Wigan Album

I worked at Plessey Wallgate at that time. I was a Supervisor on the Functioning section. Which section did you work on? Is that May Fairhurst in the middle on the first photo.?
Can't make out the other people ???? Saying that so many people worked there. It is very rare that I see anyone who worked there??? I was thinking of organising a reunion, Great Times and a great place to work.

I worked there at that time. I was Charge Hand on the Functioning Section. Is that May Fairhurst in the middle on the first photo? Can't make out the other people??? I think I recognise the girl stood next to you. Can't remember her name??? She lived near Robin Park. Do you still see many people who worked there ? I was thinking of organising a reunion Great Times and a Great Place to work.

Dohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh looks like a duplicated my posting Thought it hadn't registered the first time...

Hope your not the same Ron that posted on communicate & forum about Reeds photo's, I look at all photo's and comments (Sorry if it's the wrong Ron)

All we seem to be getting now is REEDS Retirement, or outings, photos.( Who is interested in looking at them???)
(I had them taken off)

hi Ron,this is my first time putting photo's on so bear with me,i was on coil winding,my sister kath (pownall) was working on assembly,she was at all three factory's more photo to follow when i get going. viv

Did you recognnize were the pic's where taken,buck i'th vine across the road from plessey's(whitewash).We did have a small reunion,John ward,jimmy culshaw,and about12 girls,about 2 years ago.
viv

Yes, I thought it may have been the the 'BUCK'. Bill 'Buck' worked at Wallgate as a labourer. His daughter got married on the same day as I did. I remember Bill coming into the barbers the day before I got married. I saw him come in, through the mirror, as I was having my haircut at the time . He told me that they were closing the factory. Good wedding present!!!!!!
Ken Jackson was the union rep. He is now a 'SIR' and a millionaire. Thanks Ken you did a great job in fighting to keep the place open...
Trying to think what was the names of the supervisors on coil winding? One was a woman and there was also a man. I can picture them but can't remember their names?
I remember Kath Pownall( very attractive girl) she lived on the street which ran between Union Bridge and Robin Park. I remember Frank Morgan had a 'bit of a thing about her' <g>

Enda Meadows and Roy swift were over coil winding,do you remember a Frank wilson or was it frank morgan,i seem to think it was wilson but kath can't remember a frank wilson, i remember the coffee machine was all ways busy, did you know jeff heyes,rob,harry can't remember if he came from st helens,he use to give us a lift to work sometimes,he had a austin 1100 i think.
viv

Yes, Roy Swift I can picture, him but couldn't remember his name<g> Harry Pendlebury is who you are thinking of. He was a charge hand with myself and Alan Jackson. Alan and myself worked nights on a 6 month rota system. Although before I got married, I worked Alan Jackson's night turn rota. so I worked 18 months solid on nights. Hepled me save quite a lot. Harry never worked on the night shift rota. Although when I started in 1966 he was on permanent nights. When Wallgate closed I moved to Edge lane and Harry moved there as well. We worked in the same department. i.e. Crossbar Design. I left and moved to Huyton when that opened. Harry stayed in Edge Lane. Don't know what happened to him. Keep meaning to look him up.
Frank Wilson started as a fault man and eventually became a charge hand on assembly. He was a small guy with a little beard (typical scouser). Although I believe he came from the Isle of Man. Tony MacHale ended up at Huyton. When Huyton closed I think he moved to Ferranti at Oldham.
I know Jeff Heyes, although I haven't seen in him for years. A great character<g> In saying that the place was FULL of characters. Did you ever go on the trips to Leyton Institute at Blackpool. Organised by Nellie Stone? I think your Kath went on them?
Sadly two of the 'Functioneers' have died over the last couple of years. Geoff Boyle and Tony Baron also Colin Fitzgerald, who was over the department. No doubt there are others I don't know of. I went to both of their funerals, but it is only recently I found out that Colin Fitz had died.12 months ago.
I don't know if you remember me? I had a red Austin Healy Sprite sports car. You would probably have seen it parked up when you came to work, when I was working night turn. Wish I still had it now. It would be worth a few quid. L.O.L.

Left to right sue ,sheila( Not may fairhurst)irene 2nd pic theresa, kath, viv. 3rd picjune,??,carol,viv,pat theresa.

Thanks for clearing that up about frank wilson our kath doesn't remember him,i told her she would,she had me convinced i'd made him up,he used to smoked cigars i'm i right,jeff heyes hasn't been well last time i saw him,i remember him having a date with my mate at plesseys when we first started(18)always have a laugh about that .when i see her.Didn't know geff or tony,5 years younger than kath,i lost one of my pic's it's gone into pit brow lasses,told you i was new to this. have a look,val's on there.ps don't remember your car.Thommy Derbyshire was our boss.

Yes Frank Wilson was always smoking the small Maniken type cigars. Does Jeff Heyes still live down Norley Hall? I remember Tommy Debyshire.he was the site electrician then moved over to the production management side. He went to work in South Africa but came back after a few years. He lived in the sreet opposite what was CLOWNS BAR,( Can't remember the name of it..) Haven't seen him for years.
The person on the left of the photo with Val and Sandra Lee is Joyce Doyle who is now married to Richard Deakin( Who worked on the functioning section) I see them very regularly. I told her, her photo was on the site. She says she has the same photo<g>

I worked at plessey wallgate from 1966- 1970 with my mate Viv Glover she went on to work at pemberton. I worked on faults and functioning section. My husband Dave known as Todd was great friends with Jeff Heyes,and Tommy Dolan do you remember him? I remember everybodys names and Tony MacHale in his little office in the middle of the shop floor. We are still in contact with Joyce&Richard Deakin but not seen them for a while.Me and Dave went on the trips to Leyton Institute good nights out,i don`tknow if you know Nellie Stone died about 3 years ago. I do agree with you they where great times and a great place to work. Just found this site reading the letters and looking at photos the memories came flooding back.

Hi chris,do you remember anyone on tag-blocks,(John can't think of is second name middle aged i think he was a line feeder great laugh,iwas on there for about six weeks,then got moved to coil winding,with my friend theresa.home from home,when you look back at the good times we had there.

Hi Viv, Thanks for your reply i do remember John off cables like you i can't remember his last name i've still got the wedding card he sent when me and Dave got married in 1969. Talking of weddings do you remember Irene Hunter well Irene's daughter lisa and my son Rob are getting married may 2008 talk about a small world,me and Irene have had a few laughs talking about Plesseys her memorys are has good has ours.

the line feeder was john hinnegan what a character he was.i worked on cables .do you remember brian and alan howarth brian married my mate christine she worked on cables with me. our chargehands were lilly bretherton and christine latham. i remember you ron thought it was you when i looked at your school photo`s .

I worked at plessey wallgate when i was 16 ... did about 3 years ! I remember nellie and lots of other names mentioned !