job, in 1963 was at Triplex Glass/Pilkingtons, in Kings Norton. The project was called 'Matilda' and involved digging a 25 foot dia x 9 foot deep hole in the end of the factory. This was shuttered and had concrete poured in. A magnificent turntable was installed to speed up car windshield production. As a 16 year old labourer, I was involved from beginning to end in the Summer hols.

Wow! I worked at the Stoke Plant on the Cupolas. 1964. Yes, Summer Hols