Morris Engines, Courthouse Green

Sorry for the long delay but I kept forgetting to ask about where the photographs were possibly taken. I asked my mother and she says the photos could have been taken at Durbar Avenue. Apparently my father (Jack) didn't like holidays or more likely he needed the money, so whenever an opportunity arose he took it. My mother said that it more than likely happened at Coventry holiday fortnight time when he would volunteer for stock-taking duties or such like. So I'm sorry if I was adamant about it being Courthouse Green but I knew no better, I was told that he only worked at Courthouse Green plant.

Hello Heathite nice to here from you yes it could have been a stocktake situation in a stores area at Durbar ave or as I said last time RBlock which was a non productive area at courthouse green mainly used for packing spares. But one thing we are sure about was it was BIG JACK he was a dad to be proud of All the best, Les

Anybody remember using these?

Excellent thread. Can anyone help please? I am researching a Morris Engines employee named Ken Miles. He worked there in 1947 to 49 I believe. Does anyone remember him. I have been told he helped keep the production line going, servicing it, working on it if it broke down etc. Paul

Hi, remember using the tool checks as an apprentice, if I remember right we were issued with 5 each.

Hello Binkey11. Well I've been through my 1947 bumph that's as far back as I go the name rings a bell all I can say is if he maintained the track he'd be a Millwright and his supervisor would have been Bert Dinn who I did know that's about all I can tell you if I do come across any info I will feed it to you But there again you never know who reads this site there is always somone with the answer. So good luck All the best. Les

Sorry Binkey that reply was for Miles

Hi Les, thanks for your response. As far as I know Ken Miles worked in the tool room then went production side, servicing equipment keeping it all going. Not sure. Paul

Hi All. I found this Forum by chance while looking for Morris Engines Factory. Me. I started my Apprenticeship in Aug 1964 after a very pleasant one to one interview with Ted Dinan in a red, white and blue room. Unlike the previous week where 50 of us hopefuls were herded into a large room painted battleship green and brown where they had a unique selection process: 2 men shouted and demoralised us to the point where I never went back to Alfred Herberts again. I was offered the job there and then on £3.6s.6d per week and I started in the App. School, arriving there on Wainfleet coaches, with Horace Jones, Don Jones and Terry ??? replacing Horace on retirement, they taught me a lot. After 6 months I went into the tool room on surface grinding. Six months later I was transferred to the 'Nuff' which was a daunting prospect for a 16yr.old kid from Nuneaton with no transport. Once the lads at NTG. got wind of it they quickly sourced me a regular lift. Of course I was the 'but' of their jokes, out of 'towny' but it was all in good part to make me feel part of their family. After a year I went back to the 'Green' to Planning & D/O tooling the Transfer m/c's for AD061 6 cyl. engines for Austin 3 litres & MGC's. After that year back to the 'Nuff' to continue with the 6 monthly Skills based disciplines within the tool room, finally finishing my time on the 'fitting' eventually ending up on Dennis Wills' bench, who had now taken up the post of Apprentice Supervisor. I met him in a later life on a visit to Jaguar Training School where he was Supervisor. In 1971 Nuffield Tool & Gauge sadly closed. I was transferred to the old Riley tool room where I stayed for 6 months before I went into Further Education. The 'Nuff' was a happy, friendly and highly skilled place, there was always someone to help and rely on. Like others reading this, I will remember the 'Nuff' and its workforce with affection, I learnt an awful lot there, I will never forget you. Mick Green

Hi Mick, I also started as an apprentice at the Morris in August 1969, I bet we started work together on the same day in the apprentice school. The Terry you were referring to was probably Terry Casey who worked alongside Don Jones giving us invaluable tuition. Can you remember machining the engine blocks in the school to show the inside workings. As you said they were times never to be forgotten. I was also sent to Nuffield Tool and Gauge and spent time universal grinding, milling and cutter grinding before going back to the Green. Finished my time and eventually spent 17yrs there as a universal miller in till the green closed in 1982. I can also remember they gave us 6 months working on the engine assembly and rectification, that was really useful those days as my first cars were not that reliable. After the Morris closed had job in sub contract tool room , then the Jaguar tool room and when that closed back into a sub contract tool room till I retired 2012. Nothing compared to the Morris. Thanks for memories. Brian Henderson.. ps------ also remember running round the canteen to get the 2d slice of toast at the morning break, good times!!!!

