Stafford Switchgear Historical Society.

[Gramaisc]

He's done a few jobs with me over the years, but I'm always careful to make sure people know that he only looks like a psychopathic mass murderer and that he's actually quite a nice chap underneath. He once fell asleep in the park and the police were called to investigate. The first two weren't confident enough on their own and called for back-up, so poor Baldrick was rudely woken up by four coppers and a dog. The first job we did was to move a safe across town - we were stopped at the lights in Gaol Square when the anti-handling alarm (that nobody had told us about) went off. Every face as far as Market Square stared at the screaming safe, and Baldrick hanging out of the van window trying to get away from the noise - I was genuinely concerned that we would provoke the deployment of an armed response unit, but we got away with it. We next moved an office from Crewe and I suggested doing it on a Sunday when it would be quiet. Thirty seconds after we arrived, we had set off the burglar alarm and I had to hide him in the van whilst the various agencies argued about what was going to happen. On another occasion I had a free fridge that I wanted to leave at a student house. The single student that living there at the time had the entire house looking like a right tip. At the time Baldrick was living in the bird-hide on the marshes for the summer months, but he was so unimpressed by the state of the place that he volunteered to stay behind and 'sort him out'. A few years back he did have a great agency job at the RAF, working in the SADAC preparing for the move. He really enjoyed that, but it came to an end with the RAF departure and he has hadn't a real job since. He has had a woman in tow these last few years. If you ever see someone who looks like she might be Baldrick's girlfriend, then it will almost certainly be her.

 

[Birdies_best_mate]

He's done a few jobs with me over the years, but I'm always careful to make sure people know that he only looks like a psychopathic mass murderer and that he's actually quite a nice chap underneath.

Me and the lads at switchgear used to have a laugh with him. The last time i talked to him when a few of us where made redundant he said he had got a job doing demolition work that was in 2000.
As you say he was / maybe still is a tall athletic looking chap and probably still looks like a psychopathic mass murderer but there never seemed any malice in the chap.
The only time i ever had to have a private word with him was when he got into one of his moods when i was fitting out a cubicle, he'd do his usual stand & stare and he then brought out that knife of his pretending to run the blade over his forearm.
I told him in no uncertain terms that if he didnt bugger off id shove it were the sun dont shine. Next thing i know Butch has a word with me saying Baldrick had reported that id threatened him. I then had to explain to Butch what had gone on.
It was all forgotten in a few days and me and steve were back on speaking terms

 

[Gramaisc]

I'd forgotten about the demolition job, it was mostly factory buildings in Birmingham. That job really was him - I could just imagine him bringing whole buildings down with his bare hands and then emerging from the rubble, like Clint Eastwood in a baseball cap..

He is a good bit steadier these days. He was forty a few years ago, when he was living in a communal house near me. There was a bit of a do as a result - me, Baldrick, three Bulgarians and two Romaninans. The whole thing got that bizarre that I wonder if the drinks had been spiked.


And I've just had the news that Harry Holland is due to leave hospital tomorrow and move to a rather palatial home in Dudley.

 

[Gramaisc]

Some bad news whilst I was away. Harry Holland died last Thursday.

We will not see his like again - like the time the factory was evacuated as a result of a bomb alert and he was discovered to be missing when the roll-call was taken. He was found to be still sitting at his desk, and wearing an ARP helmet, which he had kept 'for just such an emergency'....

 

[Gramaisc]

Colin Ebrey was at the Boot Sale this morning - I haven't seen him for a while. He sold the Honda last year...

 

[Gramaisc]

Harry Holland's funeral will take place at Gornall Wood Crematorium on Wednesday 11th of April at 11am...


..although I feel sure that he would have preferred to be hidden behind a filing cabinet until he came in useful...

 

[LongGoneFarAway]

Brand new to the forum but this was a real trip down memory lane. I did my apprenticeship at Switchgear, and after going into the machine shop, Taffy Price was my first instructor, I'm glad to see he's still around. I still remember his clock number... 522 12345. I guess they tried to make it easy for the guy.

The other names I always remember from there... Clem Daykin, Keith Blunden, Bob Barton, Mick Voss, Harold Godwin, Derek Manley, Colin Pownell, Steve Marsden, Bill Weaver, Roy Clay... and of course the incomparable, fragrantly challenged Bob 'the gob' Parker.

