GEC Spon Street

Lynda, you could try contacting rob58uk by clicking on the contact button under his name next to his post. He may respond but I don't think he's visited in a while - years. Have you looked to see if there is a GEC Facebook group?

Hi Lynda, first of all I have a friend who recently passed away due to mesothelioma so I can sympathise greatly. However, he was an electrician by trade and would more than likely have drilled into an asbestos wall and breathed in the fine particles many years ago which then stay dormant in the body for many years before eventually causing a cancer. However none of this will help you because my friend lived and worked in Warrington and had no connection with the GEC. As I stated previously my father worked at the GEC Spon Street and Stoke from 1947 to 1989, my understanding was that he frequently travelled between both sites, he was initially a foreman on the assembly lines, sadly he passed away in 2019 at the age of 94. I myself have absolutely no connection with the GEC as I never worked for the company, so I doubt I can help but feel free to ask.

I was on the Coventry Kid or whatever it was called Facebook group a while ago, I removed myself from it primarily and surprisingly due to the constant negativity about Coventry. For a Facebook group that is setup to celebrate the city I found it soul destroying reading the inane, dismissive, antipathetic comments that seem to glorify in trashing my home city. Coventry is the city of my birth and I'm proud of it, yes it has issues like every other city but I like to praise its positives rather than grumble at its negatives.

Back to the subject of this thread, here is an accidental background picture taken of GEC Spon Street, the driver of No. 7 is of course the great Stirling Moss, I believe this was taken at a cavalcade for the centenary of the motor car in 1986. I forget what the event was called, I sure someone can remind me.

Hi Rob Thank you so much for getting back to me. Given what I have already heard about the likelihood of asbestos being present at the Spon Street site it's quite frustrating knowing that my mum came into contact with the workers in the factory on a daily basis and also went round the different buildings with the clock cards. I haven't yet given up hope of finding a witness! But thanks again for responding. Best wishes, Lynda

The latest Arthur Cooper collection online

Yes, that really is a cracker, nice one. Bev and I met on the 4th floor, right in the centre of the photo, nearly 36 years ago! And I agree, I reckon that has to be Trafalgar Street on the right.

It was meant to be Rob You forget how massive it was!

There was always a fantastic atmosphere and something going on at the GEC. The Spon Street factory employed about 1,000 people from all walks of life, so on any average day there would be perhaps three birthdays and the occasional anniversary or special occasion being celebrated by somebody, somewhere. Even people you didn't know would suddenly turn up where you were working, pushing a trolley full of booze and thimble sized glasses to offer a drink on behalf of "such 'n' such on the 5th floor" or wherever! Great, you can't turn down an offer like that! Of course, it also meant that there were always plenty of "eligible" folk who would attract your attention, and so it happened back in 1987 when a lovely young thing flitted past my workbench and caught my eye! The rest, as they say, is history!

Think this gives you an overview of that area:

Nice one! This is one of the aerial views that is on the map but not on Britain From Above as far as I know. Worth investigating.

Is that steel structure being built (bottom right of pic) the Co-Op building?

Yes Mick, I think so. It's Corporation Street.