Click on the photograph to enlarge the image or the apprentice names which have hyperlinks to learn more about them.
Back row (standing L-R)
Gordon Tozer; Andrew Winfield; Hayden Lodge; Steve Ryder; Fred Broady; John Cresswell; Paul Hecquet; Roger Tillier; Nigel Young; Colin Feraby; Gary Wiggett; Bill Jeffery.
Front row (sitting L-R)
Phil Allen ; Tom Bullough; Ian Pollard; Barry Degge; Roy Breach; Malcolm Cruize; Tony Hancock; Mike Selwyn.
Are you in the photo and remember what it was like to be part of this apprentice intake? If so, please leave a comment below.
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Although, I am not in the photograph, I was also in the 1971 intake. I had broken my leg in a motorcycle accident in August, I think and with leg in plaster attended the first day of my apprenticeship in September. I remember being instructed by Mike Southcot that the apprentice school was located on the top floor of the building above the Heavy Machine Shop. He directed me to the fire escape and with great care climbed the staircase and entered the lecture room. Unfortunately, after a few days the plaster deteriorated and I was signed off by the doctor and missed being in the photograph. My recollection is that Roger Tiller’s name should be Roger Tillier and his nickname was “Bear” as he was a small lad, regrettably I was told by a fellow FOD man, that he had passed away. Also Tom Bullock should be Tom Bullough and he lived in Brockworth. I ended up in the LMS on various turning machines, in the end working two weeks about on days and nights with the likes of Charlie Ford, Barry Whitehead, Colin Ferraby and others.
Ed: Hi Steve! Thanks for your story. The names will be corrected shortly. Hope the leg doesn’t give you any problems now. John B
Thanks for clarifying this for us Pete!
John Cresswell and Paul Hecquet’s names should be reversed. Also, far right on the back row is Bill Jeffery (not Jefferies). Regards, Pete Vallender.
Thanks Gordon – yes, those haircuts eh! – they look surprisingly modern these days! – I wonder if you apprentices had any health and safety training about keeping it out of the way of machinery?! And whether any of the ’71 group was regarded as having an especially stylish hairdo or spent more time on their “look” than the rest?! Look forward to receiving your further memoirs and comments here.
To be honest, seeing those photographs is really unnerving. For a start, we had hair! Glad the 71 group is now complete.
Apologies for the delay Gordon! Bingo – thanks to you we now have the full complement of names! – now all we need are further memories about the people and being in this intake!
Next to me is ANDREW WINFIELD and it is HAYDEN Lodge – not Adrian!!
Thanks Paul!
Gary is on the right.
Cheers Paul, I’m glad you found the site and thank you for pointing out Gary in the back row – is he on the left or the right though, as we’ve got two names missing?! Perhaps you can help us with both?!
I wonder what memories of being in this apprentice intake seeing this photo after all these years brought back? It’d be good to hear more about what apprentice life was like in the ’70s!
The one missing in the back row is Gary Wiggett. How are you all after all these years?
Ollie, update on names for 1971: the person 6th from the right (standing) is John Creswell.
Thanks again Phil, as you can see, we’re a little light in terms of the number of photos of the 1970s intakes. I don’t s’pose you know of anyone who might have any photos of the years we’re missing?
Hi Phil, I’m really sorry I don’t know what happened to that first email but a thousand thanks for sending this again.
Thanks to you we’re only a couple of names short – great! I think we need to add another “?” into the back row though, as by my count there are 12 people there, but we only have 11 names or “?”s. Where should the other “?” go?!
It would be great to see your family’s Fielding and Platt photos, mementos, and memories. If you’d like, you can add them to the website yourself. Visit the page I’ve set up to read the quick and easy how to guide:
http://www.fieldingandplatthistory.org.uk/addyourmemories
Or you can email them to me at oliver.taylor@gloucestershire.gov.uk or by post to:
Ollie Taylor, Gloucestershire Archives, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester, GL1 3DW.
If you do plan to come to Gloucester then let me know and we’ll arrange for us to spend some time at the Archives recording your memories.
Cheap haircuts on the night shift…?! Now you really do have to tell us more about that! Look forward to hearing from you again soon…
Ollie, as for above photo I take it you did not see my first e-mail to you when I named most of back row and the front so will try again.
Back row left to right: Gordon Tozer, ? , Aidrian Lodge, Steve Ryder, Fred Broady, Paul Hecquet, Roger Tiller, Nigel Young, Colin Feraby, ? , Bill Jefferies.
Front Row left to right: Phil Allen, Tom Bullock, Ian Pollard, Barry Degge, Roy Breach, Malcom Cruize, Tony Hancock, Mike Selwyn.
Note we now have all but two and it is certainly Paul Hecquet on the back row and not Madeley as stated.
Our family has some photos of my Dad at work in the heavy machine shop, also cricket pictures which I will forward shortly, plus a few other mementos which I would like to donate to your collection. Not only did my Dad (Fred Allen) work there for many years , but my Mum (Kath) and also one of my brothers (Nigel) plus my uncle (Bill Mogg) spent time there.
I have thought of many names that worked mostly in the Welding and Fabrication shop where I served my time as an apprentice and will also forward them with my thoughts shortly. I hope at some stage to visit the Museum [at Gloucester Quays] and even talk to you about life at the Atlas Works.
Your remark about staff nipping out for a haircut was not far wrong but I do remember somebody giving cheap hair cuts during the night shift!
Ollie, I don’t remember Fielding’s using that garage for any of their vans & lorries, as when I was there Fielding’s had their own garage on site, near where the photo was taken. It was fully staffed by two men whose names escapes me for now.
As for the glass on the wall I think it was just there as a deterant. (Or was it to keep the staff in!!)
I’d heard that Fielding’s had had their own garages, Phil, but no more than that really, so any more you can remember about them in due course would be gratefully received!
As for the glass, I’ve heard stories that some F&P folk would occasionally nip out for the odd quick haircut etc. – I guess they had to slip out another way other than over the wall in the 1970s…?!
Thanks Phil – we’ve almost got the whole front row now!
I don’t suppose you remember anything about Leslie Dodge Motors (pictured in the background of the shot) – did F&P use that place and what was it like? Also, d’you know why all that broken glass has been put on the top of the wall behind the apprentices? Was there a problem with people nipping over the wall (into or out of Fielding’s!)?!
Have thought of some more names for 1971 apprentice photo. Front row 2nd from the left is Tom Bullock. Also front row 7th from the left Tony Hancock and 8th from the left is Mike Selwyn.
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