Cyril Bird I remember well, I also remember, and rather less fondly, the crotchety old git that used to man the tool crib on nights, Les Edwards.
Does anyone remember Phil Hill, the blind guy that used to work in the machine shop, Cyril Bird was normally his guide...

Tom Oldbury, the jig and tool designer was one of my favorite people there, wonderful dry sense of humour.

Wow... so many memories, seems like yesterday.

 

[Gramaisc]

Taffy's doing remarkably well, for someone that had a stroke a year ago - often to be found around the town with his Zimmer and his supervisor - I'll see if he remembers his number next time. Tom Oldbury is still making clocks and furniture, I call in now and then. Keith Blunden is often seen performing his Grandad duties on the Weston Road.

That's why Cyril Bird looked like a Labrador then?..

Unfortunately poor Bob Barton died a couple of years ago, after a short, but aggressive illness.

 

[LongGoneFarAway]

Tom's steam engines were superb, beautifully built.

I came home for a vist last summer, but from the bridge, the place looked a shadow of its former self. Do they still actually manufacture anything in there these days?

 

[Gramaisc]

Tom's steam engines were superb, beautifully built.

I came home for a vist last summer, but from the bridge, the place looked a shadow of its former self. Do they still actually manufacture anything in there these days?

He's still got one in the front room. About five feet long, in a glass case.

Not really, but I haven't been in there since '93.

 

[gilbert grape]

I think Switchgear, or whatever it's called now, is actually based in the Transformers building these days. GSS or GHS maybe. All the units have acronyms so its a bit hard to keep up with even if you still work there!! 25 years for me this year and I'm still working it all out!
I had a good chat with Vic Roeton in the bookies the other week, seems to be doing OK after a few brushes with illness.
Sorry to hear about Harry, one of the old characters.
Roy Clay, Bob Parker, Tom Oldbury, Keith Blunden...all names I remember from my youthful days
Also remember playing darts against Mick & Rose Voss in the local leagues, not seen either of them for ages.

 

[Gramaisc]

Also remember playing darts against Mick & Rose Voss in the local leagues, not seen either of them for ages.

I understand that Rose died a while back and Mick is not so outgoing these days. But I haven't seen him for a good few years..

I see Vic about once a year - almost always in exactly the same place - he'll be walking into town past M&S and I'll be walking up towards Gaol Square.

 

[gilbert grape]

Crikey! Anybody got any good news?
I spoke to Vic in Bet Fred, funnily enough where I usually speak to Harold L.

 

[stoofer34]

"Tom's steam engines were superb, beautifully built."

He had a 5" gauge Britannia on his strengthened sideboard!

Bob the Gob!!! where's the Talc!!!

Someone left a bar of soap on his desk carved "use me"

S

 

[LongGoneFarAway]

I remember that incident well because the soap was lifted from my squash bag behind my desk...

I think enough years have passed that we can now name the villain... Rob Tomlinson!

Sorry to hear about Rose, I played darts with Mick down the Lord Nelson. Got to know Rose well, as well as Harry, his brother.

 

[Gramaisc]

"Tom's steam engines were superb, beautifully built."

He had a 5" gauge Britannia on his strengthened sideboard!

That's the one - it's still there.

Looks just like this.

 

[Admin]

Brand new to the forum but this was a real trip down memory lane.

Welcome to The Forum, LongGoneFarAway!

I have to admit, I have no idea what this thread is about, so I have always just let it be as it is clear that it holds a special place in the hearts of those who contribute to it. As a result of your posts, I thought I had better educate myself, and so Googled "switchgear stafford". Imagine my joy when the second result was this very thread!

Soon to be the first, I'm sure.

 

[Gramaisc]

Local switchgear for local people.

All the other links that come up with a "switchgear stafford" search are for 'employment opportunities' for Switchgear Engineers - what sort of an idiot would be stupid enough to fall for that?...

 

[Birdies_best_mate]

Anyone ever see anything of Brian Williams, Paul Bakewell , Dave Astle. Could never get my head round why Paul was made redundant as he was very good at his job.

 

[stoofer34]

Most of the jobs went away!