Stafford Switchgear Historical Society.

dirtboxin

Well-Known Forumite
Spot the switchgear wireman



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Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Dave Astle
Right - was only talking to The Bear about him today - he once accidentally turned up with his wife for a meal at the Saracen's Head when we happened to have a meeting there - he came in through the door and saw a familiar face, then another and another and another...

..he thought she'd set him up for some sort of surprise party, poor bloke..
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I bumped into Brian Jackson today.


It's more truthful to say that his wife bumped into the floor in front of me, having fallen down a short flight of steps in a most theatrical manner.

He turned up well after all the excitement was over and refused to accept the verbal warning that I gave him over his poor supervision.

Looking back at it, after it had become apparent that she had sustained no damage whatsoever, I was actually very impressed by the Norman Wisdom style that she maintained through the whole event....
 

dirtboxin

Well-Known Forumite
Sandon Cricket circa 80s / 90s Back row: Clive Turner, Steve Hobson?, Dave Hassall, Charlie Eagle, Alan Lotinga, Gary Johnson. Middle row: Graham..?, Lee Bassett, Eddie Saunders, Maurice Johnson, Chris Powell, John Millington, Charlie Cartwright, Wayne Aldritt,. Front row: Mark Atwood, Phil Cheadle, Barry Hughes, Keith Challinor, Dave Smith, Steve Cartwright, Clive Jones.. - Tony Hassall

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Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Next piss-up is at the Bird in Hand on Friday, September 29th, from 8pm onwards.

Pass it around to anybody who might not be using our alternative channel.
 

LongGoneFarAway

A few posts under my belt
I don't visit often and I've been out of Stafford for many years... I started my apprenticeship with Switchgear in 1977. First year in the training center, second year I worked in 522 shop under the tutelage of Taffy Price. I often wonder what happened to all the characters that worked there... Larry Wooky, Paddy Dunne, Phil Hill, George Beardmore, Butch Aldrett, Tex Lloyd, Bob Barton, Roy Clay, Harold Godwin, Gordon Saddler... and I forget the name of the short rotund Inspector that used to smoke about 60 Capstan full strength's a day. I once committed the cardinal sin of leaning on Ron Lovegrove's granite table, leaving a big greasy hand print. Barely escaped with my life.
Used to play darts with Mick Voss regularly down the Nelson, sorry to hear he died not long ago... good guy.
Last couple of years I was there I spent as a programmer under the unforgettable Bob 'The Gob' Parker... wonder if he's had a shower since then?
Shame to see what's happened to that site in the years since... all that collective skill and knowledge gone!
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Bob Barton and Gordon 'Hawkeye' Saddler are no longer with us, I'm afraid.

This - https://www.facebook.com/groups/767193686727237/ - exists, with lots of photos, if you are partial to the dark side...

Was it your soap that was stolen and left on Bob the Gob's desk with "Use Me" carved on it..?

Taffy is still going, as cheerful as ever, though now in a care home in Stone, for the last year or so - after a series of strokes over the last fifteen years.

I would imagine that Ron is not with us now, either - it would have been a fine gesture to donate his beloved granite as a headstone.

Earlier today, I used a brass wire wheel that Mick Voss gave me.
 

LongGoneFarAway

A few posts under my belt
Indeed that was mine... I'd left my squash bag behind my chair and it was pilfered from there... I always suspected it was Rob Tomlinson 'wat dunnit' but no one was admitting it at the time.
I just remembered 'the name of the short rotund Inspector that used to smoke about 60 Capstan full strength's a day'... Joe Crutchley! There goes your proof that smoking really does stunt your growth.
Another couple of names just popped into my head... Bill Weaver and George 'piggy' Smallwood.
 

Studio Tan

Well-Known Forumite
I was never a EE/GEC/ALSTHOM etc employee but back in the 80’s I was a member of a dating agency and had a brief relationship with a woman who lived in Sutton Coldfield. I remember she told me that her father worked at Stafford Main Works (not sure of the dept) and that he was easily identifiable because he had to wear a permanent turban-like head bandage due to “being left too long under an X-Ray machine” !!!
 
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