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 including
Woolwich & Districts
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Oliver Pell Control
My
father, James Apted, was a director of
Oliver Pell, while my godfather, Norris Oliver,
was its Managing Director. My father took
over as MD when the company was taken over by
Thorns.
I worked there during my school holidays in the
1960s. I worked on the assembly line making
washing machine motors It was piece work and
any slacking meant being shouted at by the foreman
and other employees. I also worked with
relays - these were delicate and I remember they
were dipped into something by the machine and then
I had to put a cover on the relay without
touching. Hours were 7.30 am to 5 pm with
half day on Friday, which meant the many women
employees could shop etc. for the
weekend.
Oliver Pell employed many women whose families
must have come over with Windrush.
At Christmas one of the management would dress up
as Father Christmas and the employees brought
their children to the factory for a party. I
have a feeling I may have a photo somewhere in the
loft!
I do not have a date, but one disgruntled foreman
who had been sacked tried to set fire to part of
the factory.
Felicity
Cox.
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