GEC Spon Street

Couple of 'new' demolition images, thanks to Cliff Berwick on FB -

Fascinating views Neil, but so sad to see - many happy years working there in the 1980s.

I knew you'd like them Rob as an ex-worker there. And one more - this one confused me slightly as I could not fully recall the layout into Croft Road by the side like that although my photo in post 1 of this thread helped (was that nearly 9 years ago the thread started?! ) -

The Sherbourne appears in so many of Coventry's scenes. It's neatly contained by what looks a lot like reused city wall.

Hello, I wonder if anyone can help.... my elderly mother worked at the GEC from 1945 to c.1950 in the wages office. She remembers starting in the main office building but having to move to a temporary one, while the office building was being redecorated or while repairs were being carried out. She has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer associated with exposure to asbestos, and we are trying to establish whether this could have occurred during her time at the GEC. She remembers workers coming in to collect the wage packets, wearing lab coat-type overalls. She can't remember if she had to pass other GEC buildings before she arrived at either the main office building or the temporary one. If anyone has any historic knowledge or further information I would be really interested to hear it! Thank you......

Hi Lynda, welcome to the forum. Have you checked to see if there is a GEC asbestos help group or a union?

Hi Helen, thank you! that's really helpful, I'll have a look.....

It might be worth contacting these people.

Hello, thank you so much - I will!

I don't have anything specific to add to recent posts, however I did work at GEC Spon Street for a time. This would be in the 1970's. I worked in the accounting office where we processed invoices and purchase orders. I believe the manager's name was Ron Saywell. Another guy I remember was Ivon Towse. There were several female comptometer operators who worked there. Can't recall their names now. For a brief time I was a member of the Spon Street Fire Brigade. With GEC, I spent most of my time working at Telephone Works in Stoke.

Hello, I wonder if you can help me - my mum worked at the GEC from roughly 1945 to 1950 and has recently passed away due to mesothelioma, which is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. We are trying to find out as much information as we can about her time there - she worked in the wages office and also took the clock cards round to various factory buildings first thing in the morning. It seems that she might have been exposed to asbestos during her time there. Do you by any chance have any information that might back this up? Thank you for reading my post.

Very sorry to hear about your Mum. I doubt that rob58uk will read this as his last post was in 2014. From experience I think it would be almost certain that there was asbestos on the site as it was widely used as both a fire retardant and lagging fabric. It was used in a great many locations including flats, schools and even early Artex. Asbestos was most dangerous when it was disturbed, either by day to day activities or as it was removed. It wouldn't be necessary for your mother to even be in an area with asbestos as the fibres could be moved about on workers' clothes. I believe that there have been cases of wives getting mesothelioma from washing their husband's overalls. Any sweeping activities or just blustery days outside could have lifted stray fibres. An NHS site with links.

Many thanks for this - sorry I have only just seen your post!

Helen, thank you for this - really useful. I'm not very good at using this site yet and have only just seen your post! my mum sadly passed away from mesothelioma at the end of April, and we are still looking for anyone who might have worked at the GEC from 1945 onwards, or who knows of someone who did. I really appreciate your reply.

Hello Rob, I realise your post regarding your dad working at the GEC is from 2014 but it's possible you might be able to help me with some background info on the GEC. My mum, as you may have seen from this thread, has sadly passed away due to contracting mesothelioma and we are looking into the possibility that she was exposed to asbestos when she worked at the GEC in Spon Street from 1945 to c.1950. It would be both interesting and helpful if you have any information that might be useful. Many thanks.