Hi Brian. It was 1964 when I actually started so we may have missed one another. Terry Casey, thanks, that was his name with the little Scottish fellow in the stores? I remember the 2d slice of toast with either butter or dripping. You always knew when the morning break was about 15 minutes away as you heard the foundry men in their clogs clomping down the drive on their way to the canteen just around the corner from the school. I remember the sectioned engines that were done but I did not get involved with those, they did look good though when painted up. Did you ever represent the Morris apprentices at the Coventry carnival. The company used to supply a lorry and a car which was loaded on the back. We dressed it up in the usual regalia, including a camouflaged bar. One year the car was a Wolseley Hornet so we dressed up as hornets, next year it was a Riley Elf so we dressed up as elves etc. but eventually the company withdrew the loan of a vehicle to put on the lorry because the cars were virtually scrapped when we returned them as the bodies were peppered with coin marks from people throwing their loose change at us on the float. I got involved with the activities because I was Chairman of the Apprentice Association 68 & 69, in fact I arranged the Annual Dinner Dance at The Chase Hotel in Nuneaton those years which was quite a change from the usual Coventry area venues. There was also an annual Morris Ball which was a fantastic do at Chesford Grange at that time. Did you ever have to go to Haseley Manor the BMC staff college for a week somewhere near Kenilworth? Or did they send you on a day trip to MIRA Nuneaton the vehicle testing grounds, quite something to see the vehicles put through their paces etc. Will chat again, memories start flooding back when you focus in on certain times in your life. Regards Mick

Hi Mick, I don't know why I said I started in 1969, it WAS August 1964 that I started I'll put that down to old age !! I remember doing a bedstead race, pushing it round a race track but can't remember which track it was, all I know it was bloody hard work. As far as I can remember I don't recall going on a carnival float myself but I do remember them being rigged up outside the apprentice school. I did go to Haseley Manor, I think it was for 3 or 4 days. I know we had to do an orienteering course which was good fun, certainly had a laugh doing that. The one thing I didn't enjoy was standing up in front of everybody giving a two minute speech, think I gave a talk on Pembrokeshire corgis, don't ask me the reason I chose that subject. There again it was perhaps having two as pets. I did go to Mira for the day, as you said certainly put the cars through there paces. The only apprentice chairman I can vaguely recall was a lad called Ivan Piggon (I think.) it was a long time ago, where have those years gone!!!!!! Have you seen the photo I posted of the tool room football team, you might recognise a few faces on there. Good to chat and recall memories Regards Bri

Wow well done Mick and Binkey see what I mean you never know who trawls thro this site it's got you two talking if you trawl thro the photos I've put up you will find shots of the apprentice school. I will chuck a few names in to prompt you, Harry Barratt, Cliff Haynes, Mary Fisher, Bob Childs, these were all based in and around the apprentice school. Who yes and Ron Floyd and of course Tony Smith the cricketer happy days All the best Les

Hi Les, sorry it's taken so long to reply, but I've just been looking through the old posts and came across this. Yes I am the Carole (dad Ray Stone, internal postman). I was engaged to Denis Williams (you might have nicknamed him Danny). He was an electrician and also played football for the Morris. He tragically passed away from TB. I will look out a photo and also I have a list of all supervisors, managers in the factory, and also people who worked in Correspondence (where I worked). It definitely jogs the brain cells lol. Hopefully wont take me long to find them and will get back to you soon

Hello Carole nice to hear from you yes he was nicknamed Danny and he used to be in the sub station behind the works garage I believe he used to cover the main office block and the garage and engine research block look forward to seeing any photos you may have are you still living in Scotland? I believe that's where you moved to when you left. Best